In the Ring

Once again, the whole purpose of entering your horse in a show is to “show it off”, so bearing in mind as soon as you enter the ring till the time you exit, you and your horse are on show!

For inhand, you will be asked to “present” your horse to the judge.  This will require asking your horse to stand, and stand still whilst the judge walks around to inspect it.

Again, it is invaluable to learn from someone experienced, exactly how to do this and where to position yourself from your horse.  Failing that, try to let a few other competitors go before you so you can watch what they do.

You will also be asked to walk and trot your horse out.  The judge or steward will let you know what is required and exactly where you are to walk, run and halt.  You want to be able to walk and run your horse on a loose rein from beside it’s shoulder or just in front of its’ shoulder.  A loose rein will allow your horse to move freely and express it’s true pace.  A tight rein will “clamp” up its stride.  

So practice at home, there is no point trying to teach your horse how to do this once inside the show ring!  Obviously even the best laid plans can go out the window with young or inexperienced horses once you get to the show, but hopefully if you have practiced at home, it will come together once in the ring.

Once you have done your workout for the judge, acknowledge him or her with a smile and a nod and go and take your place in the line-up.  Remember to leave room between yourself and the horse beside you.  Not all horses like being cramped up or get along, so be aware of your horse at all times.   You will not be popular if it kicks the horse next to it, and likewise you don’t want your horse being injured from a kick from it’s neighbour.  This applies to waiting around outside the ring and at all times.   

The same applies for ridden classes.  Be courteous to other competitors at all times.  If you need to overtake the horse in front, try to do so on the outside of the other competitor leaving plenty of room between horses.  Don’t ride up behind other horses and give any horses that are getting “excited” by the atmosphere plenty of room.

Once again, the show ring is not the place for schooling your horse, this should all have been done at home and your horse should be going nicely.  You will be expected to walk, trot and canter in flat ridden classes, so these paces should be well established and produced on command, with the horse going nice and calmly in a correct outline.  This applies to any breed or horse shown.

In the case of the standardbred, everyone knows they can pace or trot flat out with head in the air, but in the show ring, they are expected to be shown as any other breed would.  Just as thoroughbreds aren’t seen galloping flat out around the ring, judges don’t want to see the standardbred in “harness racing mode”!

However, again there will be exceptions with young and inexperienced horses, so be aware of them and give them the room and space they need.  If it is your horse that is getting excited, try to take it to the outside of the ring and stay out of the way of other competitors until it settles down again.  But if it has decided to be completely unruly, leave the ring or you may be asked to by the steward.  Sometimes things just don’t go to plan, and there is always another day and another show!