Halter

The gaited halter class will be judged according to breed standard as possible.  Horses may be shown in whatever headgear is acceptable for their breed.  All horses will be asked to demonstrate at a walk and at their gait, and will be set up in line for presentation to the judge.  Descriptions of various breed standards as follows (w/ pictures).

Missouri Foxtrotter

While being judged, the front leg should be set so that the front of the foot is directly under the point of the shoulder. The horse’s rear leg should be set so the leg will be vertical from the hock down to the rear ankle. The horse’s head should be high enough that the point of the nose is level with the top of the withers. The feet of the horse should be centered under its ankles, and should point straight ahead. The legs should be straight when looked at from the front and the rear. The knees, when looked at from the side, should not be bent nor bowed.

The shoulders of the horse should be well defined with the neck joining just above the points of the shoulders. The slope of the shoulder is measured from the point of the shoulder to the top of the withers, and should be near forty-seven degrees. The neck joins over the shoulders and should have some arch to it. The head should taper and not be narrow and long. The bridge of the horse’s head should not dish nor bow out. The bridge should be straight and the muzzle should be tapered. The eyes should be set wide on the sides of the head, and the teeth should meet evenly.

The chest of the horse should be well defined showing muscle extending down the inside of the legs. The withers should be over the girth and as high as the top of the rump. The back of the horse should be flat with a small crease down the center. The barrel of the horse should be the deepest at the girth and should taper up slowly to the flank. The flank should extend back past the start of the rump. This makes a horse “short on top and long underneath.” The hips of the horse should be full, and muscle should extend down the inside of the rear leg. The croup line, measured from the hip bone to the muscle just over the hock, should be long. The rear legs should have some crook, but not so much as to prevent the horse from having an easy break over. If the hind quarters are correct, a vertical line touching back of the hock and ankle will just touch the point of the hip.

On a balanced horse, the neck, from the poll of the head to the top of the withers, the back, from the top of the withers to the start of the rump, and the croup, from the point of the hip to the lower end of the muscle above the hock, will be of the same length.

Paso Fino

The head should be refined and in good proportion to the body of the horse, neither extremely small nor large with the preferred profile being straight. Eyes are large and well-spaced, very expressive and alert, and should not show excessive white around the edges. Ears are comparatively short, set close and curved inward at the tips. The lips should be firm and the nostrils large and dilatable. Jaws are defined but not extreme. The impression should be of a well-shaped, alert, and intelligent face.

The neck is gracefully arched, medium in length and set on at an angle to allow high carriage, breaking at the poll. The throat latch should be refined and well-defined.

The shoulders are sloping into the withers with great depth through the heart. Chest is moderate in width. Withers are defined but not pronounced and slope smoothly into the back.

The midsection is moderate in length with a well-sprung rib cage. The top line should be proportionately shorter than the underline. The back should be strong and muscled. The midsection should join the forehand and the hindquarters so as to give the horse a pleasing, proportioned appearance.

The croup is slightly sloping with rounded hips, broad loins, and strong hocks. The tail is carried gracefully when the horse is in motion.

The legs are straight with refined bones and strong, well defined tendons and broad, long forearms with shorter cannons. The thigh and gaskin are strong and muscled but not exaggerated. Standing slightly under in the rear is acceptable. Pasterns are sloping and medium in length. Bones are straight, sound, and flat, and joints are strong and well defined. Hooves are well rounded, proportionate in size and do not show excessive heel.

The mane, tail, and forelock are as long, full, and luxurious as nature can provide. No artificial additions or alterations are allowed. A bridle path not exceeding 4″ is acceptable.

Paso Fino horses are 13 to 15.2 hands with 13.3 to 14.2 being the most typical size with weight ranging from 700 to 1100 pounds. Full size may not be attained until the fifth year.

Peruvian Paso

A Peruvian head should be of medium size, wide between the eyes, with a straight to slightly concave profile. The ears are medium length with fine slightly inwardly curved tips. The nostrils need to be large and elastic to take in air. The jowls need to be well defined with adequate width between them for the wind pipe. Although the Peruvians neck is somewhat heavier than other light saddle horses it should not be cresty. How the neck is set into the shoulder and back is crucial to the look and performance of the horse. A neck set low on the shoulders will have a humble appearance while even a short neck set up right will have a look of arrogance. The neck of medium length with a clean throat latch set high on a long, well laid back shoulder will allow the horse good balance in order to obtain proper collection. The poll should be the highest point of a well arched neck, with a clean throat latch which allows the horse to flex at the poll without restricting breathing.

