[shell]

Originally Posted by babyruth

Ahhh, but when their halter days are over and they have proved themselves as prime specimens for what the halter world is looking for, their purpose then evolves to being broodmares to produce the next line of specimens on the road to so called perfection.

Maybe so, but not all halter horses are mares.
Not only that, but what happens to the foals that are born and are not "Good enough" to be competive, yet have the problems that can be passed on by being only a halter horse? What happens to those poor horses?

[Sandra-A1]

I support any rule that says a horse must FIRST be a performance Champion before it can be a National/World Halter Championship!
I think that a Senior Halter Mare or Stallion should first have to win a certain number of performance classes BEFORE it can compete in a Senior Halter Class!
Whenever possible, I support the performance wins before competing in a halter class rule.
In fact, I think that before a stallion or mare could compete in senior halter on a National/World level it should first have won championships in a variety of different performance classes.

[shell]

Originally Posted by Sandra-A1

I support any rule that says a horse must FIRST be a performance Champion before it can be a National/World Halter Championship!
I think that a Senior Halter Mare or Stallion should first have to win a certain number of performance classes BEFORE it can compete in a Senior Halter Class!
Whenever possible, I support the performance wins before competing in a halter class rule.
In fact, I think that before a stallion or mare could compete in senior halter on a National/World level it should first have won championships in a variety of different performance classes.

Me too!! Lets win the lottery and start changing some things in the horse world!!

[Sandra-A1]

LOL.....if I win the lottery I intend to do a lot of others things!
Let's see..build dream house, barn, rings, pastures....buy dream horse/s....

I have always "done my own thing" in the show ring.
Yes, I follow the rules along with some of the tack and fashion fads, but when it comes to my horses, I show like I think they should look and move.

I think your always going to have people who "do their own thing" like me.
If we all liked the same thing there would not be all these different breeds and events to participate in.
Sadly, you are also always going to have a small group that want to win at all cost.
Your going to find another small group that are so insecure and unsure of themselves that they blindly follow.
Still, all in all, I think the large majority of horse owners that do show and compete with their horses truly care about their animals and their well being. It is just that they happen to like a different type.

There are a lot of sound and sane horses out there within any of the different breeds. It is just that you hear MORE about the ones that are not than you do those that are.

[babyruth]

Originally Posted by shell

Maybe so, but not all halter horses are mares.
Not only that, but what happens to the foals that are born and are not "Good enough" to be competive, yet have the problems that can be passed on by being only a halter horse? What happens to those poor horses?

Well, I can't speak for everyone, but when we have a stallion that excels at halter, he stands at stud. We have only had one that we personally kept for this purpose and when his productive days were over, he was sold to a man in Florida where he spent the rest of his days in retirement, relaxing and playing in the pasture and just being a horse with no purpose to serve other than making himself happy.

For the foals that are born at our house that aren't quite up to par and don't meet conformation standards, they are treated the same in regards to socialization and training and then they are sold to homes where they will be loved as a pet. They go on to make people very happy as trail riders and hobby horses. None of our horses have ever been discarded as not good enough and so if they can't "do and provide for us" then we don't "do and provide for them". We take responsibility for every horse that is born as a result of our chosen breeding and they are evaluated and placed in homes according to what they are most suited and fit to do. They all receive the same level of treatment and consideration regardless of whether they meet today's standards of "great". They will all be "great" and "perfect" for someone - you just have to find that person.

Again, as I said, I can't speak for everyone - but that is how we run our business.

[babyruth]

Originally Posted by Sandra-A1

I support any rule that says a horse must FIRST be a performance Champion before it can be a National/World Halter Championship!
I think that a Senior Halter Mare or Stallion should first have to win a certain number of performance classes BEFORE it can compete in a Senior Halter Class!
Whenever possible, I support the performance wins before competing in a halter class rule.
In fact, I think that before a stallion or mare could compete in senior halter on a National/World level it should first have won championships in a variety of different performance classes.

