Of Breeding and Prospects

Because I can no longer keep my big trap shut, I have to address an issue that drives me nuts.

I understand that you don't want to show AQHA/APHA/ApHC. That's fine. But why, why, why does that mean that you breed your horse to have a foal in July or August?! I feel faint every time I see someone's brand new baby pictures...in the middle of a heatwave....in the middle of summer...meaning that the foal will be weaned in December or January. Poor little thing. By the time this adorable little thing will be considered a "weanling" by you, he's a "yearling" by everyone else's standards. This means that he has to show against horses that were born in the Feb./March/April range. This means bigger, badder competition. And you'll wonder why he doesn't place.

Maybe you aren't ever planning on showing Little Paint, but if you plan on selling him, you have to realize that there are some people out there who may be looking for a prospect to show. You want your weanlings, yearlings, and two year olds to be marketable. Why the hell would anyone breed for anything that they couldn't sell if they got in a pinch?

I'm not saying that every single foal born has to be a future show horse, I'm saying that every single foal born should be of value to someone besides his barn blind owner. It can be because he is pretty, it can be because he's thick, stout, and someone wants him as a roping or cowhorse. I am going to say right now to everyone who posts their babies pictures on the internet, when people tell you "Oh how cute!" and that's it....it's usually because there is nothing else to say about it. "Oh how cute!" is a great standby for babies with nuttin' to 'em. "He has a kind eye." is a good one for older horses. No matter how gawd awful the horse is, you can make the owner feel some pride for owning the old boy.

Now, on to talking about prospects. I think a lot of people go out looking for future show horses without a real idea of what to look for. We'll be covering Halter and Performance prospects as well as a guide to looking for them.

The first thing do if you yourself are not familiar with young horses is to find a reliable trainer in your area in the event that you want to break into and build a relationship with them before you begin your search. Find out from them, what they like in a prospect and consider working with this person to help you on your way to the show ring. A lot of people shy away from trainer's and prefer the DIY route, which is fine if you know what you are doing. If you aren't prepared to be able to go in the show ring in 90 days or less, you probably aren't ready to train your own show horse. (We'll do an "Episode" on trainers in the future.)

Don't buy the first horse you see. General rule, right? If you like the horse, talk to the owner. Tell them that you are going to look at some other horses and you are interested but need some time to decide. Be honest. If you decide against buying the horse, call the owner and tell them "Thank you, but I found another horse that fits my needs a little better. Thanks for everythign and I hope you find him a good home!" Don't leave them hanging. Maybe you'll be looking for another horse further down the road, the owner's you turn down may have a horse that you like in the future.

Go to lots of barns. Big names, little names, no names. Check out the horses. Look at the babies out in the pasture and see if one catches your eye. Check him out up close. Consult with your trainer about the horse. Vet check. Consult with your trainer about the horse. Compare to Other horses you have looked at. Yea/Nay. Thank you, come again!

Now let's get to the nitty gritty.

Halter Prospects

Halter babies should be balanced from the get go. Long laid back shoulder, short back, long hip. Wide from the front and rear. Clean, straight legs. Don't rely on "Oh, we can straighten him up later" because you may not be able to. I also like for anything that is being considered as a prospect to have nearly level knees and hocks. This tells you that even though the horse may be butt-high now (and what baby isn't?!), but he will level out at an adult and once he begins to grow at a more steady pace rather than the frantic BUTT! WITHERS! BUTT! WITHERS!

We'll compare two weanling fillies found at random. (I'm not trying to rag on people's horses, I'm trying to show what to look for in babies.)

This filly is one I really like. Sure, she isn't fit all the way to go in the show ring yet, but she will be. Check out her neck! Long, thin, and it ties high into the shoulder. Looking at this filly, there's no doubt that she is a girl. Her shoulder goes clear from here to next week. Long, and pretty. She has a great short, strong back, and a hip that mirrors her shoulder. Yes, she is a little butt high, and her hocks are a tad higher than her knees. However, the high white stockings on her front end will mask that. They give the appearance of height to her front end. If you just glanced at the picture, you probably wouldn't notice it. This is a filly I would love to have in my barn.

