How to Judge a Horse

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Instructions

Conformation Criteria

Step 1:
Look at the horse from a distance. Evaluate her balance and how her parts join together. Pay attention to the horse's topline, back, shoulder, neck, hip and heartgirth to judge her balance. Compare your horse against established horse breeding standards to determine if her total body alignment conforms to breeding standards.
Step 2:
View the horse from all sides to judge his feet and legs. Evaluate how well the horse performs his intended function or his "structure and travel." Lower the horse's score if his form deviates from accepted norms. Problems in form affect the horse's ability to do what he was bred to do.
Step 3:
Judge the quality and quantity of muscle throughout the horse's body. Look for muscle volume in the chest, shoulder, loin, stifle and gaskin. Give a high mark to muscle that is long, smooth and deep.
Step 4:
Determine the quality of the horse by judging her coat, skin, feet and bone structure. A smooth, short coat, thin skin, well-proportioned head and medium-sized feet are some of the characteristics of a quality horse.
Step 5:
Evaluate a horse's sex characteristic by looking at her head. A female horse has smaller features than the more masculine stallions and geldings.

Breed and Performance Criteria

Step 1:
Educate yourself on specific breed ideals to judge specific breed characteristics. Contact individual breed associations for breed standards.
Step 2:
Select the horse best suited for a particular purpose when judging performance classes. Compare competing horses as they perform a series of exercises, such as walking forward and backward or standing.
Step 3:
Use the National Reining Horse Association guidelines for reining classes. Give high marks to a horse that is controlled with little or no effort and that takes direction easily.
Step 4:
Watch the rider and not the horse during a horsemanship class. Judge the rider's form and adherence to class procedures.

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