Benefits beyond the show ring 

By Lindsay Grice, Equestrian Canada coach and judge 

If you’re looking for a beneficial off-season activity to share with your horse, showmanship skills can be introduced while wearing your winter boots and even in the barn aisle. Just 15 minutes of in-hand training per day will, like planting fall tulip bulbs, bear results in show season.

Horses mindful of their handler and light to the lead pressure are a pleasure to be around. They lead attentively and load on a trailer reliably.

In showmanship classes, horse and handler execute a prescribed pattern — walking, trotting, backing, and pivoting on the haunches “with precision and smoothness, while exhibiting poise and confidence.” (AQHA Rulebook.) Horse and handler perform the movements together, with barely visible signs of cueing from the lead shank. In the best presentations, the horse keeps in step with the handler and appears content to do so, displaying soft ears and a calm but bright expression. 

If your horse has “lots of personality” – pushes into pressure, crowds your space or chews on everything — it may be time to instill some showmanship skills.

Related: Why Horses Rush Jumps

5 BENEFITS OF SHOWMANSHIP TRAINING FOR EVERY HORSE 

Whether or not a horse will be shown in a class, I teach showmanship fundamentals to all the horses I work with. 

It’s fun to move in sync with your horse and satisfying to share a common language of body movements. After all, horses are not vocal communicators like humans. They read body language. When we teach showmanship skills we’re speaking their language. More benefits include:

1. Safety: Is it annoying to hold your horse at a show or outing? Do you look for opportunities between classes to hand him to your “groom” (code for mom, dad, or significant other)? A horse “lots of personality” (you know — the busy, mouthy kind that plays with your jacket, chews on the cross-ties, and invades your social distance) is particularly irksome to hang around with.

Imagine your horse walking calmly beside you as you tour around the show grounds. Picture him standing in his own space as you enjoy a conversation with a friend — not rubbing on you, diving down for grass, or tether-balling around you. 

When your Western hat’s been knocked sideways again and you’ve determined it’s the last time you’re having your toe stepped on, it may be time to instill some showmanship skills.

Moving the feet from the lead shank comes in handy when positioning feet for vet work, photos, or stepping your horse’s foot off the water hose. Control of a horse’s feet is key to controlling the horse.

Related: Crossing Poles In Stride for English and Western Riders

2. The habit of communicating clearly: The secret to doing showmanship with a happy horse is being readable — your horse follows your initiative and responds to your body language. The onus is on the handler to communicate clearly and fairly.

Those clear body positions, as with all distinct signals delivered from the saddle, translate from home turf to unfamiliar environments: “Horse, I know you’re experiencing sensory overload right now, so let’s review here those familiar skills you learned at home.”

3. The habit of being decisive: Groundwork is a beneficial component of every schooling session and a reflection of your whole training system. The precise geometry and movements of showmanship call for you to train systematically — to think through the signals you send to an animal. The habit of intentional communication flows into under-saddle work and general horsemanship.

4. The habit of defining expectations: With kids or horses, establishing limits and expectations is just plain considerate. Insecurity and resentment arise when boundaries aren’t well communicated, or they shift. Horses thrive in predictability. The good habit of consistency in your expectations must be established on the ground, rather than just under saddle. “Sometimes” on-ground expectations aren’t fair. For example,  

a. Sometimes I let you hand graze and sometimes I’ll jerk on the lead when you go for the grass (such as while I’m unchaining the gate).

b. Sometimes I expect you to follow me (such as when leaving the cross-ties for the arena) and sometimes I want you to stand still and not follow me (such as when I’m turning to reach for my helmet before we leave the cross ties). 

c. Sometimes I’ll let you rub on me, but sometimes I’ll push you away (such as when the slime on your mouth might smear my show jacket).

Defining on-duty/off-duty — Does your horse understand when you expect him to be in showmanship attentiveness and when he can relax? I’ll make it very clear with a distinction in poise and posture that I want my horse to be on.

Defining physical boundaries — Defining my space and your space comes naturally to a social animal like your horse. Respect his space by not carelessly resting the weight of your arm on the lead shank or fondling his sensitive muzzle. Likewise, he must not crowd into your space. In a social group, more dominant horses shift those less so. The less dominant horse defers his space, and peace reigns. This language of pressure and release makes sense to your horse. Leading or standing still, keep your boundaries consistent. If you let your horse creep forward when you’ve parked him in the barn aisle, or lag behind when you’re leading him, he’ll just tune out shifting boundaries.

5. Lightness to shank pressure: A horse, “luggy” on the lead shank is likely unmotivated to move his feet where he’d rather not go — through a water crossing or onto a trailer ramp. Showmanship teaches the principle of yielding to pressure and promptly finding release.

To move the feet, shift the horse’s weight off the foot you intend to place. To set the front right foot I’m elevating the right shoulder.

Related: Navigating the Gate with Your Horse

PRACTICAL BENEFITS OF SHOWMANSHIP — MOVEMENT BY MOVEMENT

In leading the dance of showmanship, your partner must be able to read and follow your movements clearly. You’ll have a different body position for every manoeuvre, each one clear to your horse and distinct from the other. Aim to move smoothly from one position to the next, giving your horse ample time to interpret your movements.

The movements I teach my students are as follows:

1. Come Forward

Benefits: Your horse leads lightly by your side at the walk and trot. Trotting for soundness for your vet, trotting for the judge in a conformation class, or jogging your hunter before ribbon pinning — it’s awkward and embarrassing when your horse gets stuck.

