Source: Basic Steps in Horse Judging (V0A ); MSU-ES Horse Judging Activities I-V (Form 819, 820, 821, 822, 823); 4-H Horse Judging Manual (Pub 901) 4-H Horse Judging Contest Horse Judging III: Notes and Reasons PPA

Source: Basic Steps in Horse Judging (V0A ); MSU-ES Horse Judging Activities I-V (Form 819, 820, 821, 822, 823); 4-H Horse Judging Manual (Pub 901) Presentation prepared by Kathy Nash AV Reference Room Manager/ Information & Graphics Technician MSU-ES Support Services Department Review Committee Roy Higdon, Area Agent, Animal Science/Forages, MSUES Tom McBeath, Mississippi Quarter Horse Association Kathy Nash, Information & Graphics Technician, MSUES Sandy Slocum, DeSoto County Director, MSUES Amy Ware, Carroll County 4-H Agent, MSUES Dwayne Wheeler, Special Project Coordinator, MSUES

Review of 4-H Horse Judging Contest Horse judging is one of the most educational and popular activities of the 4-H horse project. Horse judging contests involve two actions. First, you must place each animal in a class, and second, you must be able to orally defend that placing. Horse judging helps youth to: Develop communication skills Make decisions based on facts and observations Compete with a sportsmanlike attitude Learn a skill essential for success in the horse industry Develop self confidence

Contests consist of: Judging halter classes (geldings or mares) and giving reasons Judging performance classes and giving reasons. These performance classes will come from Western Pleasure, Reining, Western Riding, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Hack, Hunt Seat Equitation, Horsemanship or Showmanship. The 4-H contest system uses four animals in each class. Your job as a judging participant is to place the animals first, second, third, and fourth. Generally, it is best to break a class down into pairs. Divide the class down into a top pair, middle pair, and a bottom pair. However, it is generally best to make the easiest placing first. This may be the top animal, the bottom, or any of the pairs.

Suggestions for Beginners Learn the correct names for all the parts of a horse, their values, and their locations. Learn the correct terms. Improper terms will weaken reasons. Learn the correct organization and techniques used in presenting oral reasons. Develop a mental picture of an ideal horse. Do this by recalling the desirable features of horses you have seen, or from pictures available from various associations. Learn the correct procedures and patterns for performance classes. Practice!!! Studying and knowing a lot about your subject will help you gain confidence.

Let’s Begin!!!

Source: Basic Steps in Horse Judging (V0A ); MSU-ES Horse Judging Activities I-V (Form 819, 820, 821, 822, 823); 4-H Horse Judging Manual (Pub 901) Horse Judging III: (Notes and Reasons) PPA Material suitable for ages 8-10

This lesson is to help you understand how to put notes and reasons together!

Remember - There are 8 steps to judging and you have completed the first four! Now, you will work on … If you follow these steps you can judge anything! Taking brief notes on the class Writing complete reasons Learning your reasons Presenting your reasons Know the “Ideal” of what you are judging Compare the different individuals in the class to the “Ideal” Closely compare the individuals in the class to each other Place the class

Remember - This was our “Ideal” Stick Horse that we judged earlier! The characteristics of this “Ideal” Stick Horse are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is level The legs are all the same length

#1 1st #4 2nd #3 #2 4th3rd This was the group of 4 stick horses that you placed by comparing them to the “Ideal”

We have compared and placed our stick horses. Now it is time to look at our notes. While you were comparing the four stick horses to the “Ideal”, you were actually taking your notes! SURPRISE!!!

