Welcome to Showmanship-Patterns

The blog with patterns to practice showmanship with! These patterns may not be used for publishing or resale, however feel free to copy them for your own personal use!
I'll post my findings on these as we practice them ourselves! Happy practicing and we'll see you in the show pen!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Pattern 28, Advanced

Findings:

  • Start with a brisk trot, you will need this because as you begin turning horse to trot to cone 3, they will automatically want to slow down and possibly walk.
  • Slow to a walk, making it a smooth transition, do not stop, practice until it becomes automatic for both you and your horse.
  • Walk a tight circle around the cone, making sure you are looking up and for the judge for your trot off approach.
  • Make sure you stop your horse in front of the judge, at 1 1/2 arms length away, back straight and walk back, again stopping 1 1/2 arms length away.
  • Upon dismissal make sure your horse is paying attention to you so you don't catch your horse sleeping and off guard for your 270...spin, a quick glance at the judge and trot straight away.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Pattern 27, Advanced

Here's a pattern I found in my archives that we practiced before Congress (like 2 years ago...LOL)...thought it could be a fun pattern for practice!



Findings:


  • Trotting from 1 half way to 2, make sure you have a complete stop and wait 1 breath before continuing on.
  • Make your circle around cone 2, keeping your horse up with you.
  • As you round cone 2 on the south side, make a glance at the judge for your positioning, your horse will need to stop dead center of the judge...this is why this pattern is so difficult...stopping dead center can be hard!
  • Back smoothly and straight.
  • You will back into your pivot, you may have to pull your horse slightly forward to keep it's weight on it's pivot foot...remember to look up at the judge before you end your pivot so that you don't over/under pivot.
  • Walk to judge (smile on your face, of course)
  • Set up.
  • Nice smooth pull turn, glance at judge and trot straight away.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Pattern 26, Novice

Findings:

  • Start far enough away from cone 1, so that by the time you perform your 270, you can complete it on the correct side of the cone.
  • Practice your trot to walk, so that you perform this smoothly and seemlessly...you don't want your horse to stop or worse, continue trotting while you are walking to cone 3.
  • Back your horse straight and stopping your horse's pivot foot is in line with the judges left shoulder, this puts you dead on with the judge after you perform your 270.
  • Your 270...you've just backed and your horse's natural inclination would be to suck back and pivot on the incorrect foot...make sure your horse is pivoting on the correct foot and pull your horse slightly forward if needed.
  • Trot straight to judge and stop leaving plenty of room (1 1/2 arms length away) for stopping and setting up.
  • Upon dismissal, peform a full 90, look back at judge and walk away.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Go Show

I have heard lots of excuses for not showing a horse. He/she's not ready, I'm not ready, the weather is too hot/cold/rainy/whatever, it's too expensive, but why am I not placing when I do?
The fact is, the more you show your horse the better you will BOTH get. You will learn a lot about each other and that's what makes good teams...knowing each other through all the little problems and how to correct those little problems before they become HUGE problems.
When you do show, take mental notes of those competitors that do very well, how do they prepare before they walk through the in gate? You can learn a lot in the warm up pen.
Watch those that are the next step up for you...are you novice? Watch the youth or amateur group, see what it takes to do the next step up. Observe other exhibitors practicing with their trainers, you'll be certain to catch a handy tip here and there.
The point is, the more you show, the better you will get faster. You'll learn how to deal with your nervousness (if you are) and possibly your horse's nervousness (if they are).
Do you have a green horse? Take them in the class with small goals, ie. 3 second set up, nailing the spin, etc... and be proud of that accomplishment and make a mental note of the next goal to set for yourself and your horse.
Are you green? Make yourself a small goal, ie. looking up and smiling at the judge during your approach, nailing your crossovers, feining confidence.
Basically, get your rear in gear and go show, you'll get better, your horse will get better and before you know you'll start placing higher and higher!
Until next time, see you in the arena!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Pattern 25, Advanced

Findings

  • Start by being ready for the judge, and trot briskly, making sure that your horse is keeping up with you.
  • Make both of your arcs equal, making sure that cone 2 is large enough for cone 3, since cone 3 is an inside turn (your horse is on the inside and you are on the outside). You want your arcs large enough to be sure that your horse doesn't walk around cone 3.
  • Trot straight to cone 4, stopping with enough distance to make your 450 without hitting the cone.
  • Back until your hip is even with the judge (practice this until you have it perfected, this is all about knowing your horse).
  • Perform your 90, walk to judge, stopping at 1 1/2 arms length away.
  • Upon dismissal, perform a 90 turn and trot straight away.

Pattern 24, Novice


Findings

  • Be prepared to go at cone 1 as the person in front of you exits.
  • Trot briskly, make sure that your horse stays with you around the circle and to cone 3.
  • Stop at cone 3 with your hip even with the judge.
  • TIP: Practice with someone and figure out how many steps YOU take after you pass the judge to where your horse's hip lands...the majority of my students were between 2 and 3 steps.
  • Complete a 90 turn, do not over or under turn.
  • Look up and at the judge as you are walking to the judge.
  • Stop in front of judge, leaving 1 1/2 arms length between horse and judge and set up for inspection.
  • Upon dismissal, perform a 270 and trot straight away.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Pattern 23, Intermediate



Findings:

  • Start with being in line to the judge at cone 1.
  • Trot off briskly (remember also that you are running on the outside of the turn, so you might have to step it up a notch so your horse doesn't walk around cone 2) and stop with enough room at cone 3 so that you may perform your 180 w/o having to go around the cone.
  • Finish your 180 trot to cone 4, have a nice, crisp stop.
  • Back smoothly and without pivoting until you are straight with the judge.
  • Walk 1/2 way, perform a 360, looking up and at the judge towards the end of your spin.
  • Walk briskly to the judge and set up for inspection.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Pattern 22, Novice

Findings:

  • Trot briskly from cone 1, around cone 2, making sure that your horse is keeping up with you as you make your turn around cone 2 (you may have to slow yourself a bit or push your horse on, so that your horse doesn't fall behind you) to cone 3.
  • Stop nicely.
  • Back an arc to cone 4, your horse's tail should be in the center of the cone when you have completed your back. Perfecting this manuever is just a matter of practice and learning how your horse backs and how to turn your horse while backing. For those that have never backed an arc, as you are backing you will be pushing your horse's head AWAY from you to move their hip towards you. (also see exercise backing figure 8's for perfection!). Your arc should be smooth and without pivots.
  • After completing your arc your horse should be centered on the judge, walk briskly, stop, perform a 360, looking up at the end of your 360 at the judge so that you know when to stop pivoting and walk to judge.
  • Set up and wait for your dismissal...and remember to exit to the right (keeping yourself between the horse and the judge, unless otherwise requested by the judge).

Happy Practicing!