Horse Judging Notebook Set-Up
and Placing Cards
Emily Callahan, BSA
2008 ENRU and All-American Quarter Horse Congress
Reserve Champion Hippology Team
2009 ENRU (3rd Place) and All-American Quarter Horse
Congress (10th Place) Horse Judging Team
Illinois Junior Quarter Horse Judging Team
Setting Up a Notebook- Halter
Horse 1: color,
mare/gelding/stallion, and
markings, color of halter, etc
Good qualities
Bad qualities
Horse 3: color,
mare/gelding/stallion, and
markings, color of halter, etc
Horse 2: color,
mare/gelding/stallion, and
markings, color of halter, etc
Good qualities
Bad qualities
Horse 4: color, mare/gelding/stallion,
and markings, color of halter, etc
Good qualities
Good qualities
Bad qualities
Bad qualities
Setting Up a Notebook-Rail Classes
Horse 1: Color, rider’s shirt color,
saddle pad color, etc
Horse 2: Color, rider’s shirt
color, saddle pad color, etc
Direction 1
Direction 1
Direction 2
W
T
C
W
T
C
Horse 3: Color, rider’s shirt color,
saddle pad color, etc
Direction 1
Direction 2
W
T
C
Direction 2
Horse 4: Color, rider’s shirt color,
saddle pad color, etc
Direction 1
Direction 2
W
T
C
Do’s
• Always remember that your first impression is
probably right
• Look at the whole picture- do not overly fault a
horse for one minor problem
• In Halter classes, behavior does not count!
• Remember that in rail classes, the class does not
end until the judge turns in their card
• Try to visualize the class!!! It is best to rely on
your memory rather than your notes.
• Create your own short hand for note taking
Don’ts
• Just write down “good” or “bad.” What is good
or bad?
• Forget to write down identifying markers
• Forget your shorthand, you’ll be in a world of
hurt!
• Talk to others or compare notes during the
contest
• Forget to write down your placing in your
notebook or on the card that you turn in!
Short Hand Examples
•
•
•
•
For good balance:
For good heart girth:
For good legs:
For bad areas, I draw a slash through the
shape. Example, poorly balanced would look
like this:
Cards
Filling Out Your Card
• When you get your cards PUT YOUR NAME ON ALL OF
THEM!!!
– You cannot be given a score if they don’t know who you
are!
• Put your Team ID on the cards if you are competing as
a team
– You will be given this ID/number at the contest check-in
• Number all of the cards where it says “Class Number”
• Class name can be abbreviated (ex. HUS for Hunter
Under Saddle)
Marking Your Card
• After you have finished judging the class and
have decided the order you think the horses
belong in, simply mark an “X” in the box that
matches your placing
– Be VERY CAREFUL- you will not get a second
chance to correct your card
Card