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201. General Halter Rules

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The purpose of the halter class is to judge the animal’s potential to perform the work for which he was bred, based upon the evaluation and analysis of visible attributes.

  1. The resulting judgment provides an index that represents the expectations of the animal’s utility and performance capability.
    1. Considerations in this judgment are:
      1. Overall balance.
      2. Form and structure of the parts.
      3. Trueness, elasticity, and coordination of action.
      4. Muscular development and health.
      5. Disposition and manners.
  2. More specifically, the general appearance of the mule should be:
    1. Head straight with a firm, even mouth and jaw.
    2. The eyes should be kind, bold, and alert. Ears are well shaped with much length and attentive.
    3. The mule should have a well-balanced head and neck of sufficient length that shows quality, blending into shoulders long and sloping well back.
    4. Withers moderately defined and the same height as croup.
    5. Chest should be broad, and the forelegs set square, true, and strong with well-modeled bones and good muscle.
    6. Well sprung ribs, the back and loin short, wide and well-muscled.
    7. Underline is long with the flank well let down.
    8. Hips are smoothly covered, being long, sloping, and muscular
    9. Hind legs should have hocks of good size, flat and clean to turn neither inward or outward.
    10. Hind legs not to be bent. Hocks not to be set behind a line from the point of the hip to the fetlock joint.
    11. Pasterns should have medium slope and length.
    12. Feet well shaped of medium size and sound.
  3. Weighting to be applied in judging halter classes is as follows:
    1. Conformation and action 70%
    2. Conditioning (Fitness and Finish) 20%
    3. Disposition and Manners 10%
  4. Suggested procedure – Enter the arena at the discretion of the judge.
    1. Entries will walk and will be asked to trot on the line.
    2. Animals must be asked to trot to show action and way of going.
    3. Animal shall be judged individually, standing squarely and naturally.
      1. They are not to be stretched, except in gaited class.
  5. Mules will be handled and shown by one person only. (Jacks are the exception, an extra handler may be used)
    1. Unruly or ill-mannered mules are to be excused from the arena.
    2. Touching the mule below the shoulder or stifle with either hand or foot will be considered a fault.
  6. Mules at Halter: Emphasis should be on conformation. Sloping shoulders, good withers, medium to long pasterns, a supple/ flexible look, balance, and proportion should be considered important.
  7. Size is a personal preference.
  8. Animals not trotting in hand when asked shall not place animals who did trot for the judge.