Are you considering a horse? Thinking about the Quarter Horse? This article by Emily Davis of Cheval Liberté will give you tips…
Guess What? This Horse Turned an Entire Breed
Understanding the Quarter Horse breed
A favourite across the United States, the Quarter Horse on average stands between 14-16 hands and is recognised in 17 colours with a set limit of white markings (stockings, stars, strips, and blazes) on the face and below the knees. They have a compact build with heavily muscled bodies, powerful shoulders and hindquarters, sturdy, strong legs and a chiselled and flat profile with a wide forehead.
A suitable option for all levels of horse riders and owner, the Quarter Horse’s docile and friendly characteristics makes them especially popular amongst novice equestrians and as family pets. They are identified as having a unique ability to gauge and understand the skill of their handler or rider, adapt to what they sense and so create a safe riding condition for virtually anyone!
Historically used for cattle farming, rodeo events, and sprints, Quarter Horses are known as the man’s working horse due to their agility and willingness to please. Especially popular on ranches their physical abilities allow them to conquer varying terrains with ease, making them the ideal candidate for assisting with general jobs.
In more modern times, this breed has shone in the show field, exploiting its ability to be taught and absorb new disciplines. The creation of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) empowered this by allowing horsemen and ranchers preserve the pedigrees of their ranch horses.
Halter
To secure a champion halter horse, you must not only exceed the Quarter Horse conformational ideal but display the breed’s figure to its fullest. Achieve the optimal collaboration of healthy weight, balanced muscling and shiny hair coat will enable you to expose the perfectly conformed underlying bone-structure of your horse.
What a judge will look for-
Overall balance in equal thirds (head/neck/shoulder, barrel, and hindquarters)
Neck set high with a 2:1 ratio in length (top vs. bottom of neck)
Sloping shoulder
Short back and long croup
Level topline, or slightly higher at wither
Good legs
Pretty head and throatlatch
Reining
Rule one to successful show reining is to boast your horse’s willingness to be guided, its pleasing on the eye when they run in circles with a drape in their reins. Focus on achieving an impressive contrast of the size and speed in the circles to secure top manoeuvre score.
There is the tendency to focus on speed, however the ability to be controlled, keep their frame and plant their pivot foot will impress the judge, as well as increasing the likelihood of your horse being able to round his back when running to a stop, which is a big point scorer!
A tip whilst attempting to master the perfect stop is to avoid pecking at your horse in the circles or rundowns, you’ll lose marks by trying to collect your horse for the stop as it can make them look unwilling.
A final note for reining if to put your mind back too your own movements, we all have little traits we do when concentrating but before sure not to distract the judge from the horse with big movements, especially with your head!
Horsemanship
Execute precisely – A judge will first focus on the competitors’ ability to execute the required performance manoeuvres, and only once this achieved will they look at how well the pattern is being ridden.
Be speedy – If you’re looking to take your exhibit to a higher degree of difficulty focus on more speed and less hesitation. As previously discussed, speed should never be a substitute for functional correctness but used to attribute to increased scoring in overall correctness and completeness of the pattern.
Emphasis the ride – There is a tendency when you hear ‘show’ to prioritise attire but remember when competing with Quarter Horses’ it’s a performance event, don’t get caught up on the frills. Simply use aesthetic to add the finishing touches to your well-practiced pattern.
Showmanship
A discipline at the halter, its is very popular western showing event and is a test of the handlers’ ability to show and fit their horses in halter competition. To be successful in this field you must not concentrate on your skill on the day but your skill to train your horse to perform required manoeuvres.
Three topmanoeuvre tips
Trot Take-Off: Keeping your elbows firmly at your sides, anchor your lead hand and arm, tilt your upper body forward and take a large step forward. This will encourage your horse to step smartly into a trot parallel to the moment you start your run, without changing their body alignment. When training, be positive, keen calm and continue the run until your horse aligns their pace with yours; the second they correct themselves to this reward them by releasing chain pressure.
Whoa Means Whoa: In a soft voice say ‘whoa’ and immediately stop and stand still, ‘whoa’ is a pre-cue so your horse is likely to drift passed you and then stop when the lead chain tightens. Allow your horse to do this, don’t pull them back; it will encourage them to learn what is correct by themselves.
Backing Up: Ensuring your horses head and neck is properly aligned with their body, they should readily back up in a smooth, calm manner. The relationship with your horse is the key to this manoeuvre, when you take a step into there space it should be their natural reaction to step backwards in respect. To make this more effective align your body so your left shoulder/arm is even with your horse’s left eye and cross your lead arm across your body to control the chain pressure.
The Quarter Horse is a great all-rounder and in this modern equestrian discipline has the potential to provide riders with great success in the field!
About the author: Emily Davis works at Cheval Liberte as community manager. Cheval Liberté have been designing, developing and producing stalls, internal stables and stable equipment since 1995, Driven by their passion for horses, Cheval Liberté was founded by both riders and breeders and since 2005 this passion has been implemented in the UK, with our North Wales company being the sole importers of Cheval Liberté products for distribution and erection throughout the UK & Ireland.
