showmanship is an event found in many horse shows. This class is also sometimes called "Fitting and Showmanship", "In-Hand Skills", "Halter performing skills in Halter" or "Halter showmanship" This involves a person on the ground leading a horse, wearing a halter or bridle, through a series of maneuvers called patterns. The horse itself is not judged on its conformity. Instead, exhibitors are judged by how well he shows the animal for its best benefits, with additional assessments for the care and presentation of horses and handlers.
The performing skills started as a component of the 4-H competition for young people, to teach them how to present the horse in hand. Over time, it evolved into the most breeding competition at regular horse performances as well and has become a highly competitive event with the right standards at the highest level. However, it also remains a standard competition in 4-H and other school events for beginners.
Most performance classes play in the United States using western horses, clothing, and equipment; However, the English style is also noticeable, depending on the type of horse. In some breeding and open competition, both English and Western handlers can appear in the same class.
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Horses must be well prepared and clamped, as exhibitors are judged on the ability to adjust and show the horse "in hand."
Horses are prepared several months before the event by providing good nutrition to develop a healthy and shiny coat. The nails will be cut regularly by the farrier and kept in balance, smooth and neat. It will be brushed and if not prepared to further promote the glossy coating and overall good health. Horses will also be done regularly, either on hand or under the saddle, to develop a good muscle tone.
Before the show, usually in 12-24 hours of class, the horse will be bathed and the hairs on its mane, tail, legs and heads are trimmed or cut to meet style standards for certain types of horses. Often special conditioners are used on the hair to make it more lustrous or smooth. While the exact style varies with the breed, the hair on the lower leg of the horse, jaw, ear, and throat is usually closed, in North America, it is common to trim the whiskers on the muzzle and occasionally the eyes. Usually the "bridle path" is cut, depending on the breed, removing the length of the mane behind the ears where the crown of the dumbbell or restraints go.
Competitors should be familiar with the class rules, care and style details for the types of horses and styles of tactics and clothing that they choose to use in the ring. Preferred styles for certain types or styles, such as braiding, can be considered illegal by others. Depending on the type of horse and the nape style used, the mane may be braided, left loose, or "tied" (having a small rubber band puts around a small part of the short mane at the root to help it lie down). Horses are shown loosely, flowing manes sometimes have their mane put into 5 or 6 large braids the night before, taken out before class and brushed to give a bumpy, appealing appearance.
The horses shown in the style of the hunting chair may be braided French on the dock in the style of a classic show hunter. Some breeds allow fake hairpieces to be added to the tail, other breeds prohibit fake tails. The horses must have a long, natural tail that sometimes keeps them "up" when not showing, long hair woven into the bottom of the pier, then the braid is rolled up, with bandages or old socks placed around the hair to keep it from breaking and keep the tail clean. When taken and brushed out, the guarded tail in this way waves and flows in the ring. If it continues at a later time, the tail can grow so long that it drags it to the ground.
On the day of the performance, just prior to entering the arena, the horse is not only prepared to remove any possible impurities, but will usually have paint applied to the nail, light oil or conditioner placed on its snout, around the eye, and other strategic areas of the head to accentuate his best features, and usually have a thin coat outfit that is sprayed all over his body for the last minute. While participants in the 4-H competition are expected to do this all by themselves (and keep their show clothes clean in the process), exhibitors in open competition usually have grooms, often parents or coaches, helping them in preparation at the last minute.
Maps Horse showmanship
Train horse performances
Horses should be trained to respond directly to any command by the handler. It should start immediately by walking or running, and stop immediately when asked. It has to retreat straight and quietly and learn to change the very tight circle of walking and running. Horses are also taught to "organize" - to place their feet in position, usually square on all fours, best showing the conformation of the breed. Often the horse also needs to learn to hold his head and neck in a particular flattering position as well. Horses must learn to accept standing in setting positions for long periods of time without fidgiting or falling asleep, since the class of performances is often very long, due to the fact that exhibitors work with patterns one by one.
Tools and clothing
Cleanliness and professional appearance, polished for horses and exhibitors is very important. The team must follow the standard style to indicate the type of horse given. If the horse can be displayed under the saddle in either English or Western equipment, the handler can choose their style of equipment, but can not be mixed between the two styles.
The western-style horse is required to wear a dumbbell and dealt with tin shank. This is usually a leather strap equipped with a thin leather strap. The width of the halter leather strap may be quite heavy or very subtle, depending on the type of horse and what looks best on an individual. Some show rules allow the chain under the horse's jaw to provide extra control, at other times it does not. The handler can carry a whip while showing some offspring, but usually whips are not allowed.
