The North Carolina 4-H Horse Program Rules and Regulations Manual
CHAPTER II.
SHOWMANSHIP
II-A. Overview
II-B. Scorecard For Showmanship Classes
II-C. Breeding or In-Hand Classes
II-A. OVERVIEW
The same scorecard and class procedures will be used for all exhibitors in Showmanship classes. The exhibitor uses the horse as a means to display his or her ability to fit and show properly. Showmanship is considered a performance, not a conformation class.
II-A.1. Purpose
The real purpose of showmanship is to learn the best way to fit and train a horse so that its best attributes can be seen easily by the judge or potential buyer. All youths are encouraged to participate and learn. Showmen are reminded that they are being judged on the fitting, training, and showing of their horses. The horse’s conformation is not to be considered in the judging of this class. Showmen must wear the correct attire for the division in which they are participating. Refer to specific division requirements in regard to attire and equipment.
II-A.2. Awards
Exhibitors in the showmanship classes will be eligible for ribbons for the first 10 places depending on the number of entries. The final judging of all showmanship classes will include the top 15 horses, including all ties.
II-A.3. Judging Procedure
The following judging procedure will be used for all classes: Exhibitors will individually enter the ring and be scored on the fitting, leading, and posing of their horses as well as pattern precision. The judge will place each entry in a Danish group. After the completion of individual judging, the judge may give the finalists additional work before final placings and awards are made. A show manager may elect to modify or change the above ring procedure at his or her own discretion.
II-B. SCORECARD FOR SHOWMANSHIP CLASSES
II-B.1. Club Member and Equipment: 20 Percent
II-B.1.a. Personal Appearance
Each club member should be neat, clean, well groomed, attentive, courteous, and in appropriate attire for the division. Chaps and spurs are prohibited.
II-B.1.b. Equipment
Clean and properly adjusted equipment should be used. Halters (leather, nylon, or rope) must be used in the Western Division. Halters or bridles may be used in the English and Hunter divisions (exhibitors should conform to breed standards). Lead shanks (or ropes) should be 6 to 7 feet long and should be adjusted to the point where a youth does not have to hold a hand on the chain. The shank needs to be short enough to assure maximum control and responsiveness from the horse. Judges may penalize youths who use a shank over the horse’s nose. Hackamores, whips, crops, bats, chaps and spurs are prohibited. Whips are permitted in Saddle Seat classes only.
II-B.2. Horse (Fitting and Grooming): 30 Percent
II-B.2.a. Cleanliness
The horse should be clean and well groomed. Fitting for show is a year‑round job. No amount of delayed fitting or grooming oils will cover up a poor job of feeding or an unhealthy, unsound horse. Daily grooming and good nutrition are very important to the hair coat. Just before entering the show ring, the showman should rub the horse down with a grooming cloth to remove any dust that may have accumulated since brushing. Avoid using an oily grooming cloth because oil will accumulate dust. Wipe about the ears, eyes, nostrils, lips, sheath, and dock with a damp cloth or sponge.
II-B.2.b. Clipping
Horses should be clipped in ample time before showing to allow for some regrowth to cover up any minor mistakes. The long hair under the chin and jaw and on the fetlocks and pasterns should be trimmed. The clippers should be run with the grain of the hair. The entire ear should be clipped close.
II-B.2.c. Mane and Tail
The mane and tail must be combed and thinned. Manes are usually thinned to about 4 to 6 inches long. A bridle path should be clipped. Stock horses may have the mane completely roached, leaving a forelock from the headstall forward. A small lock of mane is left over the withers to help balance the neck and cushion some of the wear from a saddle (required by A.Q.H.A. and Appaloosa Horse Club). The tail should be thinned and combed to a length appropriate for the particular breed. The tail hairs should not be cut off but thinned by pulling excess hair out.
II-B.2.d. Feet
The horse’s feet should be trimmed and properly shod (trimming and shoeing should be done approximately 10 days before a show). The hooves should be clean. Exhibitors may wish to use hoof dressing or other treatment to improve the appearance of the feet.
II-B.3. Method of Showing: 50 percent
II-B.3.a. Leading
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Be able to walk, trot, turn, stop, and back as directed by ring officials or the posted pattern.
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Always lead from the left side at an alert walk, following the judge’s directions. When showing at a walk, always walk by the horse’s left side, never in front of him. The horse’s head should be slightly in front of your shoulder. The horse should be trained to move willingly with his body (head, neck, back, and hindquarters) in a straight line in the direction being traveled. Showmen will need to give the horse enough lead to allow him to travel straight, but keep the lead short enough to assure precise control. Exhibitors must have the right hand on the lead when leading their horse. The left hand will contain the remainder of the reins of lead in a loosely coiled loop or figure-eight fold. Horses should walk in a brisk, alert manner and give the appearance that exhibitor and horse are a team.
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Run by the left side of the horse when showing at a trot. When leading, your horse should travel alertly and willingly with his head up but not too high. You should run with good posture and vitality.
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When a particular show ring procedure used by a judge requires a horse to be reversed, the horse should always be turned to the right. Turn in as small an area as possible and attempt to keep the hind feet in one place while turning; this allows you to keep the horse lined up with the judge. All turns should be made naturally and as directed by ring officials. Any turns requiring more than 90 degrees should be made to the right. Turns requiring 90 degrees or less should be made to the left.
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Always move your horse directly toward or away from the judge unless specific instructions are made indicating the judge would like a side view of your horse.
II-B.3.b. Posing
- Keep your horse posed at all times, and know where the judge is and what the judge wants. A good showman always gives the judge the best view of the horse. Make it easy for the judge to see your horse at its best advantage. When the judge is down the line, let your horse stand, if posed reasonably well, without undue fussing.
