Q: “Should we use the quarter system in a halter class while the judge is judging like we would in a showmanship class, or just keep it simple and stay on opposite sides?”
A: Alex Ross, AQHA’s senior director of judges and stewards, says that in showmanship classes, the quarter method is required by AQHA rules. The rules for halter classes do not mention the quarter method.
Most halter exhibitors show their horse in a way that best presents the horse’s conformation and expression to the judges. While those exhibitors may change quarters when the judge is inspecting from the front view, none of the halter exhibitors change quarters when the judge is inspecting from the sides or rear. They are focused on showing their horse at his best and usually do it from the near side of the horse so they can use their left hand to ask the horse to perk his ears.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the article from Holly Wilson of The American Quarter Horse Association
