Judge's Handbook
Zadiir - owned by Michelle Weston
Our volunteer judges are very important to the club!
We do ask that everyone who enters an AMAHA show to volunteer to judge one Point Only Show that year. Even if you have never judged before - we welcome you with open arms!
All judge's with submitted results will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Visa Gift Card at the end of the year! A drawing is held for each show series.
Judge a Mail-In Show and an Online show and get your name into both drawings!
We do ask that everyone who enters an AMAHA show to volunteer to judge one Point Only Show that year. Even if you have never judged before - we welcome you with open arms!
All judge's with submitted results will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Visa Gift Card at the end of the year! A drawing is held for each show series.
Judge a Mail-In Show and an Online show and get your name into both drawings!
Rules when judging
Photos that a judge deems "in the wrong class" are NOT to be moved. You may contact the Show Coordinator or horse's owner, if you feel there needs to be an adjustment, and she will contact the shower.
For mail in photos, you may NOT alter a photo back or move an entry to a different class without owner's approval. You may contact the horse's owner with any questions.
While minor editing adjustments like brightening, cropping, or resizing, are common and permitted, the following is NOT allowed.
* Touch ups or altering the color/markings/scratches/damage of the model horse.
* Removing other objects in the photo, including horse or doll stands.
* Adding items to the photo during editing such as riders or tack or other props.
Disqualifications are only permitted when photos are under 500 pixels or over 800 pixels.
For mail in photos, you may NOT alter a photo back or move an entry to a different class without owner's approval. You may contact the horse's owner with any questions.
While minor editing adjustments like brightening, cropping, or resizing, are common and permitted, the following is NOT allowed.
* Touch ups or altering the color/markings/scratches/damage of the model horse.
* Removing other objects in the photo, including horse or doll stands.
* Adding items to the photo during editing such as riders or tack or other props.
Disqualifications are only permitted when photos are under 500 pixels or over 800 pixels.
Judging guidlines
Bloodstock Classes
・ Judged on improvement of foal over parent, prepotency (alikeness) and correctness of foals
・ Only the parents are listed in the results and are counted for entry number.
・ Breeding Program. This class is to be judged on the correctness of all of the horses in the entry, improvement and consistency in foals, and similarity through each generation (in other words, it should be judged with the "long term" goal in mind -- is this breeding program producing quality horses over successive generations?)
Halter
・ Purebred Gender: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics, type, suitability to gender, and quality
・ Type/Bloodlines: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics and suitability to bloodline represented
・ Partbred Gender: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics and suitability to gender represented
・ Partbred Cross: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics and suitability to cross chosen
・ Color: Judged on quality, attractiveness, and accuracy of color. CM/AR can also be judged on workmanship.
・ Most Classic Classes: Judged on the correctness and typiness of the model. Most Classic Head is like the typical Headstudy class, with particular emphasis on Arabian breed type. Most Classic Arabian should be judged in a similar manner, but should consider the whole horse; how correct the horse is, & if it shows particularly strong and good breed type.
PERFORMANCE: Performance classes are judged on suitability of horse to class, quality, and presentation. Models are marked down or disqualified for incorrect or ill-fitting tack, or poorly seated rider. One photo per horse per class unless otherwise stated.
・ Showmanship: requires a proper halter with lead. A visible handler is NOT required. Judged on presentation, including photo quality, and correctness of tack and pose
・ Liberty: absolutely NO tack allowed. Horse should be moving freely. Judged on fluidity of MOVEMENT, brilliance and beauty, This is a class for those action horses!
・ Park/Saddleseat/Country English Pleasure: Only 1 pic per horse -- either a type of Saddleseat class or Park. Please state which. Horse should exhibit high knee action, with Country English Pleasure being the lesser of the knee action style, while rider is still maintaining complete control. Bridle should consist of a full or Weymouth bridle, which includes a small snaffle and a curb bit with two sets of reins. A Pelham bit will be allowed in place of a Weymouth.
・ Working English: Dressage - Level and movement MUST be stated; Hunter/Jumper - May have one each Hunter Over Fences and Jumping.
