Quarter Marks?

[Ryan&Dizzy]

.... which direction do u brush the hair when doing the chquerboard bit? do u brush like verticly downward (my spelling is terrible sorry) what classes is this sort of quarter mark for?

[emily99]

I use a plastic nit-comb with the teeth broken to get it the correct width. You brush/comb the hair down towards the groud whilst doing the checkerboard marks.
The checkerboards marks are mainly used for Show Ponies and Hacks, with sharks teeth.

[cubic]

As a contrast, here are some hunter/cob type quater marks (though I'd prefer them to be a bit longer - ie go further down) - the type you use depends on the class and the shape of the horse's hind quaters. Generally the more substantial the horse is, the chunkier the quater marks.

[chrissiew]

Well I'm doing a riding horse class this weekend and was considering doing quarter marks, but am completely and absolutely confuzzled!!! ummm will have a practice tomorrow and come back with questions me thinks!

What sort of quarter marks are best for large riding horse class?

Mind you, why I'm bothering I don't know - we don't normally "do" showing, just dressage and went out a few weeks ago for the first time in years to a riding horse class. Madam went OK for me, got pulled in about halfway (which wasn't bad as quite a few semi pros in the top 4 even though it was local RC), but then my dear darling mare thought it was much more fun to go to sleep in the line up and then when the judge got on, she would not do hardly a thing! Understandly we came bottom of the heap (although technical two below us who had to leave the ring, one lame, one nutty!) - judge just said "she wasn't very off the leg today".......errrr understatement of the century!

Maybe if I master these darn quarter marks, we can blind the judge with our beauty and throw them off the scent of our performance!!

[specialsparkle3]

For a Large Riding Horse, you should use Chequerboard quarter marks with Sharks teeth.

[chrissiew]

Thanks SS. Now just have to try to do them...! Off to print out your instructions.

[cubic]

Photographer's websites are great places to look at what you should be aiming for. I've had a quick look at RTIs site and they have several county classes of riding horses covered, eg www.theimagefile.com/?skin=3825&Action=_VC&id=88205&ppwd=ft1896fp

Horsepower photography also have a few, like at the Bath and West gallery.horsepower-photography.com/viewdir.tlx?albumid=100380&pictureid=4412470. Chequerboards are common in large riding horses, as are stripes like these gallery.horsepower-photography.com/viewpicture.tlx?albumid=97037&pictureid=4282966 have a go with both and see what suits your horse best.

[SaturdayGirl]

Hmm I wouldn't ever use chequer boards for riding horses; we do flashes like the bay above, but have three of them. You can add a littl flash in the middle by combing towards the tail.
Alternativly 3 or 5 big squares, again each with a little square inside brushed towards the tail.

I will try and get pics to deomonstrate what I mean!

[specialsparkle3]

Jane may not use them S G, but many other producers do. It depends on the shape of your horse's bum, which type suits best.

[chrissiew]

OK I bottled it and used the plastic thing!! Runs away to hide! I did practice on Saturday and got a fair result with a comb - couldn't do the shark teeth to save my life though, so left those out! I never was very artistic!!

Pleased though as my little naglet who normally just does dressage and isn't as prestine in her legs etc at the age of 12, as a show horse should be came 7th out of a large class of 14 and the first 5 were very classy Riding Horse types ridden by people who obviously knew exactly what they were doing and some I believe who do county level. Plus she was one of the smallest in the class being 15.3 and a bit - an unfortunate height, as she is too big to be a small riding horse and ends up looking a midget in the large!

All done barefoot with not a slip or slide in sight!

And I will practice my quarter marks and do them properly next time I promise! ;D

[emily99]

Do you know someone nearby who knows how to do them? Its much easier to understand when you've seen them done in person rather than just an explanation.

[amelia]

uppety

[sunshine]

HI there,

What would suit my lad?

I am doing in hand vets and RC horse - he is an ISH......

Thanks
Tracey

[sunshine]

and a pic if it helps!!!

www.nickhayesphotography.co.uk/preview.asp?pid=18306

[apple123]

I'd do the checker board