Creating a winning pattern in the Showmanship Class Part 1

Let's start with my experience in showing showmanship class. I have been competing in showmanship classes for about 20 years...since the age of 5 and have accumulated many 1st places and champions over the years. I'd like to think that my success in showmanship class comes from a solid training when I was young from a great trainer (Kenny Ecker from South Bend, Indiana; a quarter horse trainer with quite a history and accievement list to his name) and hours and hours of hard work. I also started out with a great horse that helped in teaching me about that winning pattern!

LESSON 1:

For kids who are just starting to learn showmanship my recommendation is to help them learn to love the class by giving them a horse to work with who is good at showmanship! Having a young child start out with a young or uncooperative horse is just a recipe for disaster and will make them dread practice time. Also, the horse that the child is working with should already know how to do the showmanship manuvers they will need to perform.

In my oppinion, the hardest part of the showmanship pattern and the part that makes or breaks a show pattern for a newbie is learning how and when to move around the horse when the judge does their inspection. Last summer I worked with my 6 year old niece, trying to help her understand the concept of moving. We stood the horse in the sand and set her feet. I then divided the horse into 4 sections by drawing lines in the sand with my boot out from either shoulder and the nose and tail. This divides the horse into 4 sections or creates 4 boxes that the judge will walk through. We then used these lines as a visual cue for when my neice should move from one side of the horse to the other.

The basic explination I give new showman is: "You always need to be in the section/box next to the judge but you should never be in the same section."

We then experiment; while I walk around as the judge I let my student think about where they should be. The best way to make a child excel in this is to let them work it out.

There are lots of other manuvers that require time perfecting, includint setting the horse's feet, pivots and the most crucial part of keeping the horse with you while you walk or trot him through the pattern.

LESSON 2:

You should be about half way between the horse's head and shoulder when you walk forward and your horse should be so in tune with you that the moment your foot leaves the ground to take the 1st step he should already be moving his feet! You can practice getting your horse in step with you by gripping your lead in your left hand, right at your hip and putting your right arm straight in front of you. Step forward and start walking. If your horse doesn't step forward right away the lead will tighten after a step or two and pull across your torso, tightening the chain across his nose and encouraging him to walk with you. Practice starting and stopping over and over again using a different number of steps each time. After a while your horse will get the hint and you will be able to walk forward with him right with you!

Well now is the time to go practice the basics! Check back with me soon for more lessons on creating a winning pattern for showmanship class. I will be adding lessons on how to get your horse pivoting, backing up straight and how cones in your pattern should be used. I also recommend looking at Understanding Showmanship a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about showmanship and how yourself and your horse professionally in the showmanship class!