How To Compete in 4H Showmanship Classes
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Showmanship is a class done at the beginning of most 4H shows. This class is mostly performed western, but it can be done english. For western, you will need some sort of dress pant, a western show shirt, a leather halter, a hat, western boots, and a leather chain. For english, you need tall boots, a helmet, solid color breeches, a hunt coat, a dickie or show shirt, and a leather halter and chain (or horses over the age of two may be shown in an english bridle). While using a bridle is the cheaper way, I recommend using a halter and chain because it provides more control.
In every showmanship class there is a pattern you have to memorize. Before you start your pattern, you will want to line your horse up. You will want your horse to stand square. The ideal position is getting all four feet aligned with each other, but not every horse is capable of doing that. So just try to get it as close as you can. Look at the judge, and as soon as she nods, you start your pattern.
You will want your horse well groomed and braided for this class. You can get marked down points for a messy presentation.
Some things they may ask you to do are: 90 degree turn, 180 degree turn, 360 degree turn, trot and back up.
90, 180, and 360 Degree Turn
To do these, your horses back feet need to stay lined up while they move their front feet. The way I taught my horse how to do this was pushing my hand into them near the girth area while pulling slightly inside on the chain/bridle. Pretty much, a turn on the haunches from the ground.
Trot
Getting your horse to trot from the ground may seem easy, but for me, it was pretty hard to teach. Simply put, the horse I leased was lazy. You will want to start jogging and giving a slight cue with the lead/reins. In lower level classes, you are allowed to kiss to encourage your horse to go forward.
Backing Up
I'm sure most of you have done this with a simple halter and lead. You just pull back on your chain, and face the horse when backing up.
Lining up for the judge
This is the part where I see people making the most mistakes. There are four squares in showmanship. When the judge is in square one, you stand in square two. When the judge is in square two, you stand in square one. When the judge is in square three, you stand in square one. When the judge is in square four, you stand in square two. The judge will move back and forth at a paced walk and sometimes try to throw you off, so pay attention! When the judge is in between one and two, stand in one.
Common misunderstandings in Showmanship:
1. Spurs are NOT allowed in showmanship classes.
2. Showmanship is NOT a halter class. |
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Dark Star
About the spurs - Its not very safe to either...because, I was in a practice show and they wern't taking off for spurs or stuff like that in a showmanship or halter class cause it was just practice. Well, me being stupid, forgot I had spurs on, so I ask my horse to trot and I acidently steped in front of him and he STEPS on my spur and I trip, only getting caught by the lead rope, which my horse, being awesome, kept trotting, and we still got second...lol
About the spurs - Its not very safe to either...because, I was in a practice show and they wern't taking off for spurs or stuff like that in a showmanship or halter class cause it was just practice. Well, me being stupid, forgot I had spurs on, so I ask my horse to trot and I acidently steped in front of him and he STEPS on my spur and I trip, only getting caught by the lead rope, which my horse, being awesome, kept trotting, and we still got second...lol
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Sep 28, 2010
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