Talk:Halter (horse show)

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Someone more familiar with Wikicode please fix the multiple Wikilinks in the text that are non-working. Additionally, I'd like to see a "controversies" section -- assuming there are any. I swear I've heard murmurs of situations similar to those you might run into at WP competitions, with the drugs, abuse, etc. There also needs to be a new photo to replace the Arabian one. What is the point of a picture if you have to add the qualifier "but he's doing it wrong"? That doesn't show the reader what halter *is*, it just shows what it's *not*. Halter experts, get to work! ;) -jett

I can't find any free use images where they ARE doing it right! The quarter horse is not stood up properly, either. If you find one, be my guest and add it! I also have no clue what wikilinks are "non-working," I see no red links in the current text. Please advise. If there is a misdriected link, it isn't that difficult to do a search and find the right article. Oh, and even if you don't have a login name, it's polite "wikiquette" to sign your IP by typing four tildes like this: ~~~~ Montanabw 19:05, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

As for controversies, boy...every breed has its own, and they are all different. Without writing a book, got any suggestions for describing "generic" controversies (breed controversies should go into the individual breed articles)? I mean, most controversies basically seem to stem from halter judges and exhibitors forgetting that horss are meant to be ridden and judges starting to place freakish extremes, but the variations, especially when you go worldwide, are extensive... Montanabw 19:10, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] References

I've just tagged the article as unreferenced; an editor posted a request at Wikipedia:Village pump (assistance) for review of the section "Presentation of halter horses in the USA" and expressed a concern that it wasn't terribly neutral. I would agree that the description does have some issues. Might there be some editors who are familiar with the topic who can find good reliable sources to help clear that up? Thanks. Tony Fox (arf!) 23:33, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

That was me I took issue with the part that stated that in the exhibitors in the US are fond of grooming items. It seems to give the impression that halter in the US is a beauty pagent, while the rest of the world cares about conformation.SunshineStateOfMind (talk) 23:44, 27 January 2008 (UTC)

I'm up for some work on the international classes. I was the editor who brought this up from a stub to an "article" and I will be the first to agree that it is USA-centric, because that's where I am from. (and I have shown several different breeds at halter so have a working familiarity with the field as it is in the USA and western Canada, but will be the first to admit that I have not seen horse shows abroad) And yes, I agree, the USA DOES have a problem of making halter horses into beauty pageant freaks that are judged on style rather than conformation (the HYPP controversy in Quarter Horses being just the tip of the iceberg!). It was a lot of work just to handle all the different breed "politics" in the US. The NPOV challenge is huge and I have already had spats with the "feed 'em. lead 'em and breed 'em" crowd that I am too HARD on the "beauty pageant" aspects. (I actually believe in conformation too!!) I favor balance whenever we can get it. (And maybe other nations don't use the term "Halter"? Would "In-Hand" or "Conformation" be more accurate??)

Basically, I would in fact be DELIGHTED to see people add other sections to this article to discuss in-hand competition in other nations, maybe expand the Hunter/Sport horse section (which, IMHO are the only sane people in the US) or maybe create a broader article and rename this one something that reflects its USA base. Let's keep the discussion open, as I would like to see a worldwide perspective, I just don't have the background to do it myself. You may also want to take a look at Equine conformation while you are at it. Everyone in WikiProject Equine agrees that one is a mess and needs work, but it's so daunting, it's hard to say where to begin! =:-O

Oh, and Tony, I added one ref on the grooming stuff, I will look for some Sport Horse and Stock Horse refs, but this is a field where there isn't much written down. (Sometimes for good reason, the actual tactics are questionable, lots of whip abuse in the Saddle seat breeds, for example) I'll do what I can. Montanabw^(talk) 19:26, 28 January 2008 (UTC)