Thank you for the lovely advice on conditioning....I forgot to mention that the horse that I am working with is a 4 year old stallion, un-broke to ride as that is this year's project.

He currently gets plenty of hill work everyday and about 20 minutes walking on the lead..and desensitizing with different things so he is less spooky on the trails.

Dear Judge,

blI was wondering what halter is prefered in the ring? I know the cable halter is all the rage but I'm not sure with my mare's head shape in what kind to get. I plan on showing in some halter since I had a riding accident that prevents me from riding for a while. But I can show in halter classes. I will try and get a picture of my mare's head in here.

http://s373.photobucket.com/albums/oo177/RoseMann_2008/?action=view¤t=805-1.jpg" target="_blank">http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo177/RoseMann_2008/805-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">
http://s373.photobucket.com/albums/oo177/RoseMann_2008/?action=view¤t=802.jpg" target="_blank">http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo177/RoseMann_2008/802.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket">

I have a stunning grey mare, between 3 and 4 yrs old that is screaming "show me". In the past several months, she has developed pink mottling around her eyes. I have seen some horses grow out of this and some get worse. What is your experience? Would this be marked down severely in halter? Otherwise she has an exquisite head, great ears and eyes, superb conformation, type and movement.

Sometimes there are allergies that cause the skin to go pink on the face...I have known of horses that were allergic to their own sweat and some that were allergic to rubber buckets or the neoprene neck sweats. If you are feeding or watering out of rubber, take it away and see if things begin to improve. Give it a couple of weeks for changes to begin to become noticeable. If nothing happens there - keep a bucket of clean water and a well rinsed sponge available to clean the sweat off of her head after you work her. Sometimes a dash of witch hazel in the water will help cut the sweat.