American Model Arabian Horse Association * Judging Guide *

RULE A: Classes may be split if it would not leave one section with fewer than twenty(20) entries. For example, if there were 30 geldings entered, but only 9 of them were OF, you would not split the class.

RULE B: NO TIES ARE ALLOWED when naming champions/reserves! PERIOD! If you can’t decide, ask yourself this: who won the toughest class? If you have to, get a family member to choose, or flip a coin, roll a die, whatever. If there is a tie listed, the 2 horses involved will only get 1/2 the points, as the pointkeeper will divide the ch/res points between the two.

PUREBRED GENDER
Judged on conformation and Arabian typiness above all else, but an entry should be knocked down for blurry out-of-focus photos, or a photo that hides or cuts off the horse’s feet (ears out of frame is a lesser fault). Yes, "coat condition" (finish) does play a part, but a mint Lady Roxanna/Prancing Mare should never be placed above a Proud Arab Mare just because the PAM has a few minor rubs. Major rubs will affect a horse’s placing, just as a real horse with an ungroomed appearance will not be looked upon favorably by a judge.

Coat Color/markings: Non-Arab coat colors should be penalized. Real purebred Arabians do not come in palomino, buckskin, dun, or with tobiano markings. Sabino does occur, and can be quite extensive. High white on legs and face or body spots are not to be penalized. True roan does not exist in the purebred Arabian, but there is a mare that looks almost true roan in a photo (had just been body-clipped, perhaps?). Extreme rabicanos can look almost like a true roan, but generally the head will not be overly darker than the body color.

The OF gelding class may be split Plastic/China if there are at least 20of each finish (see Rule A).

The foal classes can be split colt/filly if there are enough entries (see Rule A).

Champion/Reserve Gender: To be given to both OF and CM. Line up the first place winners from classes 1-10. Choose the horse you feel is the best representative of its gender as your Champion. Replace that photo with the horse who placed second to your champion. Choose your Reserve Champion from those horses.

PUREBRED TYPE
This class will be more subjective to the judge's eye, as what may look Egyptian to one person, another person may think it looks more Polish or American, etc.

#9&10-American: This is where any horse with more than 2 types should go (i.e. a Polish/Egyptian/Spanish horse). Since there are many different breeding programs with different goals in the U.S., it is rather hard to point out any one horse as being the definitive American-bred horse, though Khemosabi is often referred to as such.

#11&12-Egyptian: Models must be Straight Egyptian to enter this class -- Egyptian-related horses should go in class #20. There are two general types of Egyptians, "old" and "new". The Old Egyptians were from the earlier importations of Henry Babson and W. R. Brown (and a few others). The older imports tend to be somewhat more rounded than the "new" Egyptians, who are generally fine-boned and very graceful.

#13&14-Polish:Polish Arabs tend to be bigger and not as typey as other Arabs. Their heads tend to be long and straight with a boxy muzzle. There are exceptions, such as the stallion Comet, who produced typier offspring. Their build suits them exceptionally well for performance. Accordingly, they should look very athletic.

#15-Crabbet/Old English/CMK:Since it is sometimes very difficult to verify that a real horse advertised as Crabbet *is* actually straight Crabbet, this class is open to horses that are at least 75% Crabbet. The non-Crabbet lines, however, should be from British or earlier American lines. CMK horses (Crabbet/Maynesboro/Kellogg) can go here. A horse who is 75% Crabbet but 25% Polish (or Egyptian, Spanish, etc) should go in class #17. If there are less than 10 entries, please combine this class with 16.

Additional notes from the classlist:

B--Showmanship requires a halter with lead or bridle (handler is optional). These classes can be split standing/action if enough entries.

C--This class is for those horses that have been modified at the factory and have factory paint jobs. It is also for Test Runs.

One photo per model per class except for:

D--These may have 3 photos per horse.

E--May split if there are at least 15 of each

F--May have one each: arena and natural--can split class if there are at least 15 of each

G--Includes Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, etc.

H--Includes Reining, Cutting, Roping, etc.

I--Includes Barrel Racing, Poles, etc.

J--Can have 3 photos per model, but must be of different STYLES of costume-- e.g., Showring, Native, Dancing Horse.

Show results and fees MUST be sent to the treasurer ASAP! PHOTOS ABSOLUTELY MUST BE RETURNED TO ENTRANTS WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE SHOWDATE so they can enter the next show. Do not delay in returning photos because of problems getting the results copied, etc.; if you cannot print the results for some reason within those two weeks, return the photos and send the results to entrants and the president within the next week. Failure to return entrants' photos AND results within the two weeks will render the judge ineligible to turn in points for the year. Please respect your fellow clubmembers and return their photos in a timely fashion. :)

Please also see the Showing Guide and class list for more rules