- When posing your horse, stand toward the front, facing the horse at a 45-degree angle to the eye, but never directly in front of the horse. Always be in a position where you can observe your horse and keep an eye on the judge.The “Quarter Method” is the suggested method of showmanship. The following guidelines are meant to serve as an illustration of movement around the horse while showing in showmanship at halter and are for the exhibitors:
- Imaginary lines bisect the horse into four equal parts as seen in Figure II-B.3.b below. The quadrants are numbered I, II, III, and IV for ease of identification. One line runs across the horse just behind the withers. The other imaginary line runs from head to tail.
- When the judge is in quadrant I, the handler should be in IV. As the judge moves to II, the handler should move to I. As the judge moves up the horse to III, the handler returns once more to IV. When the judge moves up to IV, the handler returns to I. This method is based on safety as the handler can keep the horse’s hindquarters from swinging toward the judge should the horse become fractious.
Quadrants for Showmanship
- Western horses will stand squarely, with their feet directly under them. Hunter horses may stand squarely or in a traditional hunter stance. Hunter Seat exhibitors must be consistent in the stance used to pose the horse. English horses must be posed according to their breed standards. Position your horse by the pressure on the lead strap. Never kick or position the leg with your hand while in the class. When the judge is observing other animals, let your horse stand if posed reasonably well.
- Keep your position in line and allow reasonable space (at least 6 feet) between your horse and the others. Never allow your horse to interfere with other horses.
- If requested to change position in line, back your horse out of the line and approach the new position from the rear. Be careful when walking up behind other horses and allow yourself plenty of room to enter.
- Keep alert, and be aware of the judge’s position at all times. Don’t be distracted by persons or things outside the ring.
- Show the animal at all times, not yourself.
- Respond quickly to requests from the judge and officials.
- Quickly recognize and correct any faults in your horse.
- Move easily, quietly, and with confidence when showing your horse. Be courteous; respond promptly to directions and display good horsemanship at all times.
- Keep showing until the entire class has been placed and excused from the ring.
- Be natural. Over showing, undue fussing, and maneuvering are objectionable.
II-B.3.c. Faults in Showmanship
- Allowing the horse to remain out of position.
- Standing directly in front of your horse.
- Using your feet to move the horse’s feet.
- Failure of the horse to lead properly.
- Failure to stop before turning when showing at a walk or trot.
- Failure to back.
- Loud voice commands to your horse or other unnecessary actions.
- Kicking.
- Pushing the horse with your hands or using your hands to place the horse’s feet and legs.
- Moving to the off-side of the horse and remaining out of position.
- Not remaining alert and watching the judge for instructions.
- Using a tightly coiled lead.
- Not using a properly fitted halter or bridle.
- Holding your hand on the chain of the lead shank.
- Failure to glance back and check your horse to see that it is tracking straight with the judge. (The glance back should be accomplished immediately after a turn.)
- Mixing of square- versus hunter-stance posing style in the same class.
II-B.4. Scoring Ranges
II-B.4.a. Breakdown
Using the aforementioned scoring guidelines, exhibitors are to be given an overall score from 0 to 20 in ½- to 1-point increments. The suggested final scoring breakdown is as follows:
Score |
Performance |
20 |
Excellent performance. Completes pattern accurately, quickly, smoothly, and precisely, and demonstrates a high level of professionalism. Horse is fit and groomed well. Exhibitor is neat, clean, and appropriately dressed. |
18 to 19 |
Generally excellent performance with one minor fault in the execution of the pattern or in the appearance of exhibitor or horse. Overall execution of the pattern is excellent, and exhibitor is highly professional. |
16 to 17 |
Good pattern execution with one or two minor faults in performance or appearance of exhibitor and horse. Exhibitor is reasonably professional in presentation of horse. |
14 to 15 |
Average pattern that lacks quickness and precision, or commits two or more minor faults in performance or appearance of exhibitor and horse. Horse is not presented to its best advantage. |
12 to 13 |
One major fault or several minor faults in the performance or appearance (or both) that prevents an effective presentation of the horse. |
10 to 11 |
Two major faults or many minor faults in the performance or appearance (or both) of exhibitor and horse. |
6 to 9 |
Several major faults or one severe fault in the performance or appearance (or both) of exhibitor and horse. Exhibitor demonstrates complete lack of professionalism in showing the horse or commits a severe fault. |
1 to 5 |
Exhibitor commits one or more severe faults, but does complete the class and avoids disqualification. |
II-B.4.b. Fault Examples
Keep in mind that with a range of ½ point to 4 points for a minor fault, two serious minor faults may total 8 points, which would put the exhibitor’s score at around 12. Minus scores are permissible. Minor fault examples with severity ranges are as follows:
| ½ point: | Patting pivot foot |
| 1 to 2 points: | Losing a pivot foot for a portion of the spin (perhaps 1/2 of a 360°) |
| 3 to 4 points: | Backing into a pivot |
II-C. BREEDING OR IN-HAND CLASSES
Conformation classes will be divided into four basic conformation types of Western (Stock) Horse, Saddle Horse, and Hunter Horse. Exhibitors will use the proper attire and equipment as outlined for each show division in Chapter III of this manual.
II-C.1. Judging
II-C.1.a. Criteria
Horses are judged on conformation, soundness and transmissible weaknesses, condition, quality, breed character, and way of going at the judge’s discretion.
II-C.1.b. Manner of Judging
Horses are judged individually at a walk or trot on the line and then standing.
II-C.2. Class Specifications
II-C.2.a. Tack
Horses will be shown in a halter made of leather, rope, or other suitable material. In Saddle and Hunter classes, horses may be shown in a halter or bridle.)
II-C.2.b. Accessories
Whips or bats of any type will not be allowed, except in Saddle Seat Division in