What is an Arabian Sport Horse ? How
does it differ from any other representative of the breed ? An Arabian
Sport Horse is an Arabian with correct conformation and movement to
perform in the sporting events, such as Dressage, Jumping, Eventing,
Clare
with MM Cylent Partner+/ showing the 'open' position for
in hand Sport Horse classes.
Clare
riding MM Cylent Partner+/ 2001 & 2002 Champion Half Arabian
Sport Horse under Saddle. 2002 Reserve Champion Half Arabian
Sport Horse in hand. 2002 Region IX Champion Training Level
and First Level Dressage. 2002 Top ten First level US Nationals.
2002 USDF and USAE Half Arabian Dressage Horse of the Year.
Owned by Clare Salmon.
Clare
riding BSA Steel Magnolia+-top five Region IX Sport Horse
under Saddle. Two Championships in Halter and many wins
including Scottsdale. 2002 Top Ten First Level US Nationals.
Owned by Trish Seale.
The 2002
Scottsdale Sport Horse Champion Pure bred stallion Dervatiw
Gwyddion, winner of several dressage classes. Ridden by
Patience Prine-Carr and owned by David and Jean Peck.
Endurance and Racing. Or any of the Working
Western classes for that matter. The object of these classes is to give
a very careful and valid evaluation through scoring of a horse's conformation
and movement, establishing its potential for the sport categories Form
to function is emphasized throughout, with correct gaits contributing
to the ease in training and the horse remaining sound and useable.
There have been several Halter winners who could easily
win a Sport Horse Class and it would be great for some to do so. The
judges are looking for very correct conformation and free, straight
and fluid movement. Type as a criteria does not come into the picture.
However, overall breed characteristics come under the final score section,
so it means that possibly a plainer, but more correctly conformed horse
can be placed over a typier one with conformation faults. Therefore,
tail carriage is also not a compelling factor. The flatter croup also,
does not lend itself generally to Sport Horse Performance with a rounder
croup being more desirable. Correct structure and sufficient bone of
the legs is vital, particularly in the front legs, since sixty percent
of the horse's weight is placed upon them. Blemishes do not count unless
resulting from conformation faults.
Horses of all bloodlines have been successful,
but the Crabbet horses seem to have somewhat come to the fore. However,
the 2002 Scottsdale Sport Horse Stallion Champion Dervatiw Gwyddion
(AJ Ibn Negatiw x Dervona) was of all Polish bloodlines. I think it's
early days to see a specific pattern of successful bloodlines, but those
stallions who are successful in dressage, jumping, racing and endurance
should prevail.
The Halter classes are divided into Arabian
and Half-Arabian/Anglo Arabian, with a suggested class list of Sport
Prospects two and under, three and four year olds and five and over.
Geldings may be shown with colts until three years of age, but the different
sexes may not be shown in the same class.
One of the great advantages of these in hand classes is that many more
owners can show their own horses. Showmanship does not come into it
at all (and indeed should not in all halter classes in any event). However,
the handler must train the horse appropriately and see that it stands
in the correct way and show it moving freely and straight at the walk
and trot. The handler should of course be neatly and appropriately dressed.
The horse need not be highly conditioned either, as is required in open
Halter classes.
So what is the correct way of standing the horse ? It is known as the
open position, where the hind leg nearest the judge is back as in normal
halter classes, but the front leg on the opposite side from the judge
is also back, so that all four legs are visible.
The horses are shown on a triangle of specific measurements. A small
triangle of 15 x15 x 15 meters, within the larger triangle of 30 x 30
x 30 Meters. The judge stands at the apex to view the horse standing
up, as well as when observing the movement. Upon command from the judge,
the handler is instructed to walk the small triangle encouraging the
horse to lengthen the stride across the middle. The judge will be looking
for elasticity, use of the back, and tracking up well, which means the
hind hoof print should go beyond the front hoof print by at least six
to eight inches. Having completed the walk, the horse is then asked
to trot the larger triangle, again lengthening the stride across the
base finally ending up at the apex.
At the trot, the horse should be lightly on the bit with a rounded back,
the hind legs coming forward and driving well under the body, and sufficient
freedom in the shoulder and elbows. The judge is then able to view the
horse in walk and trot from the front, rear and side. It is all done
very quietly, with horses aged three years old and upwards encouraged
to come on the bit in a snaffle bridle. A bridle is optional for two
year olds, but yearlings must be shown in plain, leather stable halters.
The judge may ask a competitor to repeat part or all of the movements,
in order to get a good look at the horse's action from all angles. Both
the walk and the trot should be well balanced with active regularity.
The scoring for in hand are similar to dressage scoring, each section
being marked from one to ten points. Comments are written down on the
score sheet by the judge's scribe as the horse progresses through the
triangle . This is also very educational and beneficial for the owner,
in other words, a fair and constructive critique, with serious leg and
other faults being noted as well as the good points. The percentage
of marks is Conformation 40 %; Movement 40%; Expression, Manners, Willingness
10% ; Overall breed characteristics, Quality, Balance, and Harmony 10%
. The owners receive their score sheet when the results have been calculated
at the end of each class. The winner is the one with the highest percentage.
A dressage or hunter/jumper judge is required for the class to count
at a class 'A' show.
The
Arabian Sport Horse performance classes are held just like a normal
under saddle class, entering the ring counterclockwise. They are to
be shown at the walk, trot, canter and hand gallop both ways of the
ring and to stand quietly and back readily. The judging criteria is
on performance, manners, conformation, quality and suitability as a
working Sport Horse. Each gait being
considered and judged equally. Riders
wear dressage or hunt attire. They have now added Sport Horse Show Hack,
and the first Sport Horse Nationals will be held in September 2003.
I doubt that the Sport Horse in Hand classes will ever reach the same
status as the regular Halter Classes, but the enjoyment and satisfaction
to the owners will more than make up for that. It would be really wonderful
to see these classes take off, filling a much needed gap for those who
want a fair and unbiased opinion of their horses.
The
Arabian Sport Horse performance classes are held just like a normal
under saddle class, entering the ring counterclockwise. They are to
be shown at the walk, trot, canter and hand gallop both ways of the
ring and to stand quietly and back readily. The judging criteria is
on performance, manners, conformation, quality and suitability as a
working Sport Horse. Each gait being 