How to Grade a Horse

Perform an initial physical inspection. Before any horse can be graded for activities such as racing, English riding, showing or jumping, it must prove to be physically sound. Important points to consider are adequate vision in both eyes; muscle symmetry that allows the horse to move its head and neck freely; a toned rear end with no signs of diarrhea; and no pain in the joints. It's mandatory, for insurance purposes, to get a veterinarian's statement that documents the physical exam.

Validate the ancestry. According to the British Hanoverian Horse Society, all horses graded for studding, or breeding, purposes must have four generations of their lineage documented. That means that the sire, the sire of the dam, the sire of the dam's sire, and the sire of the granddam's dam must be registered in the Stallion-Book of the Verband, a German horse-breeding association. Once these criteria are met, the stud is ready to stand for its final inspection, where it will be judged on six categories and receive a minimum of six points.

Complete the circuit course. First, the horse must stand between two parallel poles for a conformation inspection, which will ensure that the horse is physically symmetrical and sound. Then the handler will be asked to walk the horse around a triangle course where its motion will be judged. Finally, the handler must trot the horse around the circuit and allow it to move as freely as possible. The judges are now ready to give the horse a final grade.