Altech National Horse Show

[BigEqRls]

[QUOTE=Road Apples;7240453]
Is that Phelps guy wearing Alltech orange pants?? I don’t think I’d be so proud of it if I were him.

Oh…and 1 question…what is the purpose of those ear bonnets and, are they allowed to put ear plugs in the horses ears? Quality Girl seemed like something was bothering her with all that head tossing.[/QUOTE]

That’s probably Mason Phelps–he’s usually wearing orange pants at the NHS. He’s the president of the show.

Ear bonnets keep bugs out of ears, muffle noises, keep ear plugs in (legal for hunters/jumpers/equitation), and can be a security blanket for some horses, too. There is one jumper named Cella who is now ridden by and English rider but is owned by and American (Jane Clark) who wears a nose net–in interviews her riders say it’s now more of a security blanket than anything.

[BigEqRls]

I can’t see well, because the feed sucks, but I like the chestnut with the male driver the best in the fine harness class. Someone tell me what we’re looking at/for and who is the best and why?

[Madeline]

Dunno. I just got “The stream seems to be having technical difficulties.” So , it must be really bad to get a black screen…You can tell horse color on your feed?

[Renae]

Fine Harness- the quality of the trot, the horse’s carriage and presence, and the horse’s conformation. The horse needs to move as well behind as it does in front and the hind end needs to stay engaged, not trailing. The horse needs to wear it’s overcheck, not be leaning against it all the time.

And everyone has to like classes where ladies have the option of wearing formal gowns.

[BigEqRls]

What’s an overcheck? The chestnut was very red, so it showed up better. It was 2nd I think? PS I want one of these fine harness ponies and/or a hackney pony. So zoomie!

[Darkwave]

@Renae;7240487

Fine Harness- the quality of the trot,

What makes a quality trot? Animation? Rhythm?

[Road_Apples]

[QUOTE=BigEqRls;7240476]
I can’t see well, because the feed sucks, but I like the chestnut with the male driver the best in the fine harness class. Someone tell me what we’re looking at/for and who is the best and why?[/QUOTE]

Fluid motion…breaking level, a distinction between the gaits. If you noticed the Park “walk” did have animation. The other chestnut if you noticed had such a man made looking gait because of the use of bungees…

You have a good eye…you can just tell when it’s right!!

I love the difference in the $$$ of the H/J stakes…wow wee …$1500. and now $750.00 VS. 15,000. or more in most cases.

[Renae]

It’s a piece of a driving harness, a separate bit with a check rein that runs over the poll along the neck to the back pad. It should have a little play in it when the horse is working correctly, if it is buckled tight forcing the horse’s head up the horse is not wearing it well.

Same concept for the Hackney Ponies, only they are wearing a side check.

[BigEqRls]

[QUOTE=Renae;7240500]
It’s a piece of a driving harness, a separate bit with a check rein that runs over the poll along the neck to the back pad. It should have a little play in it when the horse is working correctly, if it is buckled tight forcing the horse’s head up the horse is not wearing it well.

Same concept for the Hackney Ponies, only they are wearing a side check.[/QUOTE]

In Black Beauty is that what they were talking about being pulled very tight for “fashion” for Beauty and Ginger who were more hunter type horses?

[Renae]

[QUOTE=Darkwave;7240498]
What makes a quality trot? Animation? Rhythm?[/QUOTE]

Animation and motion, energy that is directed to that end rather than speed. Evenness of motion in front, no pitching, winging or interfering, a hind end that matches the front.

[iEquitate]

When is the switch?

[BigEqRls]

I pick red coated Chestnut in this class. I like the dark horse too (black/bay?) but it seems less ridable and I think this is an ammy class?

[Road_Apples]

[QUOTE=BigEqRls;7240492]
What’s an overcheck? The chestnut was very red, so it showed up better. It was 2nd I think? PS I want one of these fine harness ponies and/or a hackney pony. So zoomie![/QUOTE]

You ain’t seen zoomie yet…just wait for the Roadster Pony (Hackney) and Road Horse (Standardbreds) William Shatner owns Road Horses and shows them. That’s Zooooooooomie…

[Renae]

Overcheck is the strap running up the middle of the horse’s face http://www.horsephotographer.com/HorseSaddlebred/Photograph1/photograph.html

Sidecheck is harder to see near the bridle as it goes up the sides of the bridle, but you can clearly see that when this pony’s head is in the right spot the check is loose, that’s the loose strap near his neck http://www.horsephotographer.com/HorseHackney/Photograph1/photograph.html

[Darkwave]

[QUOTE=Renae;7240510]
Animation and motion, energy that is directed to that end rather than speed. Evenness of motion in front, no pitching, winging or interfering, a hind end that matches the front.[/QUOTE]

Very clear. Huge thanks!

[To_the_MAX]

How are you guys watching this? It’s painful!

ETA: The feed, not the horses, lol

[BigEqRls]

It is hard to see, but I am really enjoying chatting with our shaky tail counterparts so I’m watching anyway–and I really do hope that they keep the saddlebreds at the NHS and bring them to the rest of indoors as well. I think they’re fun! Now I pick the pink/white coated chestnut for this junior 3-gaited class.

Question–how much do they judge the canter? Because they only seem to canter for about 2 seconds/half a lap?

And I noticed at the Worlds Championship as well that they don’t really change gaits when told? They keep trotting long after they call for the walk, and don’t necessarily start cantering when asked? And some take several laps at the trot before lining up? Is that not considered breaking the gait?

[Renae]

I enjoyed when the hunter/jumper show and Saddlebred show used to run concurrently at the American Royal and was sad when they moved the hunter/jumper show to a different weekend.

[Road_Apples]

I say the Pinky colored jacket wins…the dark jacket rider 3rd…not a pleasure canter or ride at all

[Madeline]

Aaargh. Please, Alltech, get the camera person a tripod…