It’s a great schooling ground. But probably the biggest thing we all learn too late about the subjective sport that is showing is not to take the judges’ decisions personally when you don’t win!
We can’t all win every day, so you truly have to compete against yourself and be happy with how you and your horse have performed. Were your canter-walk transitions better than last week’s outing? Was the walk free and relaxed? What do you need to go home and work on?
Many riders let all the outside distractions at a show affect their performance; be it the sideshows, the weather or the judge. The better-educated animals, confident to follow the leadership of their composed and prepared rider, will behave the best.
So, with the above in mind, there’s no reason to think you can’t pick up some prizes if you are able to catch the judge’s eye.
It’s all about creating a pleasing overall picture. It’s often said that top show horses have a certain ‘look-at-me’ presence about them. This is true, but it’s a rare quality – though you truly can create this elusive trait with a careful combination of turnout, conditioning, education of the horse and your own riding proficiency.
Conformation
We mention this first as showing, unless the class is a turnout, paced & mannered or rider event, is judged mostly on the horse’s conformation.
An eye for conformation is a learned thing. You need to study horses to learn what makes one horse move better/provide a better ride/jump higher/piaffe better and so on than the next one.
The horse with a good front will catch many an eye, but a good front is not just a pretty head and an arched neck. Look for length of rein, a good sloping shoulder and prominent wither (they come together) and, what everyone forgets – are the elbow and stifle joints in alignment? If they aren’t, the horse will invariably have short front legs – a downhill axis – like some quarter horses who, when cutting cattle, need to be built like a tank to work ‘low’ to the ground. Horses that pulled carts were also built like this in front so they could lower their shoulders to do just that – pull.
Now, we all want to ride uphill, and nothing is worse to ride (assuming you do want an uphill performance), than a horse with short front legs, as the horse finds the expected work difficult. You can hold it up in front with the reins, all you like but the horse will find engagement of the hind end problematical and never appear an easy ride. These horses quite often come with flat withers and upright shoulders as well. Some judges are fooled when they move but, the ones with the ‘eye’ will still be able to see the downhill axis.
If a horse is born with a good front, they find the work much easier and, temperament-wise can also be much more pleasant to deal with because of this.
Turn out
Less is more. Judges do want to see the horse and, often, the more bling on horse and rider makes us look harder to see what you are trying to hide!
A healthy animal of dark colouring will display beautiful dapples but you hardly see them in the show ring anymore, which is a shame. It would be nice to see less matte black horses and a few more dark browns with dapples!
You don’t have to spend a fortune and your gear doesn’t have to be the latest, or brand new. A good fit, co-ordinating colours, and knowing what looks good on you and your horse make for a better overall impression. If you are unsure, ask someone in the know what is correct for each ring.
Close contact, older-style dressage or show saddles that sit behind the horses shoulder will show off your animal off to its best and, usually, sit you in a tidier, more natural position than many of the large, bulky, saddles in fashion today.
Condition
The saying used to be that the best colour for a show animal was ‘fat.’
That’s simply not true as, if too heavy; they tend to lose their elegance. But well-covered is always good and, if horses are worked correctly and (not restricted) the top line will get to be well muscled. The topline of a horse always ‘tells’ how it has been worked at home.
Over-feeding is not a good way to condition a show horse as you may then be struggling with the control buttons; too much energy has undone many a stunning animal on show day.
Learn to stand back and look at your horse every day, before you put the saddle on, and see where the weight needs to go on or come off.
Please do not present a poor, injured or unsound animal in front of a judge; it’s not good horsemanship and someone may decide to report you. Show animals should be in all-round good health with good coats and sound limbs and feet.
But scars are not an issue in the show ring. Only if a scar is exceptionally unsightly will a judge perhaps take it into consideration. Ditto with splints, unless they are due to an extreme conformation fault.
Ring craft
A wise rider/trainer once said “Your horse may not be the best but you can always outride them.” Good schooling and clever ring craft is very effective.
Before your classes start and you are warming up, analyse the ring and decide how you would use the space to display your horse to his best. Is there one side you won’t go too close to (where the flapping tent/coffee cart is perhaps). Where is the dip in the ground to avoid at all costs?
