2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

71 A Judge shall dismiss a horse if it offers an obstacle to other exhibitors, including horses rearing, balking, kicking, running away or leaving arena. A “form to function” score card outlines the manner in which a horse is to be judged. This scoring guide defines the individual components relating to the Conformation Score Card in these areas: 1. Model classes are to be judged as follows: a) Balance 40%, Conformation Structure 20%, Feet & Legs 15%, Gait 15%, Conditioning 10% 1) Balance 40% a. Vertical, 15%: Top of withers to chest floor = chest floor to ground b. Horizontal, 15%: Body is divided into three equal parts: (1) Point of shoulder to withers (2 ) Withers to hip (3) Hip to buttock (4) Neck to be equal to or longer than 1/3 of body c. Head, 10% (1) Length to be equal or shorter than 1/3 of body (2) Distance from outside of one eye to outside of the opposite eye should be equal to one-half length of head (3) Large nostrils (4) Refined muzzle and jaw (5) Ears of moderate size and shape, setting forward and erect at halter 2) Conformation Structured, 20% a. Slope of shoulder, 5%: Long, flat, 45 to 50-degree angle b. Width of chest and hip, 5%: should be wide and equal c. Slope of croup, 5%: (1) Same height as withers (2) Slight downward tilt (3) Tailset high d. Muscle development, 5%: (1) Gaskin (a) Smooth on the outside of the leg with slight bulge (b) Flat gaskin inside the leg (2) Forearm (a) Moderate muscle in forearm (b) Muscles are long patterned (3) Chest (a) Should be wide (b) Defined pectorals (4) Moderate muscle, rear quarter (a) Width at hip to be equal to width at buttock (3) Feet & Legs, 15% a. Straight front legs and feet, 5% (1) Viewed from side (2) Viewed from front (3) Foot oval shaped, setting at approximately same angle as shoulder b. Set of rear leg and feet, 5% (1) Viewed from side (a) Should have slight set to leg (b) Post leg and sickle legs are discounted (2) Viewed from rear (a) Should be straight from hip through foot