Question about color classes

[mad for mini's]

I know it is all color based but with all the different colors entered in one class how does the judge decide which is best ? I'm thinking more on the solid color classes here. This will be my first year showing and will be taking my weanling colt but would like to take two of my fillies also, although I can only show one of the fillies at halter( they are both the same age and there is only one of me !) I'm not sure that I could handle three to get ready for show or not , I know that it will be alot of work and maybe I am trying to do to much starting out. I would like to see both fillies shown though. If I take the colt and the pinto then I can show them both in halter and color but I really like my roan and want to see her at halter too . Uhg ! Maybe they will just have to take turns going to shows !

Between the roan filly and bay colt which would you take to a color class ?

First two pics are of my bay colt , Bug

Next are my coming two year old girls Sophie and Phoebe

 

[maestoso]

This is hard because every judge will have different color preferences and that is how color classes are placed, whatever the judge finds most attractive. There is no formula to say that bays beat roans and blacks beat palominos, it is entirely preference.

I think the best option is to find a friend to help you show your horses so they can all be shown. But if that is not possible, based on color, I prefer the roan to the bay. On the other hand, you don't see a ton of bays, so that might work in your favor. It really is a hit or miss thing. Which do you like better?

 

[MinisOutWest]

be like me!! take 8 all by yourself, it is a blast.

 

[nootka]

In my experience, the colors with the most contrast (i.e. bays, buckskins, a silver dapple with much lighter mane/tail, or a gorgeous silver bay) will be your best bets. Not to say you can't bring other colors, but things to consider are:

basic conformation. Even though it IS color class, I have experienced that the biggest and most consistent winners also have at least good conformation if not already winning at halter/conformation.

Next is condition. A horse in good body condition will naturally have a better chance as their coat will likely be better due to having a good quality of life.

The icing on the cake will be a shiny, well-groomed and presented horse. The shine on the coat and the quality of the grooming/clip job will factor in, but even the most shiny horse will not win the class if they don't also have at least reasonably decent conformation. I have seen the rare exception where it seemed all based on color, but usually, they will choose horses that have already been placing near the top for halter if all else is equal.

This is often just because the horses winning have all of the above going for them already.

As far as colors I see at the bottom of the heap fairly consistently (based on the color) in a color class will be:

white/cremello

pale palominos

silver buckskins

washed out greys (those that are near the white phase)

very pale roans w/little contrast

the pale sorrels/chestnuts

If the horses both have great condition and are equal in shine, I'd go for the bay roan just because you have the best chance to stand out. The color bay of the first filly is a difficult one in that it is rather muddy looking, though if you get a good shine on her, and her conformation were better (i.e. she were already winning under those judges), I'd take her. Going by the pictures, though, I prefer the bay roan's conformation as the photos stand, and her color will just help.

Good luck, it's a fun class and I enjoy it, it's especially nice to help acclimate the weanies to the ring w/little trauma.

Liz

 

[mad for mini's]

Thanks everyone ! I see what you mean now about the conformation playing a role and having a stand out color. The pictures are all a natural shed summer coat , I can guess that their color will change a bit after they are clipped so will not look the same as they do here and our pastures are hilly so no one is level , makes it hard to tell the conformations, I know. Sorry I couldn't get better pics to post. I don't know any other people around me that have horses so I will have no help with showing. I would like to see the roan in halter but then I would only be able to show one of them in the solid color class, and can't decide which I like best. Same problem with the fillies at halter , I like them both but can only show one ! OH!

Trailers Out West : Showing eight horses alone sounds terribly exhausting !

 

[albahurst]

You will have a good time in the color class! I really liked nootka's post- very thorough, with good points to consider. In the AMHA, conformation does count, as well. The horse in my avatar won Worlds Multi Color Mare color class this year- that was alot of fun!!!

Thank you Frank and Charlotte

Peggy

 

[The Simple Life Farm]

This past year, I had a chance to ask 2 AMHR judges what they look for in color classes. In a nutshell, they said it was strictly personal preference, and nothing else. Since that is the case, I have quit doing color classes. I never knew if I really had a color the judges liked. The bay pinto in my avatar would place high one show, then not at all in another. So I gave up. But color classes are my favorite to watch.

