Conformation Clinic: Ranch Mares

These mares would be typical of what I see in ranch conformation classes, with more casual presentation than a regular halter class. I always begin by assessing overall balance, then structural correctness to back up that balance. I’m looking for the horse that will provide the smoothest ride and stay sound through a working career the longest. In ranch conformation, mares, geldings, and stallions show together, and do take into consideration a mare’s feminine traits.  To stay organized and find the best horses, I put my classes in groupings, with the horses that are free of major faults in my top group, and any horses with major faults in my second group. I find the best in each group, and that helps me place them in an orderly manner. Presentation, even without the gloss of a regular halter class, matters very much, and with these three mares, I will place them based on what I can see in these photos and some guesswork based on uneven ground or without proper stances in some cases.