Further Explanation of AQHA’s Initiative to Improve the Judging of Halter Horses

By: Brittany Bevis

At the recent 2013 AQHA World Show, there was considerable discussion within the halter horse pen about the presence of an additional “judge” in the arena. Instead of the typical five judges, accompanied by the requisite number of ring stewards, there was an extra “judge,” Clark Parker, who brought the overall total to six.

Since then, some information has been provided about the presence of this sixth judge. However, we wanted to delve a little deeper to uncover the answers to some questions that have been presented by our EquineChronicle.com readers. AQHA Executive Director of Competition and Breed Integrity, Tom Persechino, was kind enough to sit down with us to further explain AQHA’s initiative to improve the judging of halter horses across the board.

1. Has the association done anything like this in the past at an AQHA World Show or other major breed event?

“I can’t speak to other breed events, but nearly all classes at the World Shows have been monitored in one way or another since 2004, the primary exception being halter,” Persechino says. “Given our goal of constantly trying to improve the World Shows and judging, the idea surfaced about having an impartial person help identify faults that the actual halter judges had agreed were major and minor.”

2. Where did this idea come from, and why was it presented?

“We are simply trying to constantly improve how all of our horses are judged and, until now, we had not developed a ‘monitoring’ system for halter. When monitoring other classes, we identify the major faults as identified with that class. This is the very first step toward accomplishing the same thing in the halter classes.”

3. It was indicated that “when needed” judges may sit down as a group and review major faults that were identified in halter classes. Does this mean that actual individual judge’s placings will be discussed, and the judges may be asked about why they placed a horse that had a certain fault?

“Prior to the halter classes, the halter judges, as a group, discussed the different major faults that they might encounter and that are considered undesirable in the breed. Examples might include bench knees, hocks that are too straight, calf knees and a toed-out stance, or a pigeon-toed stance that would affect the horse’s way of going.”

“The World Show judges are holding themselves accountable for identifying and calling the faults they selected as ‘major.’ Identifying and deducting for major faults in halter is similar to what the judges do in all scored classes. The judges believe it is a real positive for making judging more consistent and for the halter industry as a whole. When needed, we sat down again with the judges and reviewed the faults that were identified (by Clark) in the respective classes.”

 

4. Is this something that could happen in the future with other classes besides halter?

“Monitoring has been standard in other classes since 2004. Identifying and deducting for major faults in halter would be similar to what the judges do in scored classes.”

5. The phrasing, major faults would be “cataloged,” was an interesting choice of words and has people wondering if some sort of a record will be kept of the specific horses with these major faults. 

“The term ‘catalogued’ simply meant that certain faults were agreed upon and listed by the monitor on his chart. The monitor (Clark) identified horses in the pen that might have had these faults. Then, we monitored the judges’ placings with respect to the identified faults. There is not a catalog of specific horses and their faults that exists. The class charts are confidential information only reviewed by the monitor, the Senior Director of Judges, and the judge, if needed.”

6. In this case, what would the sheet of the sixth “judge” look like? For example, would it state that entry #250 had bench knees and #405 had a toed-out stance? Or is the information less specific and more of a numerical count of simply how many horses in World Show halter classes exhibited major faults?

“The sheet that Clark turned in was a grid that had a list of major faults, as agreed upon by the judges, along with the back numbers of horses entered in that class. The monitor checked off a particular box if a horse had a major fault, with a possible comment if needed.”

7. Did the sixth judge ever change at the World Show or was it always Clark Parker?

“Clark was the only monitor in the pen for halter this year.”

8. How many halter classes underwent this process?

“All the halter classes at the World Show.”

 

9. Have you received a positive response thus far or a negative one?

“So far, the initial reaction has been positive, and we have received some questions about how this system could be modified for the future. What we want to do is work with our alliance partner, World Conformation Horse Association, and see how this system can be improved. We think people really appreciate that we are constantly trying to improve judging for our breed.”