Residing
in Illinois, USA, Lynette Partridge-Schneider is a World-Class equine judge,
horse expert and equestrian. The founder and proprietor of Quail Ridge Equine,
Lynette continues to share her passion for horses…
Welcome Lynette!
When was your first
encounter with a horse?
The
family story is one that says one of my first words was horse or “hor ‘ee”.
If horses were involved, I was in. It seems I had horses in my
blood from the day I was born and I have yet to outgrow the feelings horses
give me. I rode my bike to riding lessons and finally got my own horse
when I was ten years old. My first horse was a palomino Quarter Horse
named Sheba. Sheba taught me so much and was a major part of a lifetime
of loving and working with horses. There was a connection with horses that have
never been broken and has only grown stronger.
What is your riding discipline?
When I
ride for fun, I ride western. Growing up, I was blessed with the
opportunity to ride and receive training in many disciplines. I have had
the privilege to learn and ride: hunt seat, saddle seat, hunter over
fences, western pleasure, reining, reining cow horse and pleasure driving.
As I mentioned before, if horses were involved, I was ready to learn and
be involved.
What is your favorite breed of horse?
My heart
will always have a special place for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with many breeds of
horses. My first apprenticeship was with Morgan horses, I also rode
Saddlebreds in college and other breeds along the way. Each breed has
their own special quality and I enjoy learning about each and every one of
them. I have always felt the love of horses, all horses, and the desire
to learn and appreciate the individual breeds aids me as a horse show judge and
a certified equine appraiser.
As a horse show judge, what do you look for in a winning horse?
No matter
what breed or discipline I am judging, as I have multiple breed cards as well
as open all breed and discipline cards, I look for the best representative of
the breed standard in the discipline of participation. Every breed has a
rule book that a judge studies and puts a picture in their head of what are the
breed characteristics that make up the standard and the rules that apply for a
specific discipline according to the breed. There is always one horse
that will stand out and have the look of “I am the winner” for a specific
breed. Even when there is more than one – there is one that jumps out and
stays there in a manner of “look at me” I am the representative of the breed.
WOW!
This is a hard one. After several World Shows and State Fairs,
along with numerous breed and open shows, I have had the chance to judge horse
shows from New York to Iowa and then to Texas and the many states in between.
I have judged mostly in the mid-west and eastward. Each arena has
been special, for the people I have met and the horses I had the opportunity to
judge.
Any funny
anecdotes about horses/judging?
Horses
are smarter than we humans give them credit for. Each has their own
personality. I have owned and worked with some interesting horses.
A stallion I raised from a weanling was a great sire and loves the
babies. I have seen him in the pasture lying down and the foals climbing
all over him. He was such a sweetheart. When
judging, I enjoy working with the youth and judging showmanship classes.
The biggest thing I have seen with new exhibitors is that many forget to
breathe. I stress at clinics to have fun, breathe and relax.
While
judging a show recently, specifically, a hunter jumper class, one of the horses
approached the first fence and looked good, then stopped and leaned. The
rider encouraged and the horse jumped the first fence and proceeded to the next
fence, where the horse stopped, leaned and this time the fence fell, and the
horse walked through. The rider continued to put the horse in a hunter pace to
the next fence and again, the horse stopped, was never ugly or tried to truly
refuse, just stopped and leaned. Again, the fence fell and the horse
walked through. It was getting humorous as it looked like the horse was
doing this on purpose and the poor rider held her cool while continuing to
attempt to do the course. From the point of the judges, the horse just
found an easier way to make the course work for him.
You are a published
freelancer; any books in your future?
Currently,
there are books planned and in different stages of completion. I have had
many articles published on rehabilitation of horses, showing, picking the right
horse and other topics published in national and international magazines,
websites and other media outlets. I did contribute to a book called “Mares” that was written and compiled by
Betsy Kelleher. With all the encouragement I continue to receive, I will
be sharing my knowledge in book form very soon.
Do you have advice for novice equestrians?
First and
foremost is to have fun with your horse, no matter the discipline or activity.
Learn as much as you can. Attend clinics, ask questions and
practice, practice, practice.
What does horsemanship mean to you?
Horsemanship in the dictionary is shown as the “art, ability and skill in handling and riding horses.” To me, horsemanship is this and so much more. It is being a team with the horse, working as one, like true dance partners in step with each other. Horsemanship and horseman or horse persons show a true love of horses for the unique animals they are.
Follow Lynette....
www.LynettePartridge-Schneider.com
www.LynetteSchneider.com
A Glimpse of Lynette's Qualifications
Qualifications of the Appraiser
H.
Lynette Partridge-Schneider
Member...
American
Society of Equine Appraisers
American
Society of Agriculture Appraisers
United
States Equestrian Federation
Illinois
Horse Council
American
Horse Council
American
Paint Horse Association
American
Quarter Horse Association
National
Foundation Quarter Horse Association
Palomino
Horse Breeders Association
Southeastern
Foundation Quarter Horse Association
Illinois
Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association
Illinois
Racing Board Licensure
Georgia
Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association
Missouri
Fox Trotter Association
American
Driving Society
Carriage
Association of America
Gypsy
Vanner Horse Society
Open
Horse Show Association – Judge (Senior)
American
Halter Horse Association – Judge (Senior)
American
Shetland Pony Club "R", American Miniature Horse Registry
"R",
American Show Pony Registry "R", National Sport Performance Pony Registry "R" - Judge
American Show Pony Registry "R", National Sport Performance Pony Registry "R" - Judge
Spotted
Saddle Horse Breeders & Exhibitors Association – Judge (Master)
Gypsy
Horse Registry of America, Inc. – Judge (Senior)
Walking
Horse Owners Association, Inc. – Judge (Senior)
Education
Master’s
Degree in Healthcare Management and Administration – (studies begun, not
completed, through Canyon College)
Post-Baccalaureate
in Chemistry/Biology – University of Georgia
Bachelor
of Science Degree – Georgia Southern University
Continuing
Education Courses – University of Georgia & University of North Carolina
Continuing
Education and Certification Courses with International Society of Appraisers,
American Society of Appraisers, American Society of Agricultural Appraisers and
Breed Association Judging Seminars, Etc.
Background & Experience
Thirty+
years of involvement with the equine/livestock industry which includes:
Owner
of Quail Ridge Farms (Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds)
Judge
– American Halter Horse Association, American Shetland Pony Club/American
Miniature Horse Registry/ American Show Pony Registry, Spotted Saddle Horse
Breeders & Exhibitors Association – Judge (Master), Gypsy Horse
Registry of America, Inc. – Judge (Senior), Open All-Breed and all discipline Horse
Show(s) through North Carolina, Illinois and Purdue Multi-State Certification
Classes
Agent
and Broker for clients looking for show prospects (buying and selling)
Presenter
of seminars and educational clinics for Clubs, Stables and Individual(s)
Licensed
for the race track through Illinois Racing Commission
Local
Club(s): Show Committee, Judge, Ring Steward, Score Keeper & Points
Recorder, Tack Inspector (open shows, club shows, performance disciplines & eventing)
2 comments:
Loved your post, Gina. I too have loved horses all my life.
Loved the post Lynette and Gina! I live on a small farm. We used to have horses and lots of other animals. Now just old cats! The American Royal still rocks in Kansas!
Diane Kratz
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