Breed Standard of Excellence
Disposition
Intelligent, alert, proud but always calm and quiet. Easy to train and very willing to work.
Conformation
The ideal Georgian Grande is well proportioned and presents a beautiful overall picture. Once mature the ideal Georgian Grande should definitely appear to be "built up hill" carrying itself with deep hocks, well up under the middle of the horse in movement. The Georgian Grande should be in good flesh, with good muscle tone, smooth glossy coat. Feathering on legs is quite acceptable, but not required and may be shown with feathering or clipped. Stallions should exhibit masculine look while femininity in mares is desired. Heights for horses can range from 14.2 hands to 17 hands and above, with the average being 16 hands. Weight from 500kg to 700kg for the horse division and proportionately less for the pony division. Any color is acceptable.
Head
Well shaped head with broad flat forehead. Eyes should be large, luminous, expressive and set wide apart. Eyes can be any color, blue eyes shall not be penalized. Faceline should be straight or slightly concave. Muzzle relatively fine but must have large nostrils, clean, smooth, strong jawline. The ears should be expressive, well shaped, attractively set and carried alertly.
Neck
The neck is one of the most important points of conformation in the Georgian Grande. It should be long, well muscled denoting strength, suppleness and power, should be well arched, and well flexed at poll with good clean throatlatch.
Withers
Well defined.
Shoulder
Deep, sloping, well laid back allowing for great freedom of movement.
Back
Strong, level and relatively short. Supple in movement with well sprung ribs.
Croup
Long, not table top level but rather slightly sloping. The hips big, round, and powerful. The hindquarters should be strong and well muscled.
Chest
Chest proportionate to the horse.
Musculature
The muscles of the forearms, croup and gaskins are especially emphasized.
Legs
Front legs set well forward under the shoulder, rear legs clean and correct, not cowhocked nor sickle hocked. Proper angulation to the rear legs to allow for a good jumper.
Knees
Large, flat and clean.
Hocks
Large, clean, flat in front and at the sides, wide from front to back. Hocks should be positioned so that a line dropped from the horse's buttocks falls straight down the back of the hock and cannon. Legs should be straight with plenty of good, clean flat bone. When mature there should be at least 9 inches (or more) of good hard flinty bone just below the knee (circumference) in the horse and proportionately less in the pony. The more bone the better! It should be noted that Georgian Grande horses are not fully mature until five to six years of age.
Cannons
Well made, when viewed from side should be flat and broad, tendons behind cannon firm and smooth. Pasterns are sloping, tendons well defined.
Hooves
Should be of proper size to carry the weight of this big beautiful animal. Well built, round, open at the heel, sound. May be shown shod or unshod.
Mane and Tail
The mane and tail are naturally full and flowing; however, for show purposes, a Georgian Grande may be exhibited with mane braided or unbraided. The mane may be pulled as for hunter/jumper. A docked tail is not permitted.
Movement
The ideal Georgian Grande horse should move with a lot of suspension (lift) and power from behind (impulsion). Great flexibility in the loins and freedom in the shoulder. Above all, the horse must be able to get his hocks well up under himself from behind, ("deep hocks"). The horse must be able to deeply bend the hock and stifle, and set the hind foot well under the center of his weight. By bending the hind limb this way he lowers the entire hindquarters and thus appears to "lift up" the front end. The trot should be very light on the forehand, carrying most of the weight on the rear quarters. The trot must exhibit good impulsion, suspension and extension.
The front feet should not wing nor paddle, but move straight ahead.
The canter is balanced and round with hocks well up under the horse.
The walk should be supple and very energetic with good overtrack. "Marching forward with good swing to the hips showing suppleness through the back."
Overall Impression
One of grandeur, and great power, yet very gentle and submissive to rider or handler. A proportionately large, very impressive horse that commands attention wherever it is seen.
THE BEST OF THE SADDLEBRED AND OF THE FRIESIAN OR DRAFT TYPE.
THIS IS THE GEORGIAN GRANDE, "THE PERFECT BLEND"
Scoring is based on 50% movement, 50% conformation, manners and overall impression.
Disqualifications: serious conformation faults such as overbite, underbite, or a short, heavy neck. Excessive unruly behavior such as biting, kicking, rearing or striking, or displaying unsoundness or lameness results in disqualification of a Georgian Grande in the show ring.
Man made scars and blemishes shall not be penalised.
