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Gaited Horse Book and Gift Catalog
Whispering Pine Press, Inc.
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Gaited Horse Book and Gift Catalog
C/O Whispering Pine Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 1469 Spokane Valley, WA 99037-1469 USA
Phone: (509) 927-0404 Publisher’s website – flash: www.whisperingpinepress.com Publisher’s website - html: www.bookcatalog.info Publisher’s e-mail: info@whisperingpinepress.com Publisher’s e-mail: info@bookcatalog.info
Gaited Horse E-mail:
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Performance Horse Division: The purpose of the Performance Horse Division is to recognize horses that compete in disciplines that require specialized or advanced training. This Division demonstrates the versatility and suitability of NASHA horses for various types of work. Categories:
Sporting Horse Division: The purpose of Sporting Horse Division is to reward horses who participate in challenging and interesting horse games and sports. Categories:
Award Program Show Rules: All horses shown in NASHA classes, at NASHA shows or competing in the NASHA Award Program must be trail shod or barefoot with shoe and hoof length suitable for sustained long distance travel. Any type of tack or combination of tack styles may be used in Road Gait and Park Gait classes. Plantation, Traditional, English, Western or Australian is acceptable. Tack used in Open events must comply with the rules of that event. Tack for Road Gait Classes: The tack used in Road Gait classes must be suitable for work and sustained travel and must include saddle bags or the equivalent. The clothing used for Road Gait classes should also be suitable for long distance travel. Tack for Park Gait Classes: The tack used in Park Gait classes should be well embellished and fancy. The clothing can be very fancy and suitable for showing rather than travel. However, both the tack and clothing must be considered the least important aspect with regard to Judging these classes. Mane and Tail adornment for this class consists of 1 to 3 flowers (real or artificial) with ribbon streamers for the mane and 1 to 3 flowers with ribbon streamers for the tail. Judging NASHA Model Classes: NASHA Model classes are designed to address the needs of long distance travel horse owners. There is no correct breed type. The horses are judged on the qualities required in horses destined for sustained travel. Judging is divided into 3 sections.
Any horse that is faulty under (1) should not be considered for section (2). Any horse that does not measure up under (2) should not be considered for (3). Qualities are judged in order of importance.
Judging NASHA Road Gait: The object of Road Gait class is to pick the most ideal mount for sustained long distance travel. Emphasis is placed on naturalness of gait, maximum smoothness at all speeds, a smooth transition from one speed to another, range in gait, manners, serviceable conformation, endurance and a sure-footed gait. The horse should always give the impression that the single-foot is a natural easy gait for the horse and one the horse likes to travel at. The rider and horse should never look "held in gait". The rider and horse should look relaxed. The ideal single-footing gait should be as near to even in timing as is possible. The horse must cap and will show moderate overstride at the road gait speed, the amount of overstride will increase with speed and at high speed the overstride may be considerable. The horse will show enough lift in front to cover uneven ground. The stride of a single-footing horse should be medium in length except at the racing speeds where the horse can exhibit a much longer stride. The name "single-footing gait" comes from the fact that at the highest speeds these horses will be traveling with one foot on the ground at the time and three feet off the ground. As some of these horses approach the upper end of the road speed they may start to exhibit the "single-foot". Others will not exhibit the "single-foot" until racing speeds are reached. This is normal and either is correct. It is also normal for these horses to drift slightly to a more lateral timing at the highest speeds. The racing single-foot is not being called for or judged in a Road Gait class. At the slower speeds these horses travel with multiple feet on the ground at a time just like other gaited horses. The full range of speeds which a horse can maintain a true single-footing gait is called "range in gait". The single-footing gait is unique because of the range of speeds at which the gait can be performed. A relaxed trail gait (7-9 mph), a ground eating road gait (10-16 mph) or the racing speed (over 20 mph). When a judge calls for "range in gait" a rider should ask the horse to exhibit the full range of working speeds from a relaxed trail speed to a road gait speed, but not the racing speed. Road Gait class is judged in a very different manner than most show gait classes. While a good rider and a well trained horse are an asset, the horse and rider should not be rewarded for training ability at the expense of a horse with superior qualities and a less professional presentation. In NASHA classes the rider will be asked to "push" the horse rather than carefully holding the horse in gait. This is done to check for strength and naturalness of gait which is critical to a usable trail mount and to check for range in gait which is characteristic of the Single-Footing Horses. If the rider does not show range in gait then the judge must assume the horse has no range or a very limited range in gait. Range in gait is characteristic of a true single-footing gait and therefore is important to this breed. The rider will also be asked to make one lap with reins dropped to the buckle. This also checks for strength of gait. The judge may ask for this to be done in small groups or one horse at a time if multiple stallions are in the class. Smoothness is of great importance and the horse should be checked for smoothness at the walk, transition from the walk to the road gait, and at the road gait. Any "up and down" or "back and forth" movement indicates lack of smoothness. It is normal to see some decrease in smoothness with speed. The ideal is the smoothest possible ride with the largest possible range in gait. The ideal horse will maintain a single-footing gait at various speeds. Breaking to a trot or pace should be penalized. A horse that continually shows a lot of slip toward the trot or pace should be considered very weak gaited and faulted. A horse that does break gait while demonstrating range in gait, but recovers quickly should not be penalized to the degree of a horse that shows no range in gait. Horses should show some lift in front. Not so much as to interfere with smoothness, but clearly enough to travel over uneven ground on a trail. Any stumbling in the class should be faulted. The horse should also clear the ground with it's rear feet. The running walk, fox trot, slick pace, extremely tight choppy short striding horses, extremely long striding horses that cause the rider excessive front to back movement at the walk, head nod, excessively low front or rear movement which causes stumbling, a horse that does not at least cap should all be penalized as these are NOT characteristics of the single-footing gait. Any horse showing lack of endurance must be penalized. Any horse lacking serviceable conformation should be faulted to the degree it would interfere with the horse's ability on the trail. Manners are of extreme importance to a travel horse. The horse should go in an easy, relaxed, and willing manner. The horse should be alert and responsive to cues. A judge can work horses in pairs, one at a time, or ride any horse to better help the judge determine naturalness of gait, smoothness or range in gait. At the end of the class the horses will be required to line up and stand quietly while the rider dismounts, ground ties the horse, goes to the saddle bags (or equivalent), opens the saddle bags, reaches in, closes them, and remounts. The horse will be required to back at least 5 steps. Any tack; Traditional, Plantation, Australian, English or Western can be used. Mechanical hackamores. bosals and sidepulls are acceptable. Any combination of tack styles is acceptable. The tack should be serviceable and safe and of a type suitable for trail and long distance travel. No mane or tail adornment is allowed. Horses are shown with full mane and tail. The horse must be trail shod (suitable shoe for long distance travel) or barefoot and have a hoof length suitable for long distance travel. Any sign of "soring" will result in a vet check and if found will result in immediate disqualification. No NASHA award program points in any class during that show will be awarded for that horse, rider or owner. The horse, rider, and owner will not be allowed to enter any other NASHA classes at that show. No action devices are allowed in showing or training. |
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P.O. Box 1469 Spokane Valley, WA 99037-1469 USA Phone: (509) 927-0404 | Fax: (509) 927-1550 Publisher’s website – flash: www.whisperingpinepress.com Publisher’s website - html: www.bookcatalog.info Publisher’s e-mail: info@whisperingpinepress.com Publisher’s e-mail: info@bookcatalog.info
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