If asked for a workout, don’t ride into the shade or go miles away from the judge, but do use the space to your best advantage. Don’t ride behind the judge or the line-up of waiting horses. Ride symmetrical circles/lines and do things you have practised well at home. If you’re asked to gallop, it’s not a race – forwards is forwards and not charging around appearing out of control.
If you enter a hunter or riding horse class the judge, depending on the ring size and safety aspect, may ask for a gallop. It won’t be a problem if you have done this at home as part of your usual schooling. It isn’t all about speed but the horse lengthening its stride to cover the ground smoothly. It really IS noticeable if you are uncomfortable riding at pace, so get out in the paddock or on the beach and practice! Horses love working at pace and it’s a great schooling exercise, as they have to engage the hindquarters (if you let them).
The biggest mistake most riders make, however, is with extended trot. Extension and collection are NOT required in showing. So, please don’t push your horse out of his rhythm, attempting extreme extension. It looks a struggle. Just show a nice lengthened trot, keeping the rhythm and therefore the horse’s balance and true stride.
How your horse ‘goes’ in a show class should look EASY. As a judge, do I want to ride your horse? Usually not. Let it flow and move softly on a light contact; don’t try and haul it up in front. If you school at home correctly, the horse will grow muscle and be able, eventually, to carry itself up there without your help; it’s called self-carriage. It looks impressive and you and the horse will be much happier.
When riding around the ring with all the other horses, don’t just follow the one in front of you – ride your horse positively and, being considerate to others at all times, keep out of trouble and give yourself the best chance. This doesn’t mean riding a small circle around the judge – a good judge will stand still and only watch one side of the ring – they won’t miss you. This also gives you the opportunity to correct things behind their back if need be.
Rider classes
Don’t be afraid to enter the rider classes. Don’t try too hard though, which makes you appear stiff and unyielding.
A good rider appears to have invisible aids and is at one with their horse. They aren’t kicking and pulling the horse into an outline. Harmony should be the objective – a happy rider, looking up and smiling, in a correct position riding a willing horse than looks easy to ride.
My pet hate is riders with a lazy leg position – toes turned out especially, which is a sign of a weak lower leg. And, don’t ride in a double bridle if you do not understand that the curb rein is to be used as an independent aid and NOT hung onto with the same pressure you have on the snaffle rein! It looks bad and, if you do have a tight curb rein, the horse will usually have its mouth open trying to get some relief – not a pretty picture.
The horse should, if you have trained well and are then able to ride with confidence, go on a soft rein and display lovely, forward-going, long, swinging strides (not running and choppy and uptight).
How to stand your horse up
This is critical in-hand as well as in ridden classes.
You only get one chance to impress and may not have realised that, when you turned into the line-up to stand still for the judge’s inspection, your horse now appears to have twisted front legs! Always walk straight ahead for a couple of strides before stopping; this usually straightens all the horses’ legs.
Also, whichever side of your horse the judge is looking at, if you have positioned that side’s hind leg to be back; the hindquarters will appear rounder to the judge’s eye than if you have the horse standing under himself. Practise looking at home – stand the horse up as you would at a show – in balance and not totally square; the judge should be able to see all four legs, from either side.
Summing up
Judges don’t dislike your horse just because they don’t place you first. We have to make a decision then and there and be seen to have the best animals ‘on the day’ at the top of our classes. Yours may not be chosen one today but, next week, a different day, a different judge, amongst different horses and with a week or two’s more education; yours may be the champion!
So, use showing as a great day out to educate your horse and test your riding ability. Sometimes we learn this too late and give up on showing; it’s not all about the ribbons. It is character-building.
There are so many classes out there for all types of horse and pony and fabulous prizes from novice through to open in the conformation sections, including champions for riders and champions for paces and manners, champions for working hunters and general hunter jumping, champions for breed and colour classes. The options are nearly endless. Your horse and you will fit in somewhere.
Don’t leave your lovely horse or pony in the paddock – we judges would love to see it!