The horse displayed with a hunter style wearing the right English bridle, with the handler leading the horse with a bridle or with a curve attached to the bits. Horses that are displayed saddle style can, depending on the type, are displayed either in modified form of bridles used in riding classes or with very thin, smooth or halter skin-like skins.
Exhibitors, male or female, must wear pants, shirts with ties or brooches, and boots. Some show rules require hats. Gloves are optional, but are usually worn by exhibition winners as they provide better grip on the calf and provide a smooth look. Jackets or vests are also optional, but common. If the handler showed an English style, they wore the same jodhpurs or breeches and boots as they would wear in the riding class, with proper hunting chairs or saddle seat hats, ties, and jackets. In some breeds, showmanship exhibitors, both male and female, may choose to wear business suits that are similar to what may be worn to the office or other white-collar working arrangements. Western handlers can wear western riding clothes or business-style clothing, coupled with cowboy hats and boots
This event has evolved over time. In previous years, it was common to see simple clothed exhibitors with rigid denim jeans, repressed white shirts, ties, hats and boots. The horse was originally shown in a simple stable leather dumbbell. While simple clothing and equipment are still mandated at some level of 4-H competition, in open competition and sanctioning events for various breeds, exhibitors usually follow the same style as seen in the riding class. Thus, it is common today to see Western-style exhibitors in the highly elaborate and applicative ensemble emblazoned with diamonds in swarovski crystals, showing horses in halters adorned with silver silver in large quantities.
Exhibition
The rules for the show's performance classes are governed by organizations such as 4-H, United States Horse Federation, and the American Quarter Horse Association. Although the rules differ slightly from one breed or organization to another, there is a general principle that usually applies in all competitions.
The pattern that exhibitors must do is usually posted first. It has to be memorized and riders can not carry notes or be trained while in the ring. Horses are usually taken to the ring while walking. Depending on the type and pattern, exhibitors can enter and perform the required patterns one by one, then march in groups on one side of the ring, the next time they can all enter the ring, first line up, then work the pattern.
Most patterns look simple: Exhibitors will lead horses by walking and running, spinning one or two times, stopping at a certain location, and sometimes retreating. However, all straight lines must be perfectly straight, everything turns smooth and sharp, all speed changes are executed quickly. Orange highway cone is often used to designate the right horses and exhibitors walk, run, spin or rewind. Patterns may be made more difficult by having a change in gait in a shorter distance, by requiring more frequent or more tight turns, or by asking the horse to spin in place, spinning behind it for two or three rounds.
A participant is not allowed to touch a horse in class. A participant should treat each part of the pattern as a separate task that leaves behind a sharp, contradictory and sloppy maneuver. An exhibitor should appear confident and happy; eventually selling themselves and their horses to judges by acting in confidence and professionalism.
Finally, the participants have to set the horse and the judge will walk around the animals, as if being judged for conformation. However, the judge actually oversees the exhibitors and evaluates the makeup, cleanliness, style, and number of participants. Participants must move from one side of the horse to another so they do not disturb the judge's line of sight, but the horse must stand still, alert, with his ears poking forward even as the participant moves. The handler must be very smooth and calm as he moves from one side of the horse to the other, but moves quickly and watches the judge at all times.
There are two standard styles used by exhibitors to stay out of the judge's way: "half system" and "quad system." The half system is the simplest, used by early exhibitors at small events, although technically legal even for most handlers. In half the system, the handler only stays on the ("half") side of the horse opposite the jury; when the judge sees the left side of the horse, the handler stands on the right side, and vice versa.
Quarter system is slightly more complicated but also more common. In the quarter system, the handler stands on the opposite side of the judge when the judge looks forward to the horse, but when the judge moves to see the back of the horse, the handler then moves to stand on the same side. horses as judges. The reason behind this method is that it is a little safer if the horses are surprised by the judge behind it, and it is also easier for participants to see the judges. While technically a handler will be assessed equally for using a half system or quarter system, participants who use the quarter system correctly will earn more points because it's a bit more complex.
The judge may ask the participants to take the horse's legs, or to separate the horse's lips and show the judge that the "bite" of the horse's teeth. At some events, the judge may ask the participants questions about parts of horses, horse management, their age and type of animals, and so on. Exhibitors are expected to provide correct answers in a polite, confident and professional manner.
The winner of the theatrical class is usually determined by varied formulas by the organization that gives sanctions to the show, but usually calculates grooming and hygiene about 40% of the score, and the pattern and showmanship skills for about 60%.
See also
- Halter (horse show)
- Horse care
- Horse care
- Nutrition horse
- Western drive
- Equestrianism
- List of horse breeds
- Mane (horse) for information about braiding
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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