spinoff...Quater Marks, where did they go?

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

My trainer is old school and retired the trophy at Madison Square Garden, Devon, Harrisburg, etc... So we always do quarter marks for the big shows like Upperville, but also Warrenton Horse Show, etc. I think I see them more in the side saddle appointments classes than the regular hunter classes but even then it's only a few horses.

Anyone else still do quarter marks?

[hellerkm]

I am going to risk sounding stupid and ask what "Quarter marks "are?

[joiedevie99]

A pattern (used to be a checkboard) brushed into the rump. It's pretty easy- you just lay the pattern on the horse, apply hairspray and brush in the opposite direction of growth. There was a neat article this week with all sorts of fancy ones.

[horsechick]

they are back...saw them all over saugerties :)

[Mainiac]

I saw an article in a magazine this month with a very detailed step by step descriptions and
photos of quarter (done on the hind quarters) marks. Don't remember which magazine but, they must still be doing them.

[hellerkm]

that is what I THOUGHT They were! they are cool and if they are in style I have two gorgeous chestnuts that would look really cool with these on their rumps LOL!! where to I find the patterns?

[JenEM]

Don't remember which magazine but, they must still be doing them.

It was in the Chronicle ;)

The article made them look very simple to so, at least in basic form. The more elaborate designs done by some of the national eventing teams were remarkable!

[IsolaBella09]

Monmouth had a bunch of riders who sported quarter marks in the Grand Prix. I love quarter marks for classics, I think they look great and old fashioned.

[MHM]

The article was in the 8/7 Chronicle, along with some great pictures of creative quarter marks.

I think they're making a comeback- I've seen them more in the show ring this year than I have in decades. I have a feeling a couple of people started using them in the hunter derbies, and people suddenly remembered them.

Some of the jumpers have very intricate patterns of their country's flags- very neat.

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Well in the old days there were different quarter marks for mares, geldings, stallions, green horses, etc. I think it is checkers for geldings, diamonds for mares, and sharks teeth for green horses. Something like that. You can do it the old way and use a comb to brush the hair on the horses rump or get templates. Either way the result is a pattern of hair that is brushed in a different way. You set it with hairspray so it stays neat for the duration of the show day.

Pictures of stripes and sharks teeth: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/zoeshiloh/scan0001.jpg

Pictures of checkers: http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/upload/11168/images/Showing%20-%20quarter%20marks_still.jpg

Can't find a pic of diamonds.

[SidesaddleRider]

Well, if your trainer is old school, then I'm sure she knows that the stencils are NOT the traditional/appropriate way to do quarter marks. ;) They should only be done with a thin-toothed comb.

The stripes are not found in the US, only in the UK. The quarter marks and shark teeth are designed to show off a horses hindquarters, and should not be just slapped on, but rather carefully shaped to make sure you accentuate the best parts.

[superpony123]

I always thought they were kind of neat looking :D Though I imagine pretty tough to do, since you gotta find those itsy bitsy fine toothed combs (though they probably make stencils nowadays) my pony has a white rump, so I guess it wouldn't really show up on him. If i ever get a pretty bay or black, I plan on it :)

[vbunny]

Hand done please, the hair is brushed back with water to make a hand made pattern to accent the quarters. No stencils, please.

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Well, if your trainer is old school, then I'm sure she knows that the stencils are NOT the traditional/appropriate way to do quarter marks. ;) They should only be done with a thin-toothed comb.

The stripes are not found in the US, only in the UK. The quarter marks and shark teeth are designed to show off a horses hindquarters, and should not be just slapped on, but rather carefully shaped to make sure you accentuate the best parts.

LOL! Oh yes! The comb is the best way, though now that she has mellowed out over the years she has allowed the stencils. A long as she doesn't have to do it then she doesn't care how it gets done as long as it looks sharp. :D You are right! They have to be carefully placed and pains should be taken to make sure both sides match up perfectly!

