Showmanship Savvy
By Heather
Bellville
Double H Quarter Horses
What makes a winning Showmanship pattern? Is is a smile? Is it doing a super fast pattern? Having a custom-made halter? Does it mean being dressing like a million dollars? Sorry, but it’s none of the above. The best way to win a Showmanship class is through consistency and knowledge. This article will provide you with some tips to help you place higher the next time you show in Showmanship.
Before you enter the ring, make certain that your horse’s hooves are clean. They do not necessarily have to be hoof blacked, just oiled and clean will do nicely. Run a towel over your horse's body and remove any surface dust that may linger. Make certain that your horse's nose and eyes are clean. Be sure you clipped him so that he looks his neatest.
Your outfit should be well fitted, but it doesn't have to jump out at me with sequins and jewels. It just needs to be nice and clean. Your halter should fit well on your horse’s head. I would rather see a plain leather halter that is well fitted as opposed to a full silver one that hangs on the nose and off the cheek. Okay, now you are ready to enter the class.
When you walk through the gate and walk past me along the rail, you need to make eye contact. I like good, confident eye contact that tells me you know what you are doing. Your hands should be well bent and relaxed, where the lead hand is a bit above the excess lead hand, just not the robot arms that stick straight out. Don't stare at me the whole time. Look over and walk forward about five steps, and then look at me again. Line up with your ringmaster and get your horse set up nice and straight while the remaining entries are entering the pen. Make certain your horse is set up straight, and that his shoulders aren't pointed towards you. If they are, the minute you take that first step out of line, he will not be going truly straight.
Now that you are set up straight, you should keep your eyes on me and watch for me to give you the nod to start your pattern. Always nod back at me and keep that eye contact. If you are looking at the ground, it's hard to know if you are going straight or not. Keep your eyes on me and stop nice and quick about a foot from me. Don't stop any closer because you will crowd me. If I have to take a step back, just to get some room, I'm going to penalize you.
You are now stopped in front of me, and it's time to set up. Don't acknowledge me until you have your horse set up. Do not get so particular that I get bored and just start inspecting you. Close and quick are better than perfect and long, in my opinion. They say your set up should be within a five-second window.
You're now set up and ready for me to inspect your horse. I want you to take a step back and look up at me in a professional fashion. No toothy grins, just a nice relaxed smile so I know you are finished setting up and ready to be inspected. Now, I start walking around you. I want to see you look at me, then your horse's feet, body, head and then back at me in that order. This tells me that you are keeping an eye on the horse. Each time you have to move from side to side, you should check your horse. That tells the judge you aren't showing yourself but your horse.
Now, I'm all done inspecting you and everything is just great. It’s time to get dismissed, do a 180° pivot and trot back. Take your time and don't rush. When I nod to you that you are dismissed, keep your eyes up and ahead. Turn into your horse and do a clean consistent pivot. You do not have to go 100 mph. If your horse can keep his foot still and his body straight, you will score just as many points with me. It shouldn't be one step, pause, one step, pause, etc., because that is too slow and tells me you and/or your horse are not solid on your pivots. I also want to see that horse move off your body position, not your lead hand going clear underneath to try and push him around. One other thing that a lot of people do is that they will watch their horse's back feet instead of where they are going. They need to look forward in order to be straight on line for the trot back. Please keep your eyes up. When you close in your 180° and are ready to start trotting, I want you to glance back at me so you know where I am. Then, I want you to go. Understand that a straight line is used so the judge can see the horse track to and from. It's not to make things harder on you, the exhibitor. When you stop at the end, glance back at me to be dismissed. Stay there until I acknowledge you.
I hope some of these tips help you place higher in your next Showmanship class. I have always loved Showmanship and found it to be one of the easiest classes to win that didn't require an expensive horse to do well.
The Judge's Choice is proud to present this article for your reading pleasure and sincerely thanks Heather Bellville for submitting it to our Library.
Contact Heather Bellville at bellville@adelphia.net . Visit her website.
Heather Bellville Biography
Showing horses since she was 8 years old, Heather has received year-end awards
from the OQHA, EOQHA and was third in the Performance Horse of the Year standings in 1991.
A five-year 4-H advisor anD carded 4-H judge in Ohio, she is now accredited to do PAS shows as well.
Along with running a successful brokerage service for Ohio residents, she has been breeding
Hunter Under Saddle horses for five years. She has 70% AQHA performers and a futurity winner doing so with only
one or two mares per year.
P.S. " I wish everyone out there the best of luck in their horse endeavors.
Never stop reaching for your goals, you'll catch them with enough motivation."
By Heather Bellville.
(10/31/01).