Do you think judges are prejudiced against?

Question

Do you think judges are prejudiced against horses with long manes? I show a palomino quarter horse in english and western pleasure [showmanship as well], and I don't feel the need to cut and band my horse's mane. Are youth judges prejudiced against this? My horse is not the slowest of horses, and wasn't bred to show, but we still do well and I feel we're at the same level as most other horses in the ring. What is your opinion on this?

Answer 1

The only reason why they ask that the horse's mane be cut is because they want to be able to see the neck properly... it makes it harder to judge when there is hair flying everywhere and they're trying to see the form of your horse.

As a rule, I think that judges do judge a bit harshly... but when they ask for appearance, I usually just use it as easy marks :P

edit: just thought I'd add that I do like the longer manes on the Western horses better. :)

Answer 2

Its their opinion, but I think horses with long manes are better looking. Maybe they just think its tacky and should be styled or so.

Answer 3

I think braiding and banding is the same as wearing nice clothes and making sure your tack is clean - it's showing respect for the judge and their time. If you and another horse show exactly the same and earn the same points or whatever and the other horse is banded, braided and polished to a blinding shine the other horse will win.

There are braids that you can do for long manes but if you are showing English it's required to be a certain way. Find the rules for the classes you are going to be attending and see what the requirements are.

Answer 4

in english, they usually are kind of because it looks 'untidy' or whatever. in western, not as much cuz its more natural. i ride englis, and i see this. in western, i dont.

Answer 5

aw i love long manes! but how long is it? how thick is it?

do you just brush it out and let it fall?

you should wash it then once it's dry braid it in little braids and let it sit then when you take it out the mane will be nice and wavy! and prety! don't gorfet to shine it up!

Answer 6

yea ive shown quarter horse for 6 years now and from my experience i would say that you should cut your mane......the only horses that do well with long manes are the really experiences western pleasure horses sorry, but thats just the way things are at quarter horse shows

Answer 7

sorry but i think that some r. i think that it is worse in english i think it isnt as bad in western and sometimes showmanship. but i think they r sometimes in showmanship. if u dont feel the need to cut it then dont.

Answer 8

No the judges are not prejudiced against long manes.  The only thing is if it need to be in brades or anything and you leave it down they may be able to take off points so you will get a lower score so if thats the case it may look like the judge is taking points off because its to long when it might be that it is just not groomed correctly.  If that not the case it may be that the judge is not as fond of your horse as it may be to thee horse next to you.  I love long manes personally and they make the horse look better and stand out.  If you feel that your at the same level then your probly just overthingking the sitution.  I do that all the time lol.  Well good luck showing and by the way your horse sounds beautiful!!!!

Answer 9

Most horse shows are political and judges are prejudiced against all sorts of things so it wouldn't surprise me if they are prejudiced against your horse.

Answer 10

no not at all..in fact it think  a long mane is pretty and looks better and more natural

Answer 11

NO not at all judges like either a short trimed main but if your horses main is goin to be long its gotta be  LONG  not in the middle or nothin. but the freakin judges red tag me every year so no matter what i do they still dock me points........................a******s haha

so if your horses main is gonna be long keep growin it out.

Answer 12

I think some judges are against anything out of the norm, but some are not.  After all, the styles would never change if no judge ever embrassed the new.  A few years ago a QH placed well at the world show with a full length mane in a western rail class.  They did band the mane to give it a finished look, and so perhaps that is what you are missing.  

For english, you are going against a hundred years of tradition when you leave the mane loose.  You could braid the mane down the crest of the neck, or braid in long braids- sweeping the braids back in loops ataching them to a braid three braids down the neck.  There is a good book new to the market that illustrated braids and banding techniques.  

Basically, if you aren't THE BEST in the ring, you probably shouldn't be trying to set trends.  If you don't want to shorten the mane, then still complete the" turned out to perfection " picture.

