Performance Mares
Evaluate and place these performance horse mares. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s.
AS A JUDGE, I try to reward the horse with the most positive and the fewest negative characteristics. In the show pen, I must see the big picture first, and trust my eye to find the most attractive horses. I then assess the details that make those horses the most appealing. It usually holds true that the most attractive horse at first impression is also the horse with the best combination of positive components. Those positive components fall under the categories set out by stock breed association rulebooks of balance, structural correctness, breed and sex quality, and muscling.
With that foundation for judging all horses, I will assess this class of three performance horse mares. Performance horses must have the basics of balance, structural correctness, and muscling to perform well and stay sound. Breed and sex characteristics are also essential when judging mares, as they should appear feminine and exhibit good breed type.
This well-balanced mare nicely blends her individual parts and gives a good first impression.
She’s proportionately correct from front to back and top to bottom. Her topline is level, smooth, and strong with a gradual slope to her tailhead. Her depth of heartgirth is approximately equal to her length of front leg.
Her head could be shorter from eye to muzzle, but she has a kind eye and still shows some femininity. Her throatlatch is trim, but ideally, her neck could tie in higher to her chest. Her shoulder has adequate angle and length—the actual scapula angle shouldn’t be confused with the more upright crease between her neck and shoulder. The length and volume of her hip is also good and carries down her hind leg well.
Her overall muscling is appropriate for her build but could be more defined. Her front legs are aligned well, and her front pasterns match the slope of her shoulders to lend spring to her step. Her hocks show suitable angulation for good propulsion.
This high-quality mare has many positives. She’s attractive and powerful looking, with a feminine head and ample, defined muscling. She’s well-proportioned from front to back and top to bottom, but a couple of negative aspects place her second— her downhill build and her short, coarse neck.
Her hip is noticeably higher than her withers, giving her a downhill stance. Also, her topline drops a bit more through her back and peaks more sharply over her croup than Mare C’s. Though her head is pretty and dainty, her throatlatch is thick, and her neck is coarse along the top and short overall. She has a big, powerful chest, and her shoulder shows good volume, slope, and length.
Her overall muscling is well defined, though a bit more voluminous in her front end than her hind end. Her front legs may be ever so slightly over at the knee, and her front pasterns don’t appear quite as well sloped as Mare C’s. Her hocks, though well angled, sit higher than her knees, fairly typical for being hip high.
Not quite as well-proportioned as the other two mares with a longer midsection and shorter croup, this mare also doesn’t exhibit their smoother blending of components. However, she also has positive attributes, including well-sloped shoulders and excellent overall muscling, her best feature.
Her topline is longer and weaker in her back than the other two, and turns a bit sharply over her croup. She also appears slightly hip high, though not as much as Mare B. Her head is a bit common, and her throatlatch is thick. Ideally, her neck could be longer, though it ties in high enough to her chest. She’s deep enough through the heartgirth, and her shoulders have good length and angle.
Her front legs appear structurally correct with adequate bone. Her appropriately sloped pasterns match her good shoulder angle and should give softness to her stride. Her hind legs appear long and straight because her muscling ties in a bit high, and she lacks adequate angulation through her hocks, which will limit her propulsion.