ICAMS - International Curly Approved Mare & Studbook Curly Horse Evaluation Handbook GC note: all you see on this page, and linked to this page, is intended as part of the handbook content. This will all be gathered, printed up and put into one judge's handbook when ICAMS begins. The North American Curly Horse is a scarce evolving breed of perhaps 2500 - 3500 living individuals. They are not technically a true equine breed yet, but are descended from horses with curly coat mutations that developed centuries ago among wild horses of North America. They still possess high survivability traits, such as keen intelligence, thoughtful reactions, and very tough durable feet and bone, which have persisted along with their curly gene down through the generations. Due to cross breeding with other North American breeds, the Curly Horse comes in a full range of sizes, types and colors. However, the majority falls within an average saddle horse height between 145 cm (14.1 hh) and 155 cm (15.1 hh), and has non-specialized conformation. Being a rare hypoallergenic breed it may be the only choice for horse owners that suffer from horse allergies. Such owners will have different needs and tastes regarding sizes, types and disciplines. Not only is the existence of such a wide variety of types & sizes in the Curly Horse important & essential to maintain, it is its hallmark. The International Curly Horse Organization (ICHO) has established an International Curly Approved Mare & Studbook (ICAMS) for inspection and approval of Curly Horse breeding quality stock. ICAMS is a voluntary horse improvement program in North America. It may be required for breeding licenses in some European countries. It will provide the breed with uniform scoring for evaluations of quality, movement, performance and breeding value. It is an international record keeping body, with the goal of providing a way for breeders to educate themselves to make better breeding decisions, thus improving overall breed quality and increasing predictability of offspring (breed genesis). The North American Curly Horse Registry (NACHR/ Division ICHO) registers ICHO Curly Horses in North America. The ICAMS studbook is voluntary for NACHR Curly Horses. In North America, some ICAMS Curly Horse evaluations will be organized and held by ICAMS directly. Other ICAMS [sanctioned] evaluations may be offered by other associations. Judges for ICAMS sanctioned evaluations will be approved by ICAMS. The European Curly Horse Registry (ECHR/ Division ICHO) registers Curly Horses in Europe. It will govern the Curly Horse inspection system in Europe, which in most countries is required for breeding licenses. European inspections will go through the official inspection systems already existing in each country, and ECHR will format those separate scoring systems to be compatible with ICAMS for universal comparison for all Curly Horses. Judging the Curly Horse. It is critical for ICAMS judges to understand that the wide variation existing within the Curly Horse breed is part of its inherent identity and value, and as such, is supported, protected, and encouraged by ICHO. In general, Curly Horses are to be presented and judged as naturally successful horses. They are to be judged on durability and function, not fashion. Temerament is a critically important trait to this breed and is a top priority. See more at: breed standard. Judging Types. ICHO understands that all the diverse types make it a challenge to accurately judge all Curly Horses from just one general breed standard. Although most Curly Horses are non-specialized in type, some are very specialized. In those cases it is not overly informative or educational to Curly Horse breeders when a judge is limited to categorizing all inspected Curly Horses as "breed typical." Therefore, an ICAMS judge must be familiar with all types of horses - and will be asked to address a TYPES section on the Curly Horse evaluation scorecard. Judges' notes of what specialized discipline or type an inspected Curly Horse might represent, if any, can be very beneficial to the owner. This will contribute over the generations to responsible breed genesis within types. Therefore Type breeders will be especially interested in & helped by professional comments & recommendations about areas of success and areas that need work. However it is important to note (unlike the Pinto registry for example), that because most Curly Horses are non-specialized in type, we do not require that each horse be accorded a type. The ICAMS Judging Handbook. As a judge faced with these challenges, we offer you some information on our diverse breed. Please familiarize yourself with these various references (below): Diversity & Continuum of Curly Horse Types (photographic illustration) Examples of Diverse Types of Curly Horses (photographic gallery) ICAMS sample Evaluation Scorecard(s) Curly Horse Standard official standard of the North American Curly Horse   for breeders & judges; includes downloadable MS Word Doc. brochure. Curly Horse Traits condensed illustrated version of NACH standard smooth coated Curly Horses minimally expressed Curly Horses extreme trait Curly Horses micro-curled Curly Horses recessive gene Curly Horses PRESENTATION: Curly Horses are not required to be clipped in order to be considered properly turned out for public appearance. Important identifying Curly Horse traits include curly hair inside their ears, at the fetlocks, and in a spiraling mane, all of which may be presented naturally. Aids: All tack should be safe and clean, humane, fit to the horse and appropriate to the horse's age and education. No extra devices allowed. ICAMS supports horses being presented with no artificial aids or mechanical devices designed to enhance or restrict any movement - and the least severe tack (minimal use of chain shanks, curb bits, etc.) However laws of local governance must take priority. Any horse not under control will be excused until such time as it is under control. If it misses the evaluation due to continued behavior problems, it is welcome to re-apply at another inspection, but fees are forfeited. Curly Horse Specialized Type descriptions:  (submitted by Donna Vickery - needs final review)     Type    Type Description PLEASURE HORSE PLEASURE TYPE CURLY HORSES AND PONIES are Curly Horses presented in a natural manner and suitable for: general western, English, and driving events; and a variety of other events, and serve equally well as family trail riding horses and pleasure horses. The Pleasure Type Curly Horse may display the conformation associated with the Missouri Foxtrotter, Morgan, Appaloosa, Spanish Mustang, or any other naturally gaited equine. They may be Gaited or WTC. (see also special gaited horse addendum) SPORT HORSE CURLY SPORT TYPE HORSES AND PONIES are Curly Horses with an obvious ability to succeed in competitive sport disciplines such as dressage or jumping. They will exhibit upstanding conformation and forward, light & athletic movement associated with Warmbloods, Hunter/Jumper, English or Baroque breeds. STOCK HORSE CURLY STOCK TYPE HORSES AND PONIES are Curly Horses with stock/working type backgrounds & influence, and should display the conformation associated with TB, Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas, etc. They will typically have thicker more expressive muscling; larger jaw, forearm, gaskin, V-chest, and be well muscled over the topline and down through the loin. They should have good saddle withers and back. They will have a long hindquarter that ties in low on the gaskin. Viewed from behind they will be wider across the stifle than at the top of the hip. Their movement should be appear effortless & athletic and their stride should be long reaching & smooth to ride. They are capable of great bursting speed in work, and settle quickly when at rest. They should be able to work hard all day long. Ideally they will display cow-sense. They are well suited for ranch work, western ranch class competitions and general riding use. DRAFT CURLY DRAFT TYPE HORSES AND PONIES are cold-blooded type Curly Horses with obvious draft breed influence. They are most suited for draft work, or as family homestead work & driving horses. They may show potential in crossbreeding for warmblood types.  This is the TYPE NOTATIONS table taken from the scorecard  Type X  Comments GENERAL SADDLE HORSE     PLEASURE HORSE     SPORT HORSE     STOCK HORSE     DRAFT     Determining Age of Horses by Their Teeth, Wayne Loch and Melvin Bradley Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia Unsoundnesses and Blemishes of Horses: Feet and Legs, Wayne Loch and Melvin Bradley Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia Unsoundnesses and Blemishes of Horses: Head, Body, Respiratory Tract and Stable Vices, Melvin Bradley Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia Information on this webpage, and all the linked pages will all be compiled & printed up into one ICAMS Judging Handbook ICHO  |  ICAMS  |  Genesis Committee  |  Curly Horse Breed Standard email Donna Vickery,  ICHO/ ICAMS/ Genesis Committee Director