Judging Horses – Conformation Classes

Horse Judging, Horses

Conformation is defined as the correctness of bone, musculature, and proportions. It is often referred to as “form to function” as a horse’s conformation directly relates to the horse’s ability to perform specific tasks. Judging Overall...
Judging Horse Events – Ranch Riding Class

Judging Horse Events – Ranch Riding Class

Horse Judging, Horses

The purpose of the ranch riding class is to showcase a horse’s ability to be pleasurable to ride and to convey their ability to perform ranch tasks. The horse should convey the versatility, attitude, and movement of a working ranch horse which include being...
Judging Horse Events – Western Pleasure

Judging Horse Events – Western Pleasure

Horse Judging, Horses

The western pleasure event is judged on the horse’s ability to be a pleasure to ride, which includes being broke, quiet, soft, smooth, and responsive to the rider’s cues while being on a loose rein or with light contact. Class Procedures Horses are worked...

Digital Cushion

Hoof Care, Horses

The digital cushion is a wedged-shaped structure with a fibro-fatty composition in the foal and in the colt, and it hardens into a fibrocartilagineous tissue in the adult horse. It is very elastic and has very few blood vessels and nerves. It is located in a wedged-in...

Rocker-toe Shoe

Hoof Care, Horses

The rocker-toe shoe is frequently used in conjunction with the egg bar to alleviate tension on the deep flexor tendon at the moment of breaking over. The amount of bend in the rocker-toe can be determined by looking at the wear on the old shoe or the wear on the toe...