Classic body position: Face forward, keeping your horse’s throatlatch beside your shoulder as you walk and trot.

Tips: When leading your horse, define your expectations of what “walk beside me” looks like. Do you expect his head at your shoulder or half a metre behind you? Does your horse consistently find a sweet spot in the walk-beside-me zone?

If your horse lugs when coming forward, inspire him to do so — dial up the lead shank pressure by extending your elbow in front of you and immediately relaxing the pressure when he unsticks. The pressure should be steady but spongy, never jerky. Yanking on the lead activates a horse’s flight response, causing him to startle and toss his head upward. 

A lead shank chain is customary equipment for showmanship classes, but make sure your horse accepts chain pressure under his jaw before working on “come-alongs.” Rope halters are also effective in creating motivating pressure. 

Be wary of “encouraging” your horse forward by swinging your lead shank behind your body. Doing so will teach him to swing his hip away from you.

2. Back Up 

Benefits: Stepping back, yielding to the lightest of pressure, is the foundation for soft downward transitions and balanced stops. In working with a prey animal, control of the legs, particularly stepping backward, is an antidote to rushing. 

Practically, at some point you’ll need to back your horse off a trailer or back him into a wash stall.

Classic body position: Opposite of the leading position, you’ll face directly backward and walk toward your horse. The judge will be looking for the horse that backs away from the handler’s body position versus chain pressure. Avoid positioning yourself directly in front of the horse’s head while backing.

Tips: Initially, I’m satisfied with one step back from lead pressure. Once a horse understands the concept of stepping back from pressure, I move into my horses’ space before I apply lead pressure. Eventually, no lead pressure is needed at all. The signal to cease backing is returning to my “park” position.

3. Park in Place

Benefits: Teaching a recognizable signal for “stand still” is a worthwhile investment. In addition to the obvious safety benefits of a horse that will remain immobile when asked, he will also conveniently stay put while you adjust jumps and move ground poles. He’ll ground-tie in competition, penalty-free.

Classic body position: On the left or right side of the horse, the handler stands level with the horse’s nose, facing the horse, with shoulders at a 45-degree angle to the horse’s body. 

Tips: Keep your elbows bent and hands out of temptation’s way for a horse inclined to nibble on them. Imagine your horse’s head in a box and stay out. I don’t ever let a horse play “mouth the shank” or rub on me — I’m off limits. Use the “park” body position every time you intend for your horse to stand still. For example, I keep my shoulders facing a horse when switching sides while grooming. Although I’m moving, I want him to stay still until I give the signal to follow.

Related: Resolving Bit Resistance in Your Horse

Teaching your horse to park in place is a worthwhile investment. Beyond the obvious safety benefits of a horse that will remain immobile when asked, he will conveniently stay put while you adjust jumps and move ground poles.

4. Setup

Benefits: You can control your horse’s feet without having to handle them, which will come in handy when positioning feet for vet work, photos, or stepping your horse’s foot off the water hose. Control of a horse’s feet is key to controlling the horse.

Classic body position: The handler is facing the horse on an angle, as in “park in place.”

Tips: In the show ring, the setup is a separate score on the judge’s card — it’s really important. To be competitive in a showmanship class, your goal will be to get the job done in a couple of seconds and move each foot only once. Nothing makes time stand still and faces flush more than trying to setup a distracted horse while he shuffles around, and the judge waits… and waits….

Setups are the least practiced manoeuvre simply because it’s boring work compared to pivots and trotting in-hand. What better time to hunker down and perfect this move than over the winter months in the warm barn aisle?

With the pivot foot (right hind) in place, you will set the left hind foot to match it and then typically just one of the front feet until your horse is standing square. Lower his neck somewhat to set the hind foot and elevate it to set each front foot, essentially shifting the horse’s weight off the leg you intend to move.

Breathe out and relax your body when your horse makes the move you want, shifting your eyes up and away from your horse’s feet. This tells him to park and prevents anticipation.

Related: Is Lunging Your Horse a Waste of Time?

Whether or not a horse will be shown in a class, I teach showmanship fundamentals to all the horses I work with.

5. Turn-on-the-haunches (pivots)

Benefits: Pivots rehearse the good practice of your horse moving away from pressure, politely yielding his space when you advance. Turns lay the foundation for spins in correct form — pivoting around the inside hind foot, with the outside front leg crossing over the inside.

Basic body position: Move toward your horse’s neck and shoulder area, turning your shoulders from park position (angled at 45 degrees) to parallel with your horse’s body. 

Tips: Initiate the turn by stepping toward your horse’s shoulder, followed by pressure from your thumb or knuckle on his shoulder if he doesn’t step away. Be content with one step at first — one honest attempt to cross his left leg over his right.

As your horse reliably recognizes the distinction between each body position, you’ll find yourself relying less on your lead shank to cue your horse. My students know they’re ready to compete in showmanship when they can unsnap the lead and walk, stop, pivot, or back up while their horses remain in sync beside them. Now, that’s a fun goal to work towards with your horse!

Whatever your riding discipline, even the most basic showmanship training will transform your horse into a pleasure to be around. 

Related: Struggling to Plan Your Horse’s Training Sessions? Here’s How to Improve

Related: Nail the Correct Canter Lead

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(Photos are courtesy of Lindsay Grice.)