While there is a lot that you can appreciate about this filly. There are a couple issues that I don't like. She does have a nice neck, but the second you scroll down to see her front legs, a red flag goes up. This filly is already showing the signs of bucking over at the knee, and when put into training and fitting, her little knees will take the plunge over the edge and out of the ribbons. Her shoulder is of good length, she is butt-high considerably more than the first filly, but I like the length to her hip. She would make a good horse for a 4-Her looking for a prospect. Provided that her knees stay sound, she would make a nice all around prospect.

Performance Prospects

Basically, we look for the same thing, a balanced, structurally correct colt. We add one more thing: Movement. Performance is all about how a horse moves, so it is important to see the foal in action out in the pasture so you can see what is naturally there and what you have to work with. Look for a baby that reaches out with his front end while driving off the hind. Look for a flat knee, and for those little hind feet to be hitting far underneath the body. Don't always rely on "I can teach him to carry himself better". You may not be able to. If the horse hasn't naturally "got it" it will be tough and frustrating to teach him. Once again, random horses that fit the bill. Of all the "In Motion" pictures I went through, I couldn't find one that I didn't like or couldn't justify the picture being taken at a weird time/angle to make them look weird.

So for your viewing pleasure, we have two little beauties:

Notice the naturally level topline. Notice the flat knee as it hits the ground. See how far this little guy is driving beneath himself? He's walking in this picture and I'm ready to take him home. Any little horse that can show that much natural style at a walk gets my vote as the next American Idol. He's not bad to look at either. Straight legs, neat little baby muscles. Watch out Performance Halter!

Geez, Louise! This baby's knee is so flat you could use it as a table. (That's a good thing...) See how this little not even weaned filly stretches out that front leg and has it straight before even hitting the ground? Good news, she's Appendix (and out of one of my favorite Quarter Horse sires) so all you Hunters get your checkbooks ready. This filly naturally elevates her shoulders while staying remarkably level for a baby that's playing. In the right hands, this little lady will go far. If her knee is this good cantering, I'd probably swoon watching her trot.

Hopefully, this gave you guys some pointers for babies. Good luck finding "The One"!

Tune in next time!

Leading into Proper Western Tack with a Bit of an Issue

Pun intended.

A horse's bit is usually one of the first things people think of when they are having problems with their horse. Sometimes it is, but it's usually a combination of issues. (Saddle fit, needing a chiropractor, until eventually, eventually the rider looks at herself.)

Bits are important in the showring because they can definitely get you DQ'ed from a class if you're riding your horse in something that The Big Dogs deem illegal. (Think AQHA.)

Ready, Set, Start Your Printers....The Handy Dandy Wabbity Guide Bits!
Step One - Get Your Bit.
Step Two - Look at your bit closely.
Step Three - Ask yourself, "How old is Ol' Paint?" If he is five or older (by January 1, not his actual birthday) he needs to be in a curb bit. If he is four or under, he may be shown in a snaffle or a more stylish bosal.

So, what is the difference between a snaffle and a curb? Simply, a curb bit applies leverage. The reins and headstall attach to the bit in different slots or holes. The curb bit requires a curb strap or chain. Some horses do not need an actual chain and a plain leather curb strap will work. The general rule for the tightness of a curb strap is that you can put three fingers easily between the strap/chain and your horse's jaw when it is loose. The curb bit is made of a purchase (the part above the mouthpiece), the shank (often refered to as the entire "side" of the bit), and the mouthpiece. Curb bits apply pressure to the horse's poll, bars, and jaw. Examples of curb bits: Tom Thumbs (more on them in another post), Kimberwicke, Grazing Bits, Correction Bits...etc, etc, etc. Anything with leverage where the headstall and reins attach to different holes is a curb bit.

A snaffle comes in many varieties. They can have smooth mouthpieces, slow twists, corkscrew, twisted wire, French Links, Dr. Bristols...etc. They can have O-rings, D-Rings, Egg-Butt Rings, Full Cheek....etc. All that counts toward the bit being a snaffle is that the headstall and reins attach into the same continuous ring. The only snaffle bit that is deemed as a western-type snaffle is an O-Ring.

