Horse & Rider USA – September 2019

Fall 2019 / 83

reacts over the poles. Can he maintain
his cadence and speed control while
going over them? Does he naturally like
to drag his feet rather than pick them
up? This could help determine whether
or not your horse can do events that
involve poles, as well.

Handling on the Ground
Showmanship is such an art. Your horse
can learn the basics of showmanship
early on just by walking alongside you.
Pay attention to how he reacts next to
you. Does he willingly walk when you
walk? Does he stop when you stop? If so,
try walking him in circles, or have him
jog alongside you. You want to be able to
control his hind end and his shoulders,
so he doesn’t drift one way or the other.
If your horse is always on top of you
or doesn’t want to get off the lead rope
and back willingly, you know you’re
going to spend more time teaching him
showmanship.
Biting is another showmanship
mishap. You’ll face penalties if your
horse nips you during a class, and you’ll
probably leave a bad taste in the judge’s
mouth if your horse tries to bite him or
her during an inspection. Your horse
should have manners at all times,
whether you’re in the show pen or at
home in your barn.
If your horse likes to bite, avoid hand
feeding him at all times. If you do give
your horse some form of treat, place it
in his feed bucket.

Set Him Up for Success
Unfortunately, we can’t be good at ev-
erything we do. You may come to realize
your horse can’t do a specific event well.
Maybe he’s a top-notch pleasure horse
that’s capable of doing rollbacks, lead
changes, and extending gaits, but he
cannot pick up his feet to go over a log.
He may not make the best trail horse,
but he’s skilled at other maneuvers that
will allow him to shine in other events.
Know the difference between being
green at an event and not athletically
capable of doing said event. You need
to set your horse up for success so you

both enjoy your time in the show pen. If

that’s not an event he’s capable of doing

well, don’t force him to do it—you’ll get

in his way. Eventually, he’ll get mentally

frustrated, as will you, and you’ll take

away from his good events.

By focusing on the events your

horse excels in, and not trying to put a

square peg into a round hole, you both

will find success in multiple events,

and enjoy your journey into the world

of all-around. 