Halter horses some consider to be the pinnacle of what a horse’s physical appearance should look like, and in many cases, it is not far off. You would think that horses which emphasize beauty and power should be able to perform most tasks, even riding. However, they are typically just led around. Let’s see what else they can do, if anything.
Due to the fact that halter horses are bred and trained very specifically, which includes a particular diet and, in some cases, steroids, their bodies have physical limitations. This means they are not great at performing tasks like riding, jumping, or ranching and will need to be reconditioned.
This article will detail the aspects of halter horses, what characterizes them, why, what specific features separate them from other “breeds,” and if they can perform other tasks rather than just getting led. Everything you want to know about a halter horse, including how halter shows work, is included here, so read on.
Are Halter Horses Good For Anything But Leading Around?
The short answer is no; they are typically not built and trained for doing anything else besides being led. Halter horses are bred and trained to perform (or rather to be shown off) in halter competitions. Additionally, how they are groomed, fed, and trained adds to this bizarre “phenomenon” whereby they look amazing but can’t really do anything else.
Training a horse to be a halter includes a specific training regiment, a particular diet (high-quality alfalfa hay), and in some cases, steroids. Due to these various factors, these horses are sometimes not able to perform standard tasks that would be considered normal for any other horse. The elements discussed to play a role in causing the horse to have physical limitations.
We will need to look into why halter horses could not be deemed suitable for anything other than leading because they do seem to look as though they can take on any task when, in fact, they can’t even be ridden in most cases.
All aspects of halter horses keep returning to halter shows, how they are designed, how they are judged and what characteristics judges look for in halter horses.
These competitions are the main reason halter horses are not good for anything but leading. We will need to look into them in detail to discover what aspects of these competitions convince owners to train and develop horses in a way causing them to be not “functional” to a degree.
However, let’s first see if these horses can be ridden because surely this is still a function they can perform. It is their primary function, after all.
Are Halter Horses Good For Riding?
Due to how a halter horse is nurtured and trained, this class of horse (although able to be any breed) is specifically bred for competition (showmanship) and is not typically ridden.
However, despite hereditary issues, halter horses can be trained to do various jobs. As such, they can essentially be classified as your typical quarter horse.
If you understand anything about quarter horses, then you will know they can be utilized (employed) for racing, halter shows, and even farming. Thus even though they are typically bred for showmanship (competitions), many owners train them to be functional.
It should be noted that even though a halter horse may be ridden (depending), several aspects make doing so unpleasant. Two aspects that hinder riding are their obscenely straight legs and sloping shoulders. Even though these features are desirable elements that could win halter shows, they will tend to make a ride short and choppy.
Lastly, not all halter horses will be able to be ridden due to them, in some instances, having an excessive amount of muscle mass (muscling). Additionally, this amount of muscle mass will prevent them from running, trail riding, and jumping, limiting their movement, which can create joint complications.
As such, halter horses are not good for riding per se, and if you want to utilize them in terms of riding or any other function, they will need to be reconditioned.
Understanding Halter Horses
Halter horses, as we touched on, are horses that are specifically bred to be shown at halter competitions, and this does not involve riding whatsoever.
Even though many individuals may think that the halter class is not great in terms of the well-being of the horses (and in many cases, they would be rights), it is done to preserve breed standards by focusings on specific criteria.
It will help if you understand that halter horses, although visually appealing and looking as if they are in tip-top physical condition actually have physical limitations. We already discussed some of these limitations in the section above, and they should be remembered when trying to understand how halter shows work in accordance with the horse’s physical limitations.
Can Any Horse Breed Be A Halter Horse?
Halter horses are not specific to any particular breed, meaning a halter horse can essentially be any horse breed. If halter breeds have to be classified, then they are usually done so by the following;
- Stock breeds
- Action and gaited breeds
- Arabian halter breeds
- Draft breeds
- Other breeds
Halter Horse Stock Breeds
Stock breeds (breeds suited for working with livestock), especially in the U.S., emphasize “quality of conformation” when it comes to presentation. Some very popular halter stock breeds include;
- American Quarter Horse
- Appaloosa
- American Paint Horse
Action And Gaited Halter Breeds
These halter breeds are best known for a high trotting action, and some popular halters of this classification include;
- American Saddlebred
- Hackney
- Morgans
- Tennessee Walker
- Missouri Foxtrotter
Arabian Halter Breeds
These (as the name would suggest) are of Arabian decent, with some such popular breeds that include;
- Morab
- Welara
- Pinto horse
Draft Halter And Other Breeds
Draft halter horses are typically shown in a square stance with varying mane and tail styles. Other halter breeds include;
- Baroque horse
- Friesian
- Andalusian
- Lipizzan
How Does A Halter Horse Competition Work?