These days I usually see only the checkers, rarely the diamonds, and I don't know if I have seen sharks teeth at all except on event horses. I remember growing up with the Chronicle and all the horses in the pictures had them.

I have not yet learned how to do the quarter marks with the comb. I need to learn that. It doesn't look hard, just something you have to practice over and over until you get it right. I do with my horse was darker though. They don't show up properly on a light gray horse!:(

[Shortstroke]

Dover sells the stencils!

[GreystoneKC]

I LOVE quarter marks! We were just talking about this at Monmouth! I used to use them back in the 4-H days, but lost my stencil along the way. I actually never knew there was another way to do it outside of the stencil. Anyone want to explain in more detail? I am all for bringing the quarter marks back!

[lauriep]

We used to save them JUST for indoors. And only by hand, of course. They went on every hunter in every stakes class.

I just taught a bunch of pony clubbers how to do them by hand. They thought it was tres cool!

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

You just get a small fine toothed plastic comb and break it off into a 1 inch section. Then wet the hair brush it the right way and comb the pattern in a downward direction. It takes lots of practice to get the pattern neat looking and matching on both sides though.

[*horsiejumper*]

Any links to the stencils?

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Dover has them as well as many other tack stores.

[Renn/aissance]

Teach the unenlightened--what is considered optimum placement for the different types of quarter marks to show off a horse's haunches to best advantage?

[VA_Hunter_Aside]

Here's a good UK video about how and when to apply quarter marks. Although as someone said earlier the stripes are not seen in the US. Also, the horse types do not really apply to our shows but you get the idea. http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/shared/PageTemplates/Article/Article.aspx?id=5521

Basically only do quarter marks if your horse has a good butt and hind leg. If he doesn't then you don't want to draw attention to his weak rear end. So if you horse's butt is one of his good features quarter marks will show them off more.

[ponymom64]

I saw quite a few of the big hunters in Vermont with quarter marks - it looked really smart

[Oldenburg99]

If anyone finds that article please let me know I would love to read it! thanks!

[MintHillFarm]

Hand done please, the hair is brushed back with water to make a hand made pattern to accent the quarters. No stencils, please.


That's right! We did them way back when too; water and a very fine tooth comb only...

[meupatdoes]

Is it actually possible to tell the difference between quarter marks applied via stencil and quarter marks applied without?

What if one were to use the fine tooth comb with the stencil?

Anyone of the die hards willing to do comparative/illustrative pics of stencil v. non-stencil?

[dani0303]

At the risk of sounding stupid, what are quarter marks for?

[make x it x so]

At the risk of sounding stupid, what are quarter marks for?

Style, and to accentuate a horse's hind end. There is no practical purpose (like braids show off a horse's neck and would keep his mane from getting tangled when hunting), quarter marks are just another way to "show off" your horse. I think they look great, and I am considering a checkerboard on my horse for the Hampton Classic this year (he's a solid bay and I want a way of standing out a bit more!).

[appychik]

I know that eventers still do quarter marks, but they are more of a "right of passage" so not just anyone slaps on quarter marks. Or they do, but get funny looks up upper level eventers. I saw some lovely quarter marks at Rolex in '08 when I was there :yes:.

They do look gorgeous when applied and done correctly. Too bad my boys have natural quarter marks (both boys are Appaloosas... Gus has a blanket with spots and Gringo is a LOUD leopard) :winkgrin:.

[BAC]

I just read the same article in COTH and plan to try some. I can remember going to the National Horse Show at MSG and all the fancy hunters had them. I'm glad its coming back in fashion again.

BTW, Bit of Britain has the stencils for those of you who don't want to do it by hand.

[Mags]

I had a Blood bay QH in the early 80's that looked wonderful with the checker board. I still have the comb. It's an aluminum(sp) pulling comb that I had sawed of at an inch. I'd dip it in sugar water to make the hair stay stiff.

It takes a lot of practice to get the rows to stay even. After awhile doing the pattern on the same horse you know were it looks best. My Dad used to groom for me all the time. He was great about making sure if didn't get brushed out.;)