・ Trail (English & Western): - limit one each arena/natural. State what the horse is doing. Can split if enough of each type
・ Working Western: Reining -- movement must be stated
・ Working English or Western - may be split if there are more than 10 pix per EACH event
・ Harness: - cart not required, but harness should be of proper type. State whether Fine, Pleasure, etc. - class can be split if there are more than 10 pix per EACH type of harness event
・ Arabian Native Regalia & Show Ring Costume: - entry may be historical "desert type" or modern showring style. "Dancing Horse" style regalia may also be in this class. Riders or handlers are optional.
Entry to be marked down or disqualified if bridle, girth, or stirrups are not present. No parts of the horse's outfit should drag the ground or impede horse's movement.
To be judged on realism, proper fit of tack and suitability of the horse. Please explain the type of costume and movement. Example: if horse is trotting, please notate the country where this horse is showing in.
Can be split Native Regalia/Showring Costume/Other if there are more than 10 pix per EACH style of costume.
・ Other Costume: - anything imaginable is allowed, but it must be safe and still allow a rider to maintain control of the horse.
・ Judged on improvement of foal over parent, prepotency (alikeness) and correctness of foals
・ Only the parents are listed in the results and are counted for entry number.
・ Breeding Program. This class is to be judged on the correctness of all of the horses in the entry, improvement and consistency in foals, and similarity through each generation (in other words, it should be judged with the "long term" goal in mind -- is this breeding program producing quality horses over successive generations?)
Halter
・ Purebred Gender: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics, type, suitability to gender, and quality
・ Type/Bloodlines: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics and suitability to bloodline represented
・ Partbred Gender: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics and suitability to gender represented
・ Partbred Cross: Judged on correct conformation/biomechanics and suitability to cross chosen
・ Color: Judged on quality, attractiveness, and accuracy of color. CM/AR can also be judged on workmanship.
・ Most Classic Classes: Judged on the correctness and typiness of the model. Most Classic Head is like the typical Headstudy class, with particular emphasis on Arabian breed type. Most Classic Arabian should be judged in a similar manner, but should consider the whole horse; how correct the horse is, & if it shows particularly strong and good breed type.
PERFORMANCE: Performance classes are judged on suitability of horse to class, quality, and presentation. Models are marked down or disqualified for incorrect or ill-fitting tack, or poorly seated rider. One photo per horse per class unless otherwise stated.
・ Showmanship: requires a proper halter with lead. A visible handler is NOT required. Judged on presentation, including photo quality, and correctness of tack and pose
・ Liberty: absolutely NO tack allowed. Horse should be moving freely. Judged on fluidity of MOVEMENT, brilliance and beauty, This is a class for those action horses!
・ Park/Saddleseat/Country English Pleasure: Only 1 pic per horse -- either a type of Saddleseat class or Park. Please state which. Horse should exhibit high knee action, with Country English Pleasure being the lesser of the knee action style, while rider is still maintaining complete control. Bridle should consist of a full or Weymouth bridle, which includes a small snaffle and a curb bit with two sets of reins. A Pelham bit will be allowed in place of a Weymouth.
・ Working English: Dressage - Level and movement MUST be stated; Hunter/Jumper - May have one each Hunter Over Fences and Jumping.
・ Trail (English & Western): - limit one each arena/natural. State what the horse is doing. Can split if enough of each type
・ Working Western: Reining -- movement must be stated
・ Working English or Western - may be split if there are more than 10 pix per EACH event
・ Harness: - cart not required, but harness should be of proper type. State whether Fine, Pleasure, etc. - class can be split if there are more than 10 pix per EACH type of harness event
・ Arabian Native Regalia & Show Ring Costume: - entry may be historical "desert type" or modern showring style. "Dancing Horse" style regalia may also be in this class. Riders or handlers are optional.
Entry to be marked down or disqualified if bridle, girth, or stirrups are not present. No parts of the horse's outfit should drag the ground or impede horse's movement.
To be judged on realism, proper fit of tack and suitability of the horse. Please explain the type of costume and movement. Example: if horse is trotting, please notate the country where this horse is showing in.
Can be split Native Regalia/Showring Costume/Other if there are more than 10 pix per EACH style of costume.
・ Other Costume: - anything imaginable is allowed, but it must be safe and still allow a rider to maintain control of the horse.