The back is strong, rounded, and short to medium in length. The loins are broad and well muscled over the kidney area. A fairly muscular croup is long, wide, moderately sloped, and nicely rounded. The tail is set low and carried straight, quiet, and close to the buttocks. The chest is wide with moderate muscling. The girth, well sprung rib cage, and barrel are deep. The length of leg and depth of body is approximately equal. The underline is nearly level from the brisket to the last rib. The moderately short flanks are full and deep. The quarters should be strong and of medium roundness and width. The long, very well inclined shoulders are well muscled especially at the withers.

The bones of the legs should be well articulated and well aligned so the long bones above and below the joints correctly line up. The tendons are strong and prominent. The skin of the legs is tight against the bone. The pasterns should be medium in length and springy but not show weakness. The cannon bones are short. The hocks are slightly more angled than other light saddle breeds.

The Peruvian Paso horse’s appearance is one of energy, grace, and refinement. The musculature is well developed but without exaggerations. A size range generally from 14.1 to 15.2 hands. Occasionally individuals may be under or over that range.

Rocky Mountain Horse

The breed is defined as having a medium height from 14.2 to lo hands. They should have medium sized bones with medium size feet in proportion to the body, a span between the forelegs, a wide chest sloping 45 degrees on the shoulder, bold eyes, well shaped ears, and a face that is neither dished nor protruding, the head should be of medium size in proportion to the body with a medium jaw. The neck should be gracefully arched, medium in length, and set on an angle to allow natural carriage with a break at the poll. The horse must have a solid body color. There should be no white above the knee or hock except on the face where modest amounts are acceptable. Excessive facial marking such as in a bald-faced horse are not acceptable.

Spotted Saddle Horse

Must carry white spot at least 2″ diameter above hocks/knees.  Facial markings, mixed color tail, or high stockings do not count.

In body style, closely resembles a smaller, slightly stockier Tennessee Walking Horse.  Head is refined, of moderate length, with wide set eyes with a soft, gentle expression.  Profile is straight to slightly convex.  Ears are moderately long, set well up on the head, inner tips “hooked”, carried alertly. Jaw is of moderate development, tapering to a relatively fine muzzle with a slight “rounding off” of the end over the nostrils which are average, lips firm.

Neck is very slightly arched, muscular but trim, moderate length, neck carried high, with fairly good head carriage.

Shoulders are long, sloping, and well muscled. Withers high, fine and extending well into back.

Chest is of moderate width, well muscled.

Tennessee Walker

The Tennessee Walking Horse’s head should be in proportion to the rest of the animal’s body. The head and throatlatch should be refined and cleancut, with the facial bones exhibiting a chiseled appearance. The eyes should show character, being of good size and well placed, with good width between the eyes. They should be clear and bright. The face should be straight, rather than convex (Roman-nosed) or concave(dish-faced). The ears should be well set, medium to small in size, and they should be carried forward showing attentiveness. The muzzle should be small, with large sensitive nostrils. The upper and lower teeth should meet. The jaw should show bone structure, but should not show excessive thickness.

The head should join the neck at approximately a 45 degree angle, with a distinct space between jawbone and neck. The neck should be medium to long in length, and the head should be carried high. In the adult, the neck should be slightly arched. The neck should be lean and muscled and blend smoothly into the shoulder and withers. Excessive arching or a crested neck is undesirable.

Balance is the single most important characteristic in selection because it forms the basics for movement, length of stride and, ultimately, performance. The shoulder should be long and slope forward at an angle of 45 degrees from the withers to the point of the shoulder. The shoulder should be smooth, yet well muscled. The withers should be at least as high as the top of the rump.

The topline of the Tennessee Walking Horse should be level, or slightly sloping to the hindquarters. The back should be short to medium in length, with a short, strong loin. The croup should be long with good muscling and a well set tail. The croup should slope moderately from the point of the hip bone to the point of the buttock.

The hindquarters should be of moderate thickness and depth, well muscled when viewed from the side and the rear. The muscling should be evident inside and out on the rear legs. The hock should be fairly wide and deep, with the joint being clean. The cannon area should be vertical from the hock to the pastern, with the pastern showing a 45 degree angle with the ground. It is acceptable for a walking horse to “stand under in the rear slightly” or to be slightly “cow hocked” or sickle hocked.