#1 The characteristics of this “Ideal” Stick Horse are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is level The legs are all the same length Taking Brief Notes: Our comparison of the “Ideal” Stick Horse against #1. The characteristics of #1 compared to the “Ideal” are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is level The legs are all the same length

#2 The characteristics of this “Ideal” Stick Horse are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is level The legs are all the same length Taking Brief Notes: Our comparison of the “Ideal” Stick Horse against #2. The characteristics of #2 compared to the “Ideal” are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, overly long neck, body, tail, 4 legs but only 2 feet. The body is level The legs are all the same length

#3 The characteristics of this “Ideal” Stick Horse are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is level The legs are all the same length Taking Brief Notes: Our comparison of the “Ideal” Stick Horse against #3. The characteristics of #3 compared to the “Ideal” are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is not level The legs are all the same length

#4 The characteristics of this “Ideal” Stick Horse are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is level The legs are all the same length Taking Brief Notes: Our comparison of the “Ideal” Stick Horse against #4. The characteristics of #4 compared to the “Ideal” are: It has a head, ear, eye, mouth, neck, body, no tail, 4 legs and 4 feet The body is level The legs are all the same length

Now take your “Brief Notes” and turn them into “Complete Reasons”

One way to help yourself in judging is to break the class down to your: Top Pair Middle Pair Bottom Pair Another way to help yourself in judging is to put your reasons into a “Reason Organization Chart”

Reasons Organization Chart Top Pair AdvantagesGrants Middle Pair Bottom Pair Example

Reasons Organization Chart Top Pair AdvantagesGrants Middle Pair Bottom Pair Can you put your pairs in this chart?

Reasons Organization Chart Top Pair AdvantagesGrants Middle Pair Bottom Pair We now have our placings and our reasons! 1 4 #1 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse. #4 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal stick horse with the exception of the tail. #1 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse so this will obviously be my first place. #4 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal stick horse with the exception of the tail and while a tail is nice it is not necessary. 4 3 #4 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal stick horse with the exception of the tail. #3 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse with the exception of the very unlevel body. #4 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal stick horse with the exception of the tail and while a tail is nice it is not necessary, therefore #4 will be my second place. #3 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse with the exception of the very unlevel body. The unlevel body causes the stick horse to be much more at a disadvantage than not having a tail. 3 2 #3 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse with the exception of the very unlevel body. #2 meets very few of the “Ideal” stick horse characteristics. #3 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse with the exception of the very unlevel body. #3 will be my 3 rd place. #2 meets very few of the “Ideal” stick horse characteristics, the worse being a neck that is unusually long and only having 2 feet. #2 is obviously my last place. I place this class 1, 4, 3, 2

We have completed 6 of the 8 steps to judging, 2 more steps to go! Know the “Ideal” of what you are judging Compare the different individuals in the class to the “Ideal” Closely compare the individuals in the class to each other Place the class Take brief notes on the class Write complete reasons Learn your reasons Present your reasons

Learning Your Reasons !!! Therefore my placings are: 1, 4, 3, 2 My Top Pair Because #1 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse. #1 will obviously be my first place. Because #4 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal stick horse with the exception of the tail and while a tail is nice it is not necessary. My Middle Pair Because #4 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal stick horse with the exception of the tail and while a tail is nice it is not necessary. Because #3 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse with the exception of the very unlevel body. The unlevel body causes the stick horse to be much more at a disadvantage than not having a tail. My Bottom Pair Because #3 meets all the requirements of the “Ideal” stick horse with the exception of the very unlevel body. Because #2 meets very few of the “Ideal” stick horse characteristics, the worse being a neck that is unusually long and only having 2 feet. #2 will obviously be my last place.

Presenting Your Reasons!!! Be Confident in your reasons Stand straight with your hands by your sides or behind your back Look directly at the judge Speak clearly Don’t yell but don’t whisper either Be pleasant and courteous

Now we have completed ALL of the steps to judging Know the “Ideal” of what you are judging Compare the different individuals in the class to the “Ideal” Closely compare the individuals in the class to each other Place the class Take brief notes on the class Write complete reasons Learn your reasons Present your reasons

Source: Basic Steps in Horse Judging (V0A ); MSU-ES Horse Judging Activities I-V (Form 819, 820, 821, 822, 823); 4-H Horse Judging Manual (Pub 901) Ya’ll Did Great!!! See ya’ll next time when we study more about Horse Judging!