North American Curly Horse Inspection Program



Inspection Recommendations:

1. A person or group proposing an inspection may contact the ICHO Genesis Committee for information and support in producing a NACHIP program inspection event. Although the EVENT itself does not need official approval, the scoring protocol used WOULD need approval in order to guarantee the inspection scores would be ICAMS compatible. Information including organizational lists & forms will be downloadable through the ICHO website. Ideally this should be done at least 2 months prior to the inspection. The further ahead, the better opportunity there is to advertise the event on the ICHO website & other venues.

   When informing ICHO Genesis Committee of your intent to hold a NACHIP inspection event, we recommend you to include:

      a. The names and contact information of the individuals or organization hosting the inspection.

      b. ICHO membership number(s) of the host, or at least one official from the organization.

      c. The dates of the proposed inspection

      d. The name and contact information of the proposed judge (from the NACHIP approved judge list).

      e. A description of the premises - size of the arena and construction of arena sides, i.e. 4 foot pipe.

      f. A map to the inspection site.

      g. The number of entries that can be accommodated.

      h. What other event, if any, might be held in conjunction with the inspection.


2. There will be no charge for the cooperation & advertisement of ICHO Genesis Committee w/ the host of a NACHIP inspection in 2006. Costs of the process will be evaluated at the end of the year with an adjustment possible in future years.

3. All costs of the inspection, including all the costs of the inspector, are the sole responsibility of the hosting person or organization.

4. The host will levy reasonable fees for participants in the inspection. $50 per horse is the suggested charge for the inspection for horses old enough for official approval. Prices for non-approval classes if they are offered, such as horses under 3, or mare/foal classes, is at the discretion of the host. Other charges can be levied for the premises, if necessary. For 2006 only, charges directly to NACHIP and ICAMS will be waived.

5. The host will provide an inspection schedule, in collaboration with the judge, which will allow adequate time for the inspection, the writing and the education of the spectators. Generally 15 minutes per horse is adequate for the in hand portion, and 10 minutes per horse at liberty.

6. The official inspection form from the ICHO website will be used for the inspection. They will be pre-identified with the horse and owner's information.

7. Owners will provide a copy of the horse's registration papers upon check-in, prior to the beginning of the inspection. These will be checked against the horse by an official prior to the horse being inspected.

8. A hair sample will be collected and identified at the inspection. This will not be used for sampling, but will be held at NACHIP headquarters for two years in case of dispute. It will be optional for an inspection to offer microchip reading services. If the service is available and the horse has a microchip, the number will be listed and confirmed instead

9. The host will provide an official gatekeeper and a scribe who will:

      a. Check the horses prior to the inspection against the registration papers

      b. Assist the judge in the official measurements, checking of teeth and checking stallions for testicles

      c. The gatekeeper will maintain the order of the horses entering the ring.

      d. The scribe will write the comments of the judge on the official inspection forms.


10. The host shall provide an accurate soft tape measure in inches (for cannon measurements) and an accurate measuring stick with secure cross piece for measuring height at withers. The host shall also have available a copy of 'Determining age of Horses by their Teeth' on hand.

11. The inspection will consist of several sections (temperament & breed character is evaluated in all sections).
a. The introduction of the horse to the judge, during which time the horse will be measured - cannon circumference and height at withers. Teeth will be checked for bite, & approximate age to determine probable consistency with registration papers. Testicles will be checked for presence of both in stallions.

b. In-hand inspection. The judge will examine the horse standing at ease prior to moving, then request the handler to move the horse first in a walk triangle, then in a trot (or other intermediate gait) triangle. It will be at the judge's discretion to ask for more if the judge feels that the triangles offered were insufficient to provide a fair inspection.

c. At Liberty, the horse will be turned loose in the arena and asked to walk, trot (or other intermediate gait) and canter or gallop at liberty to demonstrate all its gaits. There may be assistants in the ring to encourage the horse to move out. Free jumping is an additional option.

In addition horses that are of sufficient age (four years for driving, five years for riding) may, if they wish, and if inspection site facilities allow, do a voluntary:


d. In-Work Evaluation. In free form the horse will be asked to walk and trot/intermediate gait in both hands. Horses ridden will be asked to canter. Horses driven may be asked to halt, back and do figure eight. The purpose of the In Work test is to show the horse's gaits & aptitude in work, and that the horse is trainable. This also provides enhanced standardization for European inspection protocol, for horses whose scores are submitted for ICAMS approval.

12. After the judge has observed the horse in all areas, and marked the horse's scores, the judge will determine which, if any, of the listed Type categories

      Sporthorse
      Pleasure Saddle Horse - gaited
      Pleasure Saddle Horse - non-gaited
      Stock Horse (working western horse)
      Light/ Draft (working and driving)

best describes the horse's general size, substance, balance, athletic ability, and conformation. The judge may also write down suggestions to be considered in training or breeding.

13. The judge will be given the opportunity after each horse to explain what was seen and why the inspection marks were given, for the education of breeders & spectators.

14. At the end of the inspection, the raw scores will be recorded and a copy given to the owner. The original copies of the inspection forms will be forwarded to ICAMS.

15. Scores may be posted at the end of the inspection.

16. NACHIP will provide the official scores to the owners of all horses who have been inspected. The information may be forwarded as application to the ICAMS studbook at the owner's request.


Scoring System

Qualifying scores will be for quality of conformation, movement, breed character, temperament, and performance, using scores from 1 to 10:

10 = Ideal
  9 = Excellent
  8 = Very Good
  7 = Good
  6 = Acceptable
  5 = Marginal
  4 = Unacceptable
  3 = Poor
  2 = Very Poor
  1 = Bad



†Type "What Is Meant by Type? 'Type' refers to a horse's size, substance, balance, athletic ability, and conformation -- the traits that make him suited for particular kinds of activity."

~  Taken from the book 'The Horse Conformation Handbook' by Heather Thomas Smith, Workman Pub. Co., 2005, is a recommended resource. There are many other excellent conformation books, videos and websites available which may also prove of value to the student of equine conformation.



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