Showmanship Schooling Class

Today Awhile ago was the schooling show, and I learned a lot about riding and showing! :) It was almost more like group lessons with different sections (English, Western, showmanship, reining, and so on) than a show, although the entrants were required to have a number paper.

Anyway, I'll share the showmanship stuff with you know, and save the English riding stuff for later.

For showmanship classes:

• You will be DQ'ed (disqualified) for touching the chain lead shank in the show ring.
• You will be DQ'ed for switching hands on the lead.
• You won't be DQ'ed, but your score will be marked down for putting both hands on the part of the lead rope closest to the horse to gain control.
• The mane should always be gelled down and banded. Mane should preferably be the length of the horse's ear, or long and trimmed to emphasize the shape of the horse's neck.
• The tail should be down and fetlock-length (any longer than that will mean the horse steps on it when he's backing).
• Spend time getting clipping done right; some places you shouldn't miss are the head, nostrils, insides of ears, and lower legs (up till about the knees/hocks).
• There should be a definite difference between how you treat your horse when he does and does not have the chain lead shank on.
• Without: Your horse can graze (if you'll allow), be cuddled on, and everything is pretty much laid back.
• With: This means business. Your horse is paying attention to you the whole time, do not let him graze, do not cuddle him, do not let him do any other actions that will mark you down in the show ring, or get you DQ'ed.
• You and your horse should move as one, step for step. It is not you dragging your partner to the dance, it's both of you calmly going as a unit to the dance.
• Your horse should be trained to watch and follow your shoulder, and move/stop accordingly.
• You should have strictly set angles of standing and vocal commands for doing different things so your horse will know what you want.
• Before you walk off - Standing next to your horse, with your ear opposite his throat latch; clucking slightly before (need to give horse a heads up) and when you want him to start walking.
• Before you trot off - Standing next to him same as when walking; kiss or quickly cluck to signal a trot.
• Before you back - Standing next to him in same location, but facing his engine (hind quarters); clucking used same as previously.
• Before stopping - With some emphasis put your shoulders back to cue the stop; say whoa.
• Before setting up for inspection - Say whoa again so your horse knows not to move around (even though you will be).
• Know how the quartering system works (I'll write a post on it sometime!).
• Wear a good outfit that goes together well.
• The cowboy hat should not have too much contrast with your hair (a blonde such as myself shouldn't have a black hat, unfortunately).
• No jeans. Just...no.
• The jacket should be similar in color (if not the same color) as the pants.
• There should be nothing that pops out and distracts the judge from the horse. For example, don't have some bright neon markings on the bottom of your boots; this is the last thing the judges see as you are walking/trotting away, and it can very easily make them start trying to figure out what in the world that is, instead of watching your horse and yourself.
• Dress for your age range. For a younger person, bling is just fine. For an older person, don't dress like you're trying to be a teen. Use common sense.

That's all I have for know. I'm sure there are plenty of other things that I forgot to mention, but that'll get you started. :)