Evaluate and place these reining mares. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s.
I’m judging these 2-year-old mares based on their suitability for reining careers. Many qualities are required of performance horses, including a good mind, but good conformation and adequate muscling will make any performance horse’s job easier on mind and body, and help preserve soundness.
I’m first looking for overall balance, from front to back and top to bottom. A well-balanced horse will have front and hind ends that match with good angles, substance and muscling, as well as good depth to the body. I want to see a topline that’s shorter in relation to the underline, well sloped shoulders and hips, and clean legs with appropriate angles. In young horses such as these, I am forgiving of hip-high toplines, taking into account natural growth patterns.
I do like to see femininity in mares, but it can’t be traded for balance, structural correctness, substance, and strength. Reining is a highly demanding sport, and nowhere in the job description does it say the horse’s head must be pretty, so I’m judging these mares on their potential to perform in a very physically demanding discipline.
How to Take a Good Conformation Clinic Photo
Karen Baniste owns and operates White Harvest Farms, a boarding and training facility in Brighton, Colorado. As a trainer, Baniste produces world champion horses and riders on AQHA, APHA, and USEF show circuits. As a judge, she holds AQHA, APHA, ApHC, PtHA, and NSBA cards, and is sought after around the world, having judged in Canada, Mexico, Australia, Israel, Italy, France, Germany, and Belgium, as well as throughout the United States.
To submit a photo of your horse to be evaluated in Conformation Clinic, send us a left-side profile photo of your horse (high-resolution, 300 dpi, in at least 3″ x 5″) to HorseandRider@equinenetwork.com with your contact info and your horse’s breed, age, gender, and height. We welcome all breeds!