010—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 9,1981
Judging, showing among draft horse topics
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
UNIVERSITY PARK - The
words and the subject of the words
blended well together.
The words, outlining some tips
and techniques for showing and
judging of draft horses, were being
spoken by James Gallagher,
professor of animal science ex
tension at Penn State.
As they listened to the words, the
eyes of the keenly interested group
at the Draft Horse Conference on
the Penn State Campus were glued
to the ton of well-muscled -and
groomed Clydesdale before them.
And just as the conference, held
for the second time last weekend,
exemplifies the renewed interest in
these massive animals among
horsemen, the Clydesdale stallion,
who only came to Pennsylvania a
few months ago, serves as another
reminder of the growing rebirth of
the draft horse.
The stallion used by Gallagher in
his discussion of judging and
showing will become more
familiar to Pennsylvanians as he
will be participating in upcoming
Farm Show competition.
Jonesway King George, who
comes out of the Anheuser-Busch
string, was just acquired in
February by Jim and Dail Corl, of
State College.
Gallagher pointed to the
thickness through the rear of
stallion that judges look for in the
show ring.
“The hocks should be pointed
slightly in,” he said.
“There should be a slight set to
them.”
Gallagher went on to dif
ferentiate between a blemish and
unsoundness. A blemish is a man
made unsightly condition, such as
a wire cut, while unsoundness
interferes with the function of the
horse.
As Jim Corl put the Clydesdale
through his motions, the firm,
thumping clop, clop of his hooves
resounding through the building,
Gallagher explained what the
judge may be looking for.
“You should have good, straight
ground-covering motion,” he said.
“The horse should clearly
display action with good-true
Feathers, which are a trademark of the Clydesdale breed,
require added care and can be trimmed up more for working.
Jonesway King George, sired by Ounsyre Silver King, of the
Anheuser-Busch string, is now a part of the growing
Clydesdale operation of Jim and Daii Cori, of State College.
The six-year-old stallion stands 18 hands high and tips the
moves and length and snap to the
action.”
In the chest area, there must be
the necessary width to set off the
proper placement of the legs and
good depth from where the neck
begins.
Some onlookers expressed in
terest in the feet feathers - one of
the recognized trademarks of the
breed.
“The feather around the hoof
obviously was considered a
desirable characteristic by the
Scot breeders,” Gallagher said.
“They do provide some
protection to the legs and could be
trimmed up more if the horses are
worked, but that depends on the
preference of the owner.”
They do require more care
though, Gallagher added.
Turning to the mane, Gallagher
said it can make a difference if it is
roached, braided or combed for the
show ring.
“Which technique to be used
depends on the individual horse,"
he said.
“For example, an Aberdeen
braid can help create the illusion of
a longer neck and aid in enhancing
the beauty of a horse.
The judging and showing
discussion was just one segment of
the two-day draft horse conference
held May 1 and 2 by the Univer
sity’s College of Agriculture and
the Pennsylvania Draft Horse and
Mule Association.
Jim Corl explained that the
Clydesdale used in the demon
stration-discussion is one of eight
that he and his wife, Dali, now
have in their operation west of
State College.
We’ve been breeding and raising
Clydesdales for the past three
years,” Corl said.
Presently, we have three
geldings, three brood mares, a
yearling stud colt and this stud,
which'is six years old.
Jonesway King George was sired
by Dunsyre Silver King, of the
Anheuser-Busch string. He was
acquired from Dan Jones, of
Bangor, Wise., - among the best
known Clydesdale operations in
the country, which is now in its
third generation in the family. '
The stallion, which stands 18
hands high and tips the ‘scales at
about 90 pounds over a ton, has
already captured a lengthy list of
grand championships. These in
clude the Ohio State Fair, Detroit,
the National Clydesdale Show at
the Wisconsin State Fair,
Waterloo, lowa and Belvedere,
(Turn to Page Dll)
scales at 2,090 pounds. The stud was used in a discussion ot
judging and showing, which were among a variety of topics
and subjects covered at the craft horse conference held on
the Penn State campus last weekend.
Persons attending the next Farm Show will be able to get
an in-person look at the Clydesdale stallion, Jonesway King
George, who just recently came to Pennsylvania from
Wisconsin.