Showmanship: Don't Mistake it for Halter!

Article and photos by Traci Durrell-Khalife

It’s easy to assume that showmanship and halter classes are judged the same, because equines are presented in hand in both events. In reality, the similarities end there.

Halter classes are judged on the horse’s conformation, action and breed type. Showmanship, on the other hand, is a performance class in which the handler is judged on his/her ability to fit and show the equine. Contestants individually perform a pattern to demonstrate their control and training of the horse. 

Common showmanship movements include leading at a walk and trot, stopping, backing, pivoting on the haunches, and setting up for inspection. Other movements that may be requested in 4-H, high school equestrian teams and open shows include leading from the off (right) side, side passing either direction, and pivoting on the forehand. Additionally, the judge may ask the contestants questions.

An ideal pair will work harmoniously, giving the appearance that the lead shank isn’t necessary. Contestants are penalized if their horse is unresponsive, resistant, spooky, or otherwise disobedient. Touching the horse is not allowed during a showmanship class.

Handlers must also remain poised and alert throughout the class. Confidence is expressed through their movements, posture and eye contact with the judge. Handlers should stand tall and straight, looking ahead, not down.

During inspection, the judge will usually walk all the way around the horse to evaluate its fitting and grooming. At the same time, the judge keeps a close eye on the handler, as they move from side to side in the quartering system. For safety, the handler must not stand in front of the horse. 

For quartering, imagine the horse divided into quarters lengthwise down the spine and crosswise over the withers. The handler will always be in a quadrant adjacent to the one occupied by the judge. For example, when the judge is near the horse’s right hindquarter, the handler will be to the right side of the head. When the judge crosses behind the horse toward the left hindquarter, the handler smoothly moves to the left side of the horse. 

The handler should stand at a 45-degree angle off the horse’s shoulder, with toes pointed toward the shoulder. The lead should be held in the right hand at least six inches from the halter. The excess lead should be held either folded or loosely coiled in the left hand. Pacific Northwest 4-H, for example, requires that the lead be held folded in a figure 8 in the left hand; AQHA requires it be held loosely coiled; Pinto gives the option of holding it “neatly and safely in the left hand.” In some associations, handlers have the option of switching hands for certain maneuvers, such as backing. They must, of course, switch hands for leading from the off side.

Tack and Attire

Handlers’ attire and type of halter or bridle should be consistent with their horse’s breed or type. A handler would wear western attire, often with a jacket, when showing a stock type horse or pony. A plain or silver stock-type halter would be used. 

This handler wears hunt seat attire and uses a browband halter on her crossbred pony. The pony trots straight and willingly.

Hunt seat riding attire is appropriate when showing a hunter-type horse in a hunt bridle, browband halter or plain – preferably leather – halter.

A saddleseat-type horse may wear a full bridle with one set of reins left over the withers; the handler takes down and holds the other set. Alternatively, one bit and set of reins could be removed. These handlers typically wear a saddleseat outfit. Browband-style show halters are also appropriate on saddleseat or pleasure-type light breeds.

Some breed associations, such as Pinto, allow English showers to carry a whip or crop. Spurs and chaps are prohibited with any style of attire.

Halters or bridles must fit the horse properly. Watch for nosebands that are too loose and/or too low. Throatlatches should be snug, but not overly tight.

Most stock-type halters have a lead shank with a length of chain at the end that snaps to the halter. The chain may be used over or under the nose, or not at all. When putting it over the nose, you may put it through the left side ring of the noseband, then over the nose, out through the right side ring and up the right cheek. Snap it to the upper ring with the snap facing out. Alternatively, if the chain is long it may be run through the regular halter ring, folded back on itself and snapped to make a shorter chain. If the chain is short, it may be snapped directly to the ring. The handler should hold only the leather, not the chain. A lead with no chain may also be used, especially for foals.

Showing Your Model

When selecting a model for showmanship, choose one that’s walking, trotting or standing in a balanced position. A stock-type horse should stand square; saddle seat-type horses may stand stretched. The horse should look calm and attentive. Any breed of horse, pony, donkey or mule may be used.

Mules and donkeys can excel at showmanship, too.

A doll handler is usually required in both photo and live shows. To make your entry look distinctively like showmanship, you may want to add a cone and/or a judge doll. Be sure to include a description of the movement and a diagram of the showmanship pattern with your entry. 

This pair begins to circle left around the cone.

For leading, position the doll on the horse’s left, between the mid-point of the neck and the eye. If the doll is too far back, it may appear that the horse is “getting away” and the handler lacks control. On the other hand, if the doll is too far forward the horse may appear sluggish and unresponsive. A bit of slack in the chain or lead shank is desirable, as it shows the horse can work on light contact. 

Ranch Horse Showmanship, such as in PNW 4-H, calls for neat and clean working attire, a nylon or plain leather halter, and a lead rope suitable for tying a horse.

A typical class procedure is for all entries to enter the ring counterclockwise at a walk, then line up side by side. Next, each contestant performs the pattern individually. At the judge’s discretion, entries may perform their pattern from the gate. The pattern might be: walk to judge, stop, back 6 steps, close (lead forward), set up for inspection, when excused do a 180-degree right haunch turn, trot to line, return to original position. A pattern may also include one or more cones to mark the location of transitions, pivots or other maneuvers.

This horse is standing square, and the showman is in the proper position,
keeping an eye on the judge.

Showmanship is one of the easier performance classes to enter, as it requires little tack. But it also requires some knowledge, research and a correct presentation to be successful. With these tips, you’ll be ready to lead your entry into the winner’s circle!

Test your skills! Can you spot five errors in this setup?

Errors:

1) Showman is standing in front of his horse.
2) He has switched hands on the lead for inspection.
3) He needs to fold or coil the tail of the lead.
4) His hat is on backwards.
5) Neither the horse's haunches nor forehand is even with the cone
(location depends on the pattern).

REFERENCES:

Pacific Northwest 4-H Horse Contest Guide       
https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/topic/4-h/animal-science-horse

American Quarter Horse Association Handbook

www.aqha.com 

Pinto Horse Association of America, Inc. Rule Book

www.pinto.org