So do you propose that weanlings and yearlings that are shown in the halter circuit be excluded all together? Do you not see it as a way of establishing the horse - letting it see and be seen? A way of socialization and beginning to adapt to the environment at a young impressionable age? In other words, no competition whatsoever until after two years of age when they are able and capable to compete in a number of different various performance classes? Or is lunge line considered one of those various classes?

[julie&chico]

I think it is ridiculous just to breed to have a"halter" horse. I get frustrated when I see halter prospect, and champion, and they really have no other disipline what is the point just to stand there and look pretty? Most of these horses don't have titles or trophy's under there belt performance wise and people are breeding and breeding them.

[Sandra-A1]

So do you propose that weanlings and yearlings that are shown in the halter circuit be excluded all together? Do you not see it as a way of establishing the horse - letting it see and be seen? A way of socialization and beginning to adapt to the environment at a young impressionable age? In other words, no competition whatsoever until after two years of age when they are able and capable to compete in a number of different various performance classes? Or is lunge line considered one of those various classes?

I have no problem with people showing their weaning, yearlings, or 2 year olds in halter classes, and have done so myself of numerous occasions.
I, too, feel it is a good way of getting them some travel & show experience as well as getting them seen.
I think the lunge line class would be a way for people to be able to tell if they are on track and help to find the well conformed, good mover...but I would not like to see a win (or title) in it as meeting the performance requirment for the Senior horses.
The halter class is considered a "breeding class" in many of the different breeds. That is where people look to see the horses that best meet the breed's standard of perfection. That is where many (no, not all) people look to find stallions that they want to breed their mares to.
It is also where some people (again, no not all) who want to buy a mare or two look to see what they should be looking for as well as buy from. Like it or not, the halter classes have a large influence on many people and their breeding decisions.

I am simply saying that I feel that the more prestigious titled classes should go to the Senior horses. These senior horses, in this case the mare and Stallion, should first prove themselves as performance horses BEFORE they are allowed to compete for the halter titles.
If the owner chooses to show them first in halter in the younger classes that is great. I just think that when the horse reaches the age where it can began to be ridden, the focus should then shift to proving the horse first in the performance division.
I think if the performance first qualification was in place for the Senior horse halter classes it would have a trickle down effect on the other halter classes. People who do breed for halter classes, as well as those who simply enjoy competing in them, would realize that if they want their horses to be competitive in halter classes when older (on a higher level) they would have to breed and select their horses with the performance requirement in mind.

No, the idea is not perfect and will not solve all the problems that the different breeds have. It is just my opinion...

[arabkid]

Originally Posted by Sandra-A1

I support any rule that says a horse must FIRST be a performance Champion before it can be a National/World Halter Championship!

Ok this is probably the first time I have ever diagreed with you.

Yes I 100% totally agree that a horse shoudn't be JUST a halter horse. BUT I do not think it's fair either when you are showing at breed shows (suppose to she off the BREED) that it doesn't work visa versa.

I do not think anybody should be able to say that, unless a performance horse should also have to have won a halter ribbon. That is completely unfair, that is something I have always wondered about, because the horse should have to LOOK like an arabians as well, as that is what it is (sorry I use arabians because I know them best). A horse should represent their breed to the best of it's abilities, NOT just how it moves and NOT just how it looks.

I am fortunate enough that we have both. But I do not think you can make a rule one way without it going the other way. It's just not right.

There fore I think if a open halter horse has to of won a performance ribbon, a performance horse must have to win a halter ribbon.

[Horsebrat20]

I'm a little confused. Arabgirl said it perfect for what halter classes are for, from what i understand.

A horse should represent their breed to the best of it's abilities, NOT just how it moves and NOT just how it looks.

So, if that is their purpose, they should be able to perform the stuff they stand for, right? If they are representing the QH's breed standard, they should be able to perform what the QH's are bred to perform, right? Now if they can't do that because they have too much muscle or are too fragile or whatever, then they aren't a suitable display of the breed. This is the way i see it, so someone please clarify, because halter classes serve no purpose from the way i see it.