TWH Cross-enter restrictions for this North American Pleasure Gaited Horse Championships: Please choose a category for each horse in the following circumstances:
Amateur vs. Amateur Owned, Trained and Ridden (A.O.T.R.) at the championship and grand-championship levels
English and Western Pleasure vs. Trail Pleasure English and Western.
2 gait vs. 3 gait at the championship and grand-championship levels
Rules of IJA/FOSH will be followed: We encourage all inquiries and hope you will review the IJA rulebook
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The International Judges Association (IJA) was created in 1998 by Friends of Sound Horses,
Inc. to provide fair, sound and natural judging standards for all Gaited Horses. To level the playing field for horses not altered or trained through mechanical intervention and bring back the pride of showing horses that develop their God-given talent through classical training and honest effort.
Differences from traditional TWH "performance" shows for people new to IJA and FOSH. Any questions not answered or unclear, please contact your Breed Representative or email Dianne Little, FOSH Vice-president and IJA director of Judging ddlittle@telusplanet.net
New classes for the North American Championships:
- TWH Authentic Gaits -
This class is designed to showcase the Running Walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse.
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• For this class all judges are equal and independent.
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Judging Criteria
• 90% gait
• 10% pleasure qualities
Class Procedure
Horses enter the ring individually. Within 20 ft. of entry gate, transition to the running walk, and make one complete circuit of the ring at the running walk. The horse then exits the ring.
• Each horse exits the arena before the next horse enters the ring.
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When all exhibitors have completed the circuit, judges will compare cards to determine which horses continue to the second phase of the competition.
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Horses who met the criteria are then called back to the ring for the second phase of competition.
• Judges stand in different areas of the arena.
• The class then proceeds as a normal pleasure class.
• Judges may not confer until all cards are turned it to the Ring Master.
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A designated person (ring master or show secretary examines each card and determines the overall placing.
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An easy way to determine points is to assign points to each placing. (For example:10 points for first, 9 points for second, 8 points for third etc.)
Shoeing
OGB Western Ranch Horse 2 gt -
The Ranch Horse reflects suitability and qualities of a horse used as a working western horse. It is exceptionally responsive, willing and quiet yet always alert. All gaits are performed correctly with effortlessness, efficiency and stamina. It posses shorter coupling with a noticeably muscular frame.
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Performance and way of going of the Ranch Horse
• Ranch Horses are consistent in all gaits displaying timing, head nod, reach, stride and overstride appropriate to a working horse.
• The horse performs a true, four beat walking gait with correct footfall, shows an obvious increase in speed at the running walk, and maintains a consistent ground covering 3 beat lope and a four beat controlled hand gallop.
• The headset is natural and relaxed so that the horse can spot potential hazards. (between 45 to 90 degrees and not behind the vertical)
• The horse works quietly and steadily.
• The foot should not break above the ankle.
• The horse responds willingly, quickly and quietly to all aids.
• The horse is alert.
• Ranch horses are willingly guided or controlled with no apparent resistance on a reasonably loose rein (one that has visible slack or a shallow ‘U”) without undue restraint. The rein is used when necessary to direct the horse not to check it into frame or gait.
• The horse performs a relaxed working walk on a loose relaxed rein. The head and neck drop and relax and the reins are loose and free swinging. The working walk is appropriate for following a slow moving herd of cattle without charging forward or changing speed. The horse will reverse at the working walk.
• The horse must halt on the rail from any gait.
• The horse reins back freely without resistance
• The horse demonstrates a 360 degree neck reined turn on the haunches in either direction.
Penalties
• A horse not demonstrating the described characteristics of an ideal Ranch Horse will be severely penalized, and will not be placed above a horse that both exhibits the described characteristics and performs the correct gaits in the class.
• Deviation from the correct walking gaits will be severely penalized.
• Horses with high knee action will be disqualified.
• Bumping, pumping or snatching of the reins (if seen by the judge) will result in disqualification.
• Hitting the horse with the rein (if seen by the judge) will result in disqualification.
• Cuing the horse in front of the cinch will be severely penalized.
• Horses traveling with an open mouth at any gait, or with evidence of tongue distress will be severely penalized.
• Two hands on the reins (except on a snaffle bit or bosal on a junior horse) will be severely penalized.
• Fingers between romal reins or more than one finger between split reins will be severely penalized.
• Horses that fail to back willingly or show resistance will be penalized.
• Horses on the wrong lead will be penalized.
• Horses that fail to stand quietly will be penalized.
• Horses that do not reverse correctly on the rail will be penalized.
• Horses that do not turn correctly on the haunches will be penalized.
Call of the Class for Ranch Horse - Horses enter at the flat walk. Horses enter the line-up at the working walk.
• Two gait classes - flat walk, running walk, working walk, reverse away from the rail at the working walk, flat walk, running walk, working walk and proceed to the line up.
• Three gait classes - flat walk, running walk, working walk, flat walk, lope and hand gallop, flat walk, working walk, reverse away from the rail at the working walk, flat walk, running walk, flat walk, lope, hand gallop, flat walk, working walk and proceed to the line up.
• A halt on the rail will be called from any gait.
• Reverse
o After the halt on the rail, the horse may be asked to reverse. When asked to reverse after the halt on the rail, the horse must execute a 180 degree turn on the haunches.
o When asked to reverse while in motion, the horse reverses at the working walk
• The horse stands square in the lineup.
• Horses reins back a minimum of four steps and complete a 360 degree neck reined turn on the haunches in either direction.
• A side pass in either direction may be requested. Each horse will be pulled from the line-up for the side pass.
Shoeing - Ranch Horse classes are not defined by shoe size but by way of going. Keg shoes with no trailers or turnbacks are the maximum shoes allowed. Shoes normally used in reining or cutting or for traction are also allowed.
Tack and Attire Ranch Horse Tack Equipment and Attire are required. For complete description refer to 636 Ranch Horse Tack, Equipment and Attire and 608 Prohibited Tack, Equipment and Attire. Refer to 609, 610, 611, 612, 614 and 615 for Allowable bits.
TWH Heritage Tennessee Walking Horse class -
• This class is designed to reward the truly natural Tennessee Walking in all aspects - the horse that gaits with natural angles and without long toes or the addition of weight. This is the horse that exemplifies the historical background of the breed in gait qualities, pleasure qualities, effortlessness movement, ground covering ability and stamina.
• Shoeing is limited to keg shoes without trailers or caulks and barefoot horses.
• Maximum hoof length is 4.5 inches or less including the shoe.
• The class may be two gait or three gait. If the class is two gait, show management may allow 3 gait horses to enter.
To Be Judged:
TWH move in a variety of styles, in a variety of frames and with a variety of animation. Natural or Heritage horses will be evaluated on quality of gait, pleasure horse qualities, stamina and ground covering ability regardless of style, frame or animation.
Shoeing: Horses may be barefoot or keg shoe without trailers or caulks.