As you should know, halter is a classification of a horse competition that emphasizes and specifically means to “show the horse off” and “in hand.”. this literally means that the horses that compete in this category at a horse show will be led by their owners (the competitors). The horses are judged on a number of physical features that we will discuss in detail next.
However, we need to expand on how a halter show works. Many halter classes may be broken into two distinct phases.
The first is the inspection stage. This is where judges will examine each horse, one after the other, while analyzing conformation and type while simultaneously looking for any disqualification characteristics.
During this stage of the event, the horses will also be evaluated at the walk and jog so that the judges can determine and asses movement and “way of going.”.
Then there is the second stage of a halter show. This stage involves the horse returning to the “lineup.”. Competitors and their halters wait in turn while others are inspected.
It will help if you remember that shows and classes can be different and can additionally have other pattern requirements. In some instances, patterns may consist of walking in for inspection and then jogging away, while others may have all competitors jogging in and then lining up.
How Are Halter Horses Judged?
In 1995 the AQHA committee established a team to look into the halter horse class and determine how to evaluate this category. Firstly the class is divided by age and sex. A formative evaluation is then taken of the horse’s specific characteristics (traits).
The categories defined for judging a halter horse by the AQHA are as follows;
- Balance
- Structural correctness
- Marks (blemishes) and abnormalities
- Breed and Sex Characteristics
- Muscling
Balance
Balance in halter competitions (shows) is arguable the most important factor (characteristic) that separates a prize-winning halter from the rest. A halters skeletal framework must achieve almost perfect balance, and this is what must be judged. This can be tricky for judges to see, so there are specific ways to establish a halters skeletal framework.
Judges will do so by looking at specific reference points; although we will not go into detail, we will mention what these reference points are. They are namely;
- A sloping shoulder
- A top-to-bottom line ratio
- The neck
- Prominent withers
- A square hip
- An extended (long) croup and hip
Structural Correctness
The next aspect that judges have to consider is the structural correctness of the legs and feet. Judges will have to come up to the halter, stand beside it and determine whether the legs and feet are bent or not by creating an “imaginary line” from the halter’s buttocks toward the ground.
There are other considerations that judges have to account for, but going into this is beyond this article’s scope. We will only detail structural incorrectness and devitations that the judges are not looking for. Remember, refer to the AQHA judging manual here for a better reference. Structural incorrectness and deviation may include;
- Bucked-kneed or calf-kneed
- Toed-in
- Benched-kneed or In at Knees
- Sickle-hocked or Post-legged
- Cow-hocked
Marks (Blemishes) And Abnormalities
Next on the list of judge evaluations is that of blemishes and abnormalities, where judges have to determine whether any of these are a direct result of structural incorrectness or due to some other unrelated cause. These will include looking for;
- Ringbone
- Windpuffs
- Splints
- Bowed tendons
Judging these abnormalities needs to be considered fairly depending on the cause, whereby blemishes and abnormalities caused by incorrect structure will be penalized more heavily. Once again, we list structural deviation and that which the judges are not looking for. They are;
- Toed-in with ringbone
- Low and high splints
- In at the Knees – toed out
- In at the Knees – with a splint
- Bowed tendon
- Sickle-hocked with Curb
- Windpuff
Breed And Sex Characteristics
Second to last on the judge’s agenda when looking over a halter in a competition is to look at that of their sex (whether they are male or female). They are not trying to determine the horse’s sex in this instance but rather to classify and define their overall body style that conforms uniquely to specific breeds.
While very difficult to quantify, judges look for mares to exhibit femininity and stallions to exude masculinity.
Muscling
The last category (classification) that has to be judged in a halter competition is that of the horses muscling. The point of this category is not to find the biggest and strongest halter but rather one that has adequate and shapely muscling for its specific breed. Although the horse must be defined and look good, the proportion counts the most.
Thus, judges get around trying to determine which halter looks the best or has the adequate muscling structure by thinking along the lines of which halter does not have enough muscling. By doing this, they circumvent any misconceptions and bias coming to the halter, which is proportioned perfectly.
Conclusion
We discovered that halter horses are not a specific breed of horse but are any horse bred for showmanship, particularly for halter shows. It is interesting to think that these horses would probably not exist if halter shows did not exist.
Due to them being specifically bred for these particular competitions, they are not typically good for anything else besides being led. However, it should be understood that in many cases, these horses are trained functionally nowadays as an “average quarter horse” that can perform many tasks, which includes being ridden.
Therefore they are “designed” for their purpose, and if they are able to do anything else, they are usually not good at it, can’t do it at all, or have to be reconditioned to do so.
Resources
What Are Halter Horses (Can You Ride Them?)
Halter – Horse Judging – UNH Extension
Halter (horse show) – Wikipedia
How to Show in Halter Classes – Horse Illustrated MagazineAchieve the Ideal Halter Horse Body Type – SUCCEED Equine