Guidelines for Breeds & Disciplines

[--IRISH]

BREED GUIDELINES BY DISCIPLINE

This is a categorized list of disciplines and show classes we have here at CF. Underneath each heading are breeds that typically excel at these disciplines and are commonly seen. Some breeds are not popular because they are considered "rare" or "endangered" but are athletic and physically capable of the task nonetheless. The reason for creating these guidelines is because we have seen applications where horses are said to compete in disciplines to which they are simply not suited. While by no means does your horse HAVE to fit within these guidelines, we highly encourage it as it will make accepting your application easier and your character more probable.

A Few Quick Notes:
A warmblood type horse is defined as a horse that has both a draft breed (think Clydesdale, Percheron, Belgian, etc.) mixed with a 'hot' breed (Thoroughbred, Arabian, Quarter Horse, et cetera). The term "warmblood" does not imply that Warmbloods are direct crosses of "cold" and "hot" blood.

`SHOW JUMPING

A successful show jumper needs long, clean legs with a powerful rump and high shoulder and long humerus bone that can fold neatly over a jump to lift the horse's legs out of the way. They need a long neck to help balance them over the jump as well as a long spine to allow flexibility and collection and extension in stride.

Acceptable Breeds

• Warmblood types including Hanoverians, Trakehners, Holsteiners, Oldenburgs, Irish Sport Horses, Knabstruppers, Selle Francais, Cleveland Bays
  
• Thoroughbreds
  
• Anglo Arabians
  
• Quarter Horse (in the lower levels)
  
• Australian Stock Horse
  
• Welsh D/Cob

`HUNTERS

A successful hunter is flat kneed with high suspension in their gaits. They should float when they move with snapping strides and appear calm and level headed. Successful hunters have low, flat shoulders and are typically more square and stout in appearance than jumpers. Their shoulders are flatter and therefore their knees are less able to fold upwards, although height in the hunter ring is less important as form and style. A hunter should appear calm, collected, and confident over jumps. A "cute" hunter is priceless in the ring. A "cute" hunter jumps ears forward, knees tucked and eyes bright.

Acceptable Breeds

• Warmblood types including Hanoverians, Trakehners, Holsteiners, Oldenburgs, Irish Sport Horses, Knabstruppers, Cleveland Bays
  
• Thoroughbreds
  
• Arabians
  
• Anglo Arabians
  
• Quarter Horses
  
• Welsh ponies class C, D/Cob
  
• Haflingers
  
• Australian Stock Horse

`DRESSAGE

Desired traits amongst Dressage horses include a laid back shoulder and high, stout neckset. The shoulder pushes the withers and therefore the rider further back, more over the horse's center of gravity, allowing more forward reach with the forehand to allow freedom for extension and collection as well as a long humerus to allow lateral movement as in a sidepass of pirrouette. Dressage horses should have high action and good suspension in their gaits as well as clean, straight movements. Horses that "sweep" or have "round" gaits (ex: andalusions, fresians, etc.), while pretty, are not admired in international dressage.

Acceptable Breeds

• Warmblood types including Hanoverians, Trakehners, Holsteiners, Oldenburgs, Irish Sport Horses, Gypsy Sport Horses, Knabstruppers
  
• Thoroughbreds
  
• Lipizzaners
  
• Welsh D/Cobs
  
• Haflingers
  
• Anglo Arabians
  
• Andalusians
  
• Australian Stock Horse

`CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country horses must be fast, nimble, brave, intelligent, well balanced and agile. They have to have powerful shoulders and haunches to power through ditches and water jumps as well as high reach with their forehand to maneuver uphill jumps. While Cross Country horses come in all shapes and sizes as the late Teddy O'Connor proved, typically logical and accepted horses come from stock of proven sport horses and athletes.

Acceptable Breeds

• Warmblood Types
  
• Thoroughbreds
  
• Anglo Arabians
  
• Australian Stock Horse
  
• Welsh D/Cob

`EVENTING

Eventing horses are a culmination of all three main equestrian events; cross country, dressage, and jumping. They must have sound conformation and have a good "happy medium" type build to both maneuver Grand Prix jumps and dangerous cross country courses as well as execute the precision and grace desired in the dressage ring. Horses with the conformation, aptitude, temperament, and talent to compete Grand Prix across the board or at olympic levels are few and far between.

Acceptable Breeds

• Warmblood types including Hanoverians, Trakehners, Holsteiners, Oldenburgs, Irish Sport Horses
  
• Thoroughbreds
  
• Australian Stock Horse
  
• Welsh D/Cob

`WESTERN PLEASURE

Western Pleasure horses have a very low head carriage as well as a flat topline and short, sweeping gaits with low suspension and low action. They jog and lope as opposed to trotting and cantering. Western Pleasure horses must appear calm and sedate throughout all three gaits with little disturbance to rider with transitions and lead changes.

Acceptable Breeds

• Quarter Horses
  
• Appendix Quarter Horses
  
• Paints
  
• Appaloosas
  
• Australian Stock Horse

`REINING

Reining horses must be small, compact, with a low center of gravity and incredibly nimble. Successful reining horses have a low head carriage that ties into low withers and a short, flat back and wide, powerful hind quarters with thick loins to provide a powerful stop. Their hocks should be well underneath them to allow them to fall back into their stops and turns. They should not be overly excited or lively in appearance but obedient and level headed with an extra spark when asked.

Acceptable Breeds

• Quarter Horses
  
• Paints
  
• Australian Stock Horse

`WORKING CLASSES

Successful cattle horses in disciplines such as cutting and penning are short and built. This allows them to drop their forehand and shoulder to follow a cow and separate them from their herd. Their neck should be level and well attached but not so thick and heavy as to impede movement. Their small build allows them to be very quick and very physical. With less body to maneuver they can turn quicker to better follow a cow. Working Horses need to have a very 'cowy' personality, or cow sense. They can usually anticipate a cow's turn and the top cutting horses need very little to no guidance from their rider. Cow Horses should be aggressive but not violent in the ring and have a very attentive countenance.

Acceptable Breeds

• Quarter Horses
  
• Paints
  
• Appaloosas
  
• Australian Stock Horse

`BARREL RACING

Successful Barrel Racers need to be small, quick, and agile. Larger horses have more difficulty bending around the barrels and their strides are too extended. Barrel horses need to be very much so underneath themselves to provide quick precision in movements. It's all about speed in the world of barrel racing, and while conformation and appearance doesn't mean much and it is all against the clock, natural talent means everything. Small, more compact breeds are usually more adept at racing.

Acceptable Breeds

• Quarter Horses
  
• Paints
  
• Thoroughbreds (under 15.3 hands)
  
• Arabians
  
• Pony of the Americas
  
• Appendix Quarter Horses
  
• Australian Stock Horse

*These guidelines were created by Soy for Irish.

[/blockquote][/justify]