Tip 1: Look Good
After making a clean look when you go into the circle indicates something many competitors overlook. Remember, when you stand at the gate or the first cone pattern waiting to begin your first impression the judge is based on your vision! If you have a pattern flawlessly but your company Gwenog, your hair dangling in your face and your hat crunched you probably will not win the class unless you are miles ahead of the competition.
You do not have to wear fancy, just neat and clean. Have your hat cleaning and regular shape, make sure it is not only clean your clothes, but free of wrinkles and for highlighting the color of your shoes matching pants. Also, your hair should be neatly drawn out of your face and makeup should be professional looking and not over!
This goes for your horse as well. It should be as clean as possible with proper pruning face and legs and mane and tail comb (even better: a mane banding or Layers good jobs that will go far!).
Tip 2: Good Beginning
Practice at home so your horse stand on the cone or starting gate. Most of the time you have a little more time to get your horses feet are placed at the beginning because the exhibitors will be running their previous pattern. You want to be sure that when the judges are turning to you, be prepared and looking sharp!
Your horse should also be easy to walk forward with you when you take the first step in the pattern. Do not close your eyes and hope that it will do ... use this every time you walk him home. Whether you walk to pasture and riding with him or finish cooling him out, always ask him to walk with you properly.
You never get a second chance at first impression, so make your first steps count!
Tip 3: Use the Cones
One of the biggest problems I see is young and inexperienced exhibitors do not know when to transition on a cone! Your pattern says: "Walk from cone A to cone B, Trot to cone C, stop and back 4 steps." When you change? Most people should start asking your horse to turn their nose at the moment reaches the cone. That way he is already in the gate (or stopped) by the time there will be shoulder. That is the point transformation indeed!
Make sure you do not ask too late! If you know it will take 4-5 steps before your horse conversions, then you need to ask a little earlier. If your horse is so in tune and only a few steps then ask later.
Again, practice this at home. Even if you have to use pop bottles like your cone, it is much better than trying to record until you go into the ring!
Tip 4: Keep your distance
Nothing nasty things judge more than having to go out of the way of exhibitors! If your pattern says to stop your nose at the judge should the horse be at arm's length away from the time you have stopped completely. In this case, it is better to be slightly further away than too close.
The distance also provides plenty of room to move around the horse's nose if the judge is going to the left side of your horse in its first inspection.
NOTE: A small sub-point on this subject that you should bring your horse to the judge. If your pattern has to walk or trotting horse to judge your nose should be headed straight for the judge's torso. If you look just left of the judge (rather than on his / her) that you will line up with your horse straight!
Tip 5: Stay Sharp
In the showmanship class is deeply involved in everything. Always move with purpose and maintain good posture. While you should not rush through the movements, takes too long to establish, by a pivot or be considered a fault. Instead, you should make sure that each item performs "sharp".
This does not mean you should nod to the judge every time you move side to side or when you leave. That looks fake!
Now Get exercise!
Now that you have some suggestions to help you know what to look for, go out and start practicing! Remember, even if you have a great showmanship horse you must be consistent with the pattern of showmanship to win.
Take time to go through every move may be asked to do in your classes and work on it until you can perform with no lead rope. That is the challenge I give myself every time I work with a new horse perfect showmanship. If I can do well without any result then I know I can reach the goal at the show!
