Off side of horses in certain Performance events:

[kafar]

While this is both a photo and live show performance issue, figured I would put this in the photo show section since this has been stagnant for a few weeks.

Judges: I have a horse, facing left. Put sidesaddle on him. Shoot photo or set on live show table. No brainer. He is on his good side, tack is on *it's* good side. Life is good.

Now, the horse facing right. Same sidesaddle. Rats. If I show the horse's good side, the judge is looking at the "ick" side of the sidesaddle. If I flip it and show the sidesaddle's "good" side, then the horse is on *his* ick side.

So, as a judge... how do you prefer to view a "good side of tack" type setup, like sidesaddle? Do you mind if you see the good side of the horse but the bad side of the saddle?

In the old days, we would take two pics of the horse, one from each side, and tape them together for sidesaddle. :lol

Vikki :D

[thebillybo]

Hey, I am all for 2 photos myself! Had a few customs sent in to my photo shows with each side. I love it, so easy to judge!

As for if it had to be one... I'd say whichever side flatters the horse. Unless you use a doll and I need to somehow try and tell if it's sitting properly in the sidesaddle, then I guess the horse's "off" side would have to show.

Good question! I look forward to more experienced judge's opinions! :)

[Liz]

Good side of tack in performance set-up for me. :) But I guess if the horse had real issues on that side I would have to weigh it up and go for the best overall side.

[cheseri]

I say take a shot of both and pick whichever one comes out nicer. As a judge I will not discount because of which side is showing.... whichever overall makes a better picture is what I'll look for (after correctness of course). Personally if I were taking a sidesaddle picture I would probably choose the off side from the rider's legs, simply because 99% of the doll outfits you see are so stiff and puffy... not quite as realistic as we want. If you use the off side, you can show that the horse is correctly tacked (and that there IS a saddle under all that krinolin, lol) as well as that the doll is sitting correctly. If you use the doll side you can hide any flaws in the saddle. If you have an ick side of the horse, and the opposite is the ick side of the tack... then I would say go with the ick side of tack....only because there are a lot more nice horses out there than nice sidesaddle sets. :tempted

[Keren]

Personally, I prefer to see the side of the horse which has its head turned to the camera. I'm curious as to why the off side of a side-saddle is an 'ick' side: if it's a well-made side-saddle, there's usually MORE detail and interest on the off side than on the near!

As to the rider...well, there shouldn't be any 'crinoline' anyway...any lady who could afford to buy a side-saddle could afford a special riding habit to go with it :)

Maybe I should concentrate on making more side-saddles this winter, LOL!

Keren

[sassymiss]

I think for both I would prefer the "good" side of the horse. That is, the side where his head is facing. As someone else pointed out, the saddle should look fine from either side as long as it is proper and adjusted to fit the horse.

[kafar]

Thanks guys!

As to "ick" side of the tack, I just meant on a sidesaddle, it aint no even stevens... with sidesaddle, one side looks "nice" and all saddle-y and stuff... and the off side is more well, straps and stuff. :lol

As to 2 pics, for photo showing, that just isn't done these days. "One pic per horse per class" is the rule. And I kinda like that rule... cuts down on number of photos, which cuts down on cost of postate. :D [not to mention the opening and flipping of said double pic entries at the show. As a judge, taped pics SUCK. I do not enter them these days. And when judging "one pic per horse per class" I surely do DQ double pic entries.]

I do like the suggests of 1. take TWO pics, one of each side, and see which looks best. Or 2. go ahead and go with the good side of the horse [as the head faces in most cases] and tack be darned!

Thanks - very much as I was feeling, it's just nice to have some back up sometimes.

Vikki :)

[Keren]

One thing I perhaps should have added - with a side-saddle an off-side photo is a Good Thing as it shows if the saddle is correct - esp. if you have a rider on board that hides all the near side...

Keren