Best condition classes, what do judges look for?

tabithakat64

tabithakat64

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My horse and pony along with a couple of others from my yard are entering a best condition in-hand class at a local show on sunday.
How is this class judged?

I know so much about showing is about personal preference but....
Could someone whose pony has lived out for a week say it is field kept (one of the others is planning to say this and I'm not sure it's fair)?
What about someone whose horse comes in to be fed and ridden but has lived out all winter?

Is age, and workload taken into account when judging? What about conformation, breed, coat condition (mine are both moulting) and top line?
 
*struggles with self*

I know I shouldn't but may I say "I think the clue is in the name of the class".


*winces*

*drags self off*
 
I would like to ask this question, too.

Last year, I entered Ellie into two Best Condition classes at completely separate shows. Now, not wishing to boast, but Ellie does not have a single blemish on her body; her legs are clean, she has no saddle rubs, no scars. Condition wise, you couldnt fault her. This was us in the first class:
ellielambourn.jpg


The winner was a mare with two broken knees (think Black Beauty in terms of scarring and swelling) and a capped hock. Second was a grossly overweight yearling; Ellie and I were not placed. It transpired after the class that the judge and the winner were neighbours
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In the second class, three weeks later, a little Welsh pony won it. He looked fabulous, but trotted around the ring with a hacking cough. Second place went to a lad, about 10 years old, who had clearly been 'prepped' for the class. He was dressed for HOYS; matching waistcoat, buttonhole, tie, flat cap; his pony was 25 yrs old, and looked it
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So....if you do enter the class, please dont be offended it the judge overlooks you completely. It has no reflection on you or your horse - I think it is instead simply a case of 'not what you know, but who you know.'
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best condition doesnt matter if youve got marks on legs, its about muscle tone, weight, top line, haveing a good glossy healthy looking coat etc. its all about how well the horse is looking, and if that 25 yearold horse looked good for 25 then it should stand a good chance.
 
[ QUOTE ]
*struggles with self*

I know I shouldn't but may I say "I think the clue is in the name of the class".


*winces*

*drags self off*

[/ QUOTE ]


I know what you mean, I guess what I'm really asking is will my two stand a chance? Or will judges automatically put the overweight, faked shiny, stable kept horses in front of us.

One is 18, does light hacking so doesn't have a wonderful top line and is moulting. She is healthy, her coat is shiny and she is the best weight (not too fat) she's ever been.
The other is a 10 year old buckskin cob, hacks and schools, has good muscle tone and is the correct weight for his size.
 
It is a frustrating class - in the same weekend I have been at the top of the line and the bottom of the line - really depends on the judge. Unfortunately some local judges still go for fatties first but at least with BSPA they are not doing this and actively promoting fit not fat.

If you have a good judge, they will look for good coat, feet, muscle - and should base it upon the age to some extent. However a well conditioned 7 year old will normally beat a well conditioned OAP or youngster as they are normally nearer to perfection in terms of muscle. At the end of the day it is not an age class but as close to perfect health class.

It should not be based on scars or conformation etc unless it is a deciding factor. Again at local level, having a flashing TB/WB does draw the eye unless you get a judge who likes a trad cob
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You are stable kept or live out - out means all the time, all year round. Stating you are live out after one week in my opinion is cheating.

In one class I was put into living out section as it was late September and mine had been out since April - but this was the judge who decided which category to put him in when I answered how he was kept. Technically he was stable kept as he is in during the night at winter.

Whatever else, have fun and accept the joys of showing can be odd.
 
Its about your horse/pony looking the best he/she possibly can, which takes into consideration every aspect of the horse, feet - good hooves/shod well, coat - smooth, shiny and healthy, tail and main scurf free and depending on the breed plaited or not, correct weight, muscle and top line (depending on age) clean tidy legs - any fluffy bits/feathering neatly cut off (again depending on breed) bright clean eyes, clean nostrils, neat ears etc
ideally a good confirmation however a judge won't put a horse up that is in poor condition just because its got a better conformation than the one that immaculate but perhaps does not have a perfect confirmation.
A healthy horse shows from within, just because a horse/pony is field kept 24/7 and not fed them most expensive food and groomed everyday does not mean it is not in good condition, nor can you drag a poor looking horse out, bath it and expect to turn it from something out of the gutter into something fit for the queen's cavalry.

Just a have go and see how you do, any bad comments use as a learning curve to improve your horse/pony and your management, don't take it too badly, you never know you might do better than you think.

Good Luck!
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[ QUOTE ]
best condition doesnt matter if youve got marks on legs, its about muscle tone, weight, top line, haveing a good glossy healthy looking coat etc. its all about how well the horse is looking, and if that 25 yearold horse looked good for 25 then it should stand a good chance.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah......weight.....that explains it. The mare with the broken knees was a TB, but probably weighed twice as much as Ellie. A worthy winner in every way, I would say!
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And the 25yr old did NOT look good for it's age; in fact, it looked pretty horrendous. The judge went for the aaaaaaaaahhh factor. Perhaps if I had let my little brother take Ellie, she may have stood a chance?

Sorry, I'm VERY cynical
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I find it is usually the fattest horse wins, even if it is so obese it can hardly waddle. In one show last year a horse from our yard (now owned by my hubby) came 2nd and she was really quite fat wheras my boy (TB) came last. I had a quick chat to the judge after to ask what we could do to improve our chances and she said he needs more muscle, now he was ridden nearly every day and works properly whereas the 2nd placed horse was ridden maybe once a month but was MUCH fatter.
 
Hmmm a good judge should be able to tell the difference between fat and muscle and is one of the things you do look for.... specially in a condition class!, there is nothing worse in my eyes than seeing an over weight equine, its not good for them nor should a 3 year old look like a 5 year old, too many people are pumping there youngsters with rich food and top line conditioning feed to fatten and mature youngsters, yes I agree we should do what we can to make them grow into a healthy horse and improve their condition, but some people take it too far.
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I much prefer a lean horse, obviously not something that looks like an RSPCA case but not with a bum and tummy that wobble when you trot!
 
My daughter put her heavyweight cob in a condition (grass kept) class last week. It was interesting as it was judged by a local vet and he was going for the leaner fit ponies. He placed our cob 4th and said that he thought he was carrying too much weight at first but having run a hand over him he found his ribs and muscle! I think the trend seems to be towards not having a fat horse but then again
some non cob judges think he's fat when he is actually a really heavy build.
 
when i first got my welsh cob i entered a BC class, just to see how he would behave at a show, he was grossley obese, with half of his mane missing, and patches of hair missing from where he had been playfighting with a colt, he was 3rd out of 18..
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I am horrified reading some of these posts. I do a lot of judging and have literally judged hundreds of Best Condition classes. Obviously I can only speak for myself but I would never put a fat horse (nor a thin horse) before one in good condition, as someone said the clue is in the title.

Personally I do take conformation into account, as well as age and of course the horse must be sound. Blemishes only come into it if I can't decide between two horses.

Please remember that first impressions count and although turnout doesn't come into Best Condition classes you do not want to draw attention to yourself for the wrong reasons.

I would suggest you complain to the organisers so they don't use that judge again.
 
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