A snaffle bit requires the person to ride with two hands. A curb bit requires the person to ride one-handed. Some open shows may allow you to ride with two hands, but two-handing in a curb bit will keep you out of the ribbons in a Quarter Horse or APHA Show. When riding with a curb, the person should have only one finger between the reins and any more than that is a disqualification. Typically, Western horses are not shown in snaffle bits - unless they are Foundation Quarter Horse of course! Junior horses are shown in bosals. Bosals also require the horse to be ridden with two hands. The mecate should be properly tied . Bosals are more stylish and are the "it" item for Junior horses for various reasons.

The Rules for AQHA can be viewed at www.aqha.com.

A horse going in a curb bit on a loose rein shows brokeness. So, so many times I here "He goes so well in a snaffle, I've never thought of moving him to a harsher curb bit. Why would I want to?"

Here is the snarky brutally honest person coming out: IT SHOWS BROKENESS. Why, why, why would anyone go to look at a nine year old going in only a snaffle? I sure know that when I am cruising the classifieds looking for a horse, the horse that is "Super Gentle on the Trails! Bombproof!" and in a snaffle is skipped right over. A horse that goes well in a curb can go well in a snaffle too. If you want to ride him in a snaffle, it should be the same as riding him in a curb. Maybe it's because when you have a curb bit, your horse might flip over on top of you while you have a death grip on his face. I really don't know. In my opinion if the horse is four years old and going to be ridden Western, he should be able to be ridden in a curb bit on a loose rein without excessive guiding, jerking, or hauling on the face to get to stop. The only exception to my rule is the horse that is English specific and won't be used for Western events.

Stallions (that are not English only) should be ridden in a curb bit. If they are old enough for you to be breeding them to anything and everything, they should be broke enough to be ridden through the gate into a show ring in a curb bit...and win.

Stay Tuned!

Tuning in to Men's Western Show Clothes

Guys, you've got to look good! On the bright side, guys western show clothing rarely changes and is fairly simple to get your hands on. We'll be breaking it down Barney style with a seperate part for halter/showmanship and riding. Quick, simple, and to the point. Ready, set, go!

Halter and Showmanship
The same rule concerning hats for girls stands for guys as well. That means a nicely shaped western felt cowboy hat in a normal color. No cowhide brims, no Wrangler or beer company patches, none of those goofy little brands...plain felt cowboy hat. Got it? Good.

Next up, the actual clothes. Do you work a 9-5 (or have a seen a movie where someone does)? It's called a suit! Some guys go for a western styled and tailored suit, which is great, or you can go for a plain suit. A tie is a must. If it's a summer or open show, you can go with the other classic male standby: a solid shirt, a tie, and khaki pants. NO PLAID. Plaid is for Al from Home Improvement. You're a horseman not a toolman/lumberjack.

Boots. Pretty simple there. Your boots should match your suit. Remember the whole brown belt, brown shoes rule? It still applies. Brown suit/brown boots, black suit/black boots. The last thing you want is for a bunch of 16 year-olds point out your faux pas.

Wow, that was quick! Guys, you're lucky. No make-up! But, your hair should still be neat and brushed. If you've got long hair, either get a hair cut, put in a low ponytail, pin it under your hat, or just go ahead and start your Poison tribute band and leave the horse showing to the people who are going to make an effort to look good.

Clothes for Riding
The hat. (Duh, right?) Clean, well-shaped, normal color.

The shirt should be a solid color. You can spring for a color that looks good with your horse like light blue or lavender with a deep bay. Match your saddle pad to your shirt. If you want, you can wear a white shirt and match your scarf to your saddle pad. The scarf is a necessity. Check them out: http://www.rods.com/p/1041,377_Solid-Show-Ties-for-Men.html Ties are not for riding. They are strictly for halter/showmanship.

Chaps are pretty much necessary. They look good! You look finished, polished, and more professional with chaps. Guys chaps come in essentially three colors: sand, chocolate, and black. Your chaps should go with your shirt, and should be the same color as your hat.

Boots should match in there as well. Use the same boots from showmanship, it doesn't matter as long as they aren't sticking out like a sore thumb.

Guys have it so easy when it comes to showing horses...at least finding the clothes! Go out and show off your superior western performance fashion knowledge the best way you know how....showing those purdy horses!

The Pilot - Ladies Western Show Clothes

Today's Edition: Clothing for the Western Exhibitors (For the Girls!)
( Please note: For some reason, the sizing on the fonts went crazy when I published this. I can't fix it no matter what I try. The words that are super huge were not meant to be like that. That is all.)