Answer 13

If you are showing in english, halter, western pleasure, showmanship, trail, those types of things yes they do ask that your horse have its mane pulled in halter the judge told me that they dont mind it not pulled if they are a yearling or under but once they are 2 to pull and band it they do count off points for the mane some take off more than other but yes you are getting points deducted my halter and estern pleasure mare has her mane pulled but my other horses don't It is your choise to pull it or not

Answer 14

They may see it as untidy.  It just looks cleaner when it is trim and banded.  YOu may be losing points for that.

Answer 15

yeah some are.

They believe if you are showing, you should follow breed standards-which for QH is a short, banded mane.  like in Showmanship they need to be Squared up, banded mane, leather halter, chain under mose.

Altho my friend has a qh and keeps her mane long and they do well alot of time.

Answer 16

I feel that judges are in general very bad about playing favorites.  But in the youth division your problem may simply be that by refusing to cut and band your horse's mane like the judges want, the judges (right or wrong) feel it shows a certain amount of lack of discipline and horsemanship and perhaps even a little laziness.

No I do not feel that way just trying to get you to see something from their perspective.  If current standards in a class or show say you should do something then you need to do it if you want to win or even place.  Refusal to do this suggests to many people you either do not know that it should be done or that you lack the incentive and initiative to do it.  They can not read your mind to realize the reason you are not is that you think the mane is more beautiful as it is.

Answer 17

it is the judges decision! personaly, i prefer horses with their manes braided for showing etc, which is the norm over here. You could always do a continental braid (one long french braid dwn the base of the mane). The point in braiding/plaiting is so that the judge can see that the horse has the correct conformation, ie no bull or ewe neck, so if they may think your hiding something. They may also think it looks untidy.

Answer 18

Yes and no.  It depends on the show standards and rules.  As some people said,  you should keep in mind the standards for the breed and what you are competing in.  

I also want to point out, though, that there is sometimes a reason for shorter or banded/plaited manes and tails.  In classes where conformation appearance is important, long, loose manes/tails can detract from the overall impression of the horse, or highlight flaws in neck or rear/hind leg conformation.

In classes where your horse's movement is being scruitinized, longer manes/tails can make a small flaw in movement seem bigger than it is, or even make it seem like there are problems where there aren't any.

Answer 19

I wouldn't be surprised. My horse has a long mane also and I've had a lot of pressure to cut it. I just show in 4h, but ill be showing at state too in color guard and I've heard the judges have counted off for tons of stupid reasons. (One judge said it was disrespectful to have flag patterned saddle pads cuz it was like sitting on the flag...the saddle pads were striped w/ 5 stars! Two others disagreed when one counted off for not having all the horses have hoof black, and the other counted off when they all did have hoof black!) So, needless to say, judges will always have their own opinions. There's nothing you can do about it. Just do what you want and have fun doing it! P.S. Go palomino quarter horses!! That's what mine is!

I just had to edit...I  found it so ironic that the first person to respond to this had the name cierra when it was my horse's name...and i created the spelling! Oh the irony...haha

Answer 20

I am a horse show judge and can tell you that  - "it depends."  Some classes things like grooming do count toward who wins the class.  Things like showmanship - the horse needs to be clean and neat - he must have had a bath - a horse just pulled out of the pasture that still is dirty is going to have a very hard time placing above a well groomed, banded, bathed, well broke horse.

However, if your horse is well groomed in every way (clipped, etc.) and you have a great ride - by all means - yes I will place you above a horse with a banded main.

Your horse just must be presentable.  You  don't want to offend the judges and the other people in the class by not doing your part in grooming.  If you're doing your part - the horse is clipped, bathed, and looking gorgeous - by all means - don't worry about the mane!

After all, most reining horses keep their long manes and most can walk into a western pleasure or even HUS class and do spectacular.  But, they do look presentable.

Groom your horse for the show, but if you really don't like the cut mane look - then tha'ts okay!  Do know that the reason for reason for the cut mane is that it helps to show off the neck better.

Hope that makes sense!