So What DO they want????

To many times while I have been down this road of showing halter horses I have been asked and I have asked, "So what DO they want?"

Do they want a nice sloped croup or a rounded one, do they want a low tail head set or a high one, extra heavy muscle or a moderate amount? The list goes on and on.

So many times we get wrapped up in certain parts of the horses body and trying to get "that" particular look, we end up screwing up what could have been a good horse, or picking out one that will not produce what we are looking for because although they have that nice sloped croup, everything else doesn't tie in with it which makes the horse look unbalanced and not conformationaly correct.

So to answer the question "So What Do Thy Want?" The truth is the judges look for a well balance, correct horse, and in a class full of the best of the best(or the ones who could afford to get there) they really have a tough time finding that Champion.


This drawing was givin to Sandy Ellis years ago. It was drawn by Jerry Vawter. His Ideal of The Perfect Horse.

What ends up happening is the horse that wins world may have a certain trait that he/she pass on to his/her offspring, then their offspring start showing and people start to think ohhh that's what they want, that's what's winning, in other words that's the new "trend." Instead of saying it's just a trait, it looks nice, and even though all the offspring of this horse have it, if you breed for it will it work for you.

If you want to breed a world champion, it is going to take work, research, breeding, pedigree, and above all TIME! These trainers that we see today leading these horses to title, after title didn't just get there overnight. They all started where we are, and through hard work they arrived at the top. They have developed an eye for horses, to the point of being able to look at one and say yes it will place in the top 5 at world or no this horse doesn't have a shot. Now that doesn't mean the horse couldn't go out and get a R.O.M.(Register of Merritt) by competing at the local breed shows. It just means if you put that horse in a pen with the type and quality at the World Show don't expect to win.

I took a trip to the AQHA World Show this year to watch the Amateur 2yr old stallions show. I went because one i had never been and two my stallion has qualified for the 2yr old ammy class. I wanted to know what it was going to take for me to get in the top at this show. Needless to say I am going to have to work my butt off to get Rooster there but I will!


Very Cool, 2010 AQHA World Champion Amateur 2yr Old Stallion

Just remember that in every fitting program consistency is the key. If you buy a horse take a million pictures study the pictures find someone who's opinion you value, or someone who you know knows what they are talking about and show them the pictures. Take your time and have fun, and what "they" want is balance and conformation!