For anyone out there about to enter a show ring, allow me to clearly state: Your outfit is the judge's first impression of you! Recently, I discovered that there are many, many people living in the past (think 70's and 80's) in terms of western show clothes. Today, we will attempt to rectify this error with a top to bottom in and out list of show clothes.

Hats:
Out: Flat brims, straw hats, or any color other than white, sand, chocolate, black, or silverbelly.
Rule number one, uno, the unwritten law for the western showman is that the hat makes the outfit. Flat brims scream "I don't know what I'm doing!" and make you look like a mushroom. The hat is the first giveaway if you are a total newbie to showing. Those big flat trail rider hats that are so favored by the mounted shooters are a NO-GO. Much like the flat brimmed, unshaped cowboy hat, this particular style of hat says "I'm punchy! I trail ride and thunk to myself I might just try that fancy horse showin'!" The same goes for those simply adorable crushed straw hats with the curled up brim...wear it to the beach or to the mall. There is no place in the showring for that kind of trash.

In: The classic well-shaped cowboy hat.
Ladies, check out the Hobby Horse hat: http://www.hobbyhorseinc.com/07_shopping/hats/hats_index.shtml
A nicely shaped hat speaks wonders. Your hat should be felt. A straw hat can be acceptable at a summer open horse show, but if you're outfit is black or a color that would not go well with a light colored straw, stick with the felt.
If you already have a felt hat, take it to your local western wear store and have them shape it for you. They may also be able to clean your hat. Keep your hat in a hard hat case when not in use. Keep it inside in cool temperatures to keep it from warping or going back to it's old flat shape (especially in humidity.) Also, if you get rained on, take your hat back in for reshaping before your next show.

Make-Up
Out: No make-up at all, so much make-up it can be seen from the moon.
Wearing no make-up at all seems to be a thing with the older ladies returning or just breaking into the showring. Girls, I don't care if you "aren't a girly girl," the fact remains that if you are going to show horses, you don't want to leave the judge wondering if you're a man or a woman. Make-up is a necessity. Likewise, it is possible to go overboard with the make-up (most notably blush) for showing. Typically, rail make-up is reserved for the rail, wear a smattering of blush for your showmanship and halter classes, and then reapply before going in for your riding classes. We're showing horses, not working the main stage at the Golden Nugget.

In: Tastefully done make-up, including mascara, blush, and lipstick.
Mascara, blush, and lipstick are the big three in the world of showing horses. They are your best friends, get to know them and invest in good quality make-up that won't sweat off during the day or fade as the show goes on. The cheap dollar store make-up won't cut it. I recommend Max Factor high volume mascara. It doesn't sweat off for the most part and goes on without clumping. Physicians Formula mineral blush is great, it doesn't clog your pores and you can wear a little bit for showmanship and put on more for the rail. If you don't know how to properly apply mascara, blush, or lipstick (and I'm so hoping you already do!) find a younger girl at work (for the older girls), you younger girls that don't trust Mom's judgement (you saw her prom pictures...) find an older girl at the show, or at school that can help you out.

Jewelry:
Out: Bolo ties, those conchos with the tassles, no jewelry at all.
I don't think I've seen a bolo tie on a serious exhibitor....ever. Mainly because when I was showing in the 80's it was leadline or walk-trot pony classes. But, hey, those conchos with the horsehair tassles fall in the same category. Wearing a bolo tie or concho pin at a horse show is like wearing parachute pants to your sister's wedding. Everyone is mortified for you and nobody wants to be seen speaking with you. Remember prom night? When everyone sat in the bathroom talking about your super puffy sleeves and how hideous they were? Same thing at a horse show if you're wearing a bolo or concho...except people sit in their living quarters trailer to laugh. No jewelry at all is another no-no. Remember, you want the judge to know you are girl!

In: Pendant necklaces, crystal earrings, scarves
The single exception to the necklace or scarf rule is a shirt that your shirt has a high collar or zips up high enough that one wouldn't be seen. If you are wearing an open collar shirt, find a blingin' pendant on a stable chain or choker. Nothing long and nothing that would flop around as you ride. Crystal earrings are practically a requisite. They don't have to be huge (and no dangly, earrings!) but you need a little sparkle. Scarves are fine if tied properly. Roll the scarf and either tie it in a square knot with the tails off center or get a slider that is either silver or sparkly. (check out http://www.sstack.com/).

