[shell]

I know there are some breeds of horses that have a BIG separation and style of horse in their own breed. Like there are Halter QH's and performance Qh's. The difference is sometimes very obvious. Same with Paints and Arabians. Some Halter horse Arabians look like they would break if you put a rider on them.
Are there any other breeds that have this kind of separation?

[7HL]

I don't get it? Having a horse for just halter class. And breeding one for that as well.

There's a woman in our barn that shows her horse in a groom class. What I understand of that it's below halter. Guess your horse just has to be clean?

I think the seperation is more distinct with particular breeds. I don't believe there are as many halter breed horses as one may think, but it is increasing because of those that don't and choose not to ride. To me it's a bad sign.

[babyruth]

Most of the QH's that are bred for halter are so big and muscular that they are rough awkward movers and don't make for a very pleasurable ride. When the size of the horse started determining it's worth as a halter horse it changed a lot of things (and not necessarily for the better) - IMO. Don't get me wrong - they are beautiful, amazing creatures - just not very versatile.

In the same respect, the changes I have seen in pleasure horses isn't any better. Seems that there used to be a slow, beautiful, flowing rhythm to it. These days, some of them look so "broken down" that they almost look crippled when in an slow lope. Their gait just doesn't look natural to me anymore. Again - that is just my opinion.

[Cowgirl2135]

Not all Halter quarter horses are large. I ridden so masive halter horses and they are AWSOME to ride. They are very versatile.
Performance quarter horses are leaner, since they need to move quickly and fast. Western pleasure horses, you need to go see real shows, I have seen broken down horses. I have seen horses that are just beautiful and just love their job. I had a mare that moved like a western pleasure horse, was trained in western pleasure and she is all natural. Now we are throwing her in reining and team pending, and again she is awsome.

[shell]

Originally Posted by 7HL

I don't get it? Having a horse for just halter class. And breeding one for that as well.

There's a woman in our barn that shows her horse in a groom class. What I understand of that it's below halter. Guess your horse just has to be clean?

I think the seperation is more distinct with particular breeds. I don't believe there are as many halter breed horses as one may think, but it is increasing because of those that don't and choose not to ride. To me it's a bad sign.

I totally agree. I want a very beautiful horse just as much as the next person, but I want to be able to USE that horse, not just look at it and feed it. (And pay big time vet bills on it when it come up lame all the time )

[babyruth]

I agree, not all halter horses are big - but the majority of the ones that you see winning the world time and again look like mac trucks. And these halter horses are so big and muscular that they are rough and choppy due to a decreased range of motion because of the excessive muscle mass. Back when I was growing up and going to the shows, there wasn't the extreme difference in build that you see today. They were neither massive or lean - they were just healthy horses. You could see one excel in halter and then turn right around and win a western pleasure class. You just don't see that these days.


As for the pleasure horses, I have been to real shows and watched. And on a very rare occassion I have seen a horse that is natural moving with a slow grace. Unfortunately, those horses very rarely win and IMO they should. They should be judged by the natural movement they were born with and not the man made crow hop that they have been broken down and made to perform.

[Sandra-A1]

I think when it comes to the show ring...every breed has various degrees of specialization. While the breed as a whole stays the same you will find individuals who prefer a certain class and will look for and breed horses with that particular class in mind. It can be halter, English type classes, Western Classes, driving...well you get the idea!

I am for having a true BREEDING class, shown and judged differently than the halter classes of today. One with less showmanship...that is judged with the idea if selecting outstanding individuals.... with the goal of producing well conformed, outstanding movers ...you know like halter classes used to be. Where people looked at the winners to see what the breed was supposed to look and move like!
I would also like to see a lot more of the Get of sire and Produce of Dam classes, as well as increasing the prestige and prize money for these as well as a Breeding Halter Class.

[CowGirlUp1833]

I see it a bit in Apps too....

[shell]

I would like to see a happy medium where an outstanding halter horse could ALSO be on outstanding pleasure, trail, family horse, not JUST halter and good for nothing else because the rideable qualities and brains have been bred out for good looks only.
I know I might be making some die hard halter people mad, but from what I have seen in the horse show world, there are a lot of halter horses in many breeds that have no where to go once they are too old or lame to be competitive in halter.

Now with that said, I would LOVE to have a top halter quality Arabian but with some brains, quietness and rideability. Does a horse like that even exist in todays Arabians? If it did, I don't think I could afford it.

[babyruth]

Originally Posted by shell

I know I might be making some die hard halter people mad, but from what I have seen in the horse show world, there are a lot of halter horses in many breeds that have no where to go once they are too old or lame to be competitive in halter.

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.