Take all your horses, usually there is someone hanging around that will show a horse for you. I have for others. Let the show manager know that you are in need of a handler, and they usually know of someone. There used to be a young girl that would go to the Conroe, TX show, not bring any horses, and she would show for others, and she was awesome.

Have fun!!!!

 

[Charlotte]

Thank YOU Peggy!

Personally, all things being equal, I would go with the roan. They can be stunning and really stand out in a solid color class. And in AMHA the color classes are judged 20 % on conformation. But I have also seen solids with no white do very well. Those coats can simply glow on a well conditioned horse. Just remember, it all comes from inside. Our top winning show horses seldom have anything put on the body for shows.

Charlotte

 

[mad for mini's]

Thanks for all the information everyone ! I will be showing mostly at a local level with three AMHR shows scheduled in my state , we don't have any A shows here at all .

I am a bit nervous about showing , all the rules and classes have me wondering what I can enter and who needs to be in what class, leaving me a bit frazzled ! It looks like Phoebe ( red roan filly ) will be the choice for the color class though.

plus she is under 28" does that put her in a different class from my other pinto filly who is 30"+/- ?

 

[The Simple Life Farm]

No, they would be in the same class. AMHR classes are 34" under or 34"+ over. Good luck in your new adventure. You might want to take only one horse to your first show, then slowly add horses as you get a routine down. Time management is very hard to grasp at fist when showing, at least for me. Last year, I took all 5 of mine by myself, and it was tough, but fun!!!!

 

[Jill]

At registry shows, you could show both the bay colt and the bay roan filly, since you show stallions / colts / geldings in the same class, and mares / fillies in their own class.

Out of the ones you've pictured, I think (clipped and groomed) the bay roan filly would do well in color class. I used to own a bay roan stallion who did very well in color (and pretty good in halter, too

)

 

[mad for mini's]

Addicted to Minis : You may be right , I would hate to try to do too much my first time out and end up having a miserable experience. Maybe just one for the first show and add my roan filly for the second. I just feel that there may not be that many shows so I want to cram in all that I can at the shows that I do attend. So many horses so little time !

I wish I had started this when I was a little younger OH!

 

[EquestraDreams]

Hello! I see that you are in Michigan and I hope you are planning to attend the AMHR show in Ionia on May 31 and June 1. There is a great bunch of people who show there (me included

) and you'll find tons of people who will be willing to help you out with your questions and would also be willing to take a horse in for you if needed. You'll come away from the show with lots of "mini" friends!

 

[Cedar Ridge Farm]

Everyone has given lots of very good advice and suggestions. ( Just one of the many things I love above these people!) Whether you take one or all three, remember to take a deep breath and have fun. Good luck and we will all be waiting for pics and updates..

 

[Shelley]

Thanks for all the information everyone ! I will be showing mostly at a local level with three AMHR shows scheduled in my state , we don't have any A shows here at all .

I am a bit nervous about showing , all the rules and classes have me wondering what I can enter and who needs to be in what class, leaving me a bit frazzled ! It looks like Phoebe ( red roan filly ) will be the choice for the color class though.

plus she is under 28" does that put her in a different class from my other pinto filly who is 30"+/- ?

Don't worry, only a few short years ago we were the "newbies" at those Michigan shows and everybody was so nice, and so helpful! We made it through our first shows just fine. I think you are smart though not overloading yourself trying to show too many horses, at least to begin with. The first year we were rather overwhelmed just figuring out what was going on and getting three mares ready to show and into the ring. The second year we had 6 on the show string, and we found we didn't have as much fun, it was just too much work. Last year we cut down to 4. Well, 5 at the last show. ;-) And I think we'll have a couple more along this year.

We'll be there, if you need anything let us know and even though we're still learning ourselves we'll do our best to help you out as others have done for us!

Shelley

 

[mad for mini's]

It's so good to hear from fellow Michiganders ! I am planning on going to the Ionia show but I may just be there to watch, seeings how it is such an early show , I would rather get my feet wet at a county fair or similar small type show. I hope to see some of you there ! I can use all the help I can get.

 

[The Simple Life Farm]

I would suggest you go to the first show, take 1 horse. Do a color class and liberty, those are the least stressful. That way, you only have 1 horse to get ready, and only 2 classes to keep up with. It really is a blast, I would hate to see you miss a show if alot aren't offered in your area. You will be surprised how many people are willing to help, we have ALL been there at one time!!!!

Kelly