Shirts:
Out: Tuxedo Shirts, plain slinkies, Garth Brooks Shirts, see through sleeves, vests, poofy sleeves
You know what I mean by Garth Brooks shirts -- those huge contrasting color blocks that Mr. Brooks loved so much. Sadly, Garth was never in style with these terrible shirts, and if you wear it in the showring, you're as far out of style as he is. They aren't attractive. End of story. Tuxedo shirts! Geez! Who came up with the idea of pairing one of these things with a vest? And not even attractive vests at that. Vests are pretty much the pocket protectors of the western showring. Vests are never, ever, ever, under any circumstance, appropriate for halter or showmanship classes. (Ever.) Plain slinkies are just as far out of style as the tuxedo shirt. A plain colored slinky does not create an attractive outline for the rider and it sticks out like a sore thumb in a sea of more professional-appearing riders. See-Through and Puffy Sleeves need to go back to the 80's prom dress. They are just as tacky for showing horses as they are for wearing to the mall. Keep them in a box in the attic or throw them out when nobody is looking. The chance of these styles coming back into fashion is about the same as my making it into the WNBA. That is to say, zero.

In: Collars and cuffs, super slinkies, bold patterns, rhinestones.
The collars and cuffs came back into style several years ago and they aren't leaving. It looks good. They are sometimes called Tunic Blouses, and they can usually be worn out for Showmanship and Halter and tucked in for riding. A good shirt in this style is a great investment. Remember to have your cuffs pulled back and not flopping down. Have it cleaned regularly. Super slinkies have some kind of applique and design and usually have a matching vest. This is one of the few exceptions to the vest rule. A pretty, stylish vest can be worn in the following classes: Trail, Western Riding, Reining, Working Cow Horse. The vests worn in these classes typically have some kind of fringe and are fitted. Rhinestones are in style and will probably always be. Bling creates a more finished and stylish appearance and under the bright lights of the arena, you'll sparkle like a diamond...or that buckle you're trying to win! Bold patterns and colors are in as well. Bright kelly green, red, blue, pink, they're all good, but don't limit yourself to those colors. The most important thing about colors for showing is that it matches your horse and your saddle pad. A lot of people seem to be hung up on hunter greens and navy blues, but I am going to say right now, that lighter colors look so much better. They are brighter and more fun, and it looks more like you know what's hip!

Hands:
Out: Gloves
Gloves are out. Black, colored to match your shirt. I don't care. They are out of style. Period.

In: Manicures
A nice manicure looks great and is much more stylish than covering up with gloves. You don't have to go all out and get the acrylics, but have your own nails buffed, polished, and shaped. No colored nail polish. Go for a nice French tip.

Pants and Chaps:
Out: Too short pants, scalloped chaps
Your pants need to be long enough that they don't show the top of your boots when walking or running in showmanship. If you don't have chaps and are riding, they should be stacked enough to not ride up and make you look like you have high waters on. Chaps look great and I love a good turn out with matching chaps, but scallops instead of fringe is about as tacky as it comes.

In: Matching chaps and pants
Basically, if your showmanship top is blue, your pants should be blue too. It looks better, more put together and creates a more pleasing line for the eye. The same goes for when riding. If your shirt is predominantly red, invest in a good pair or smooth red chaps that have been dyed to match your shirt. It looks good and once again creates a nicer line.

Boots:
Out: Motorcycle boots, boots with the silver toe tips
They were never in style. I just want to make sure that nobody ever wears them in a horse show.

In: Boots dyed to match your outfit.
Wearing an all red outfit? Why not match the boots too? It looks nicer both in showmanship and halter and riding. Check out http://www.thebootlady.com/ for custom dyed boots. Your boots should be the plain Justins for the showmanship class.

Hopefully this gives some insight into the correct fashion for western classes. Check out the following sites for more ideas:
http://www.conniescustoms.com/
http://www.karenskustoms.com/
http://www.pleasureperfect.com/

If you are looking for cheaper outfits similar to those shown on these sites, I recommend looking on www.ebay.com. Know what you are looking for and measure carefully before bidding.