A Judge's Perspective: 2015 AQHYA Horsemanship World Champion

AQHA Judge Holly Hover dissects the youth world championship pattern of Harley Huff and explains why her go was worthy of the gold trophy.

[@kaitlinring5355]

Question: Do you need a pivot foot? In the 360 turns her horse seems to move both back feet at some point. I was told that your horse has to always have on foot planted. Just wondering :) Please respond if anyone knows.

[@westernequine3738]

Kaitlin Ring I believe in HMS if a pivot foot is shown, it is a plus maneuver. If no pivot foot is shown it is average or below

[@nailadee]

As the horse turns the foot needs to be picked up and repositioned, it should go back to the original spot each time.

[@lej6550]

Every discipline is different, but I love how their “extended trot” isn’t even a working trot in dressage. Haha.

[@kathyharper7187]

This isnt dressage so why even compare it to that? Another ridiculous uninformed comment

[@NatalieMiller19]

Don't be so rude in your replies, she is just saying how they are different!

[@ShainaFrolik10752]

Western is more of an extended jog than an extended trot. An extended trot in hunt seat would be more comparable to dressage than in western.

[@silverkitty2503]

better than the canter of a lot western horses

[@StarsWRATH]

Was it just me..or twards the end...i saw she was kunda..jabing her horse with her spurs....

[@grace953]

Another uninformed comment, not she’s just making sure he’s extending and moving properly. Do you know what spurs even are? Because she’s barely even touching him if that horse was uncomfortable she would be off in a second.

[@StarsWRATH]

​​​@@grace953 2:04 Yes ACTUALLY I desided to rewatch the video and my first comment was correct. She was useing her spurs a bit more towards the end, while yes the horse remained calm and collected she diddnt need to use the spurs more for no reason. And yes I know what spurs are, spurs are used so the rider has more contact on a horse but are ONLY supposed to be used for extra guidance. A well trained horse LIKE THE ONE IN THE VIDEO doesn't need a spured rider. Most if not ALMOST all riders use spurs incorrectly or use them on horses that don't need them (like the horse in the video) Me pointing out somthing doesn't make me uneducated. 2:15 Even the judge calls her the "right rider" because of her Agression and strength towards the horse. Just another point towards the spurs being used a bit aggressively for no reason. "The right combination of skill, Agression, and PHYSICAL strength in her LEGS back, ect." She wasn't useing the spurs much on her horse and the horse did fine so her useing spurs aggressively towards the end wasn't needed

[@grace953]

@@StarsWRATH Yes she did AQHA horses are trained by using the aid or spurs it’s an extension of our leg, giving more direct cues which is easier for the horse to understand. For example when we use our spurs and gently roll our spurs up it signals for them to put their head down. She is just tapping him not ‘jabbing’ learn why and what spurs are used for before you going assuming stuff because you have no idea what your talking about.

[@grace953]

@@StarsWRATH This isn’t what you think ‘aggression’ means we use it differently just means having control over your horse, without having to pull on the reins, lean back etc. She still isn’t jabbing him if she were to do that her heels would have to be up. Which you will get a big talking to once you get out of the ring I’ve seen people get in shit because they were being too aggressive.

[@StarsWRATH]

​@@grace953 Also I have my non horse bf and my friend, and my mom who had and trained her own horses look at the video and they all said she was being aggressive with her spurs. The lady diddnt spur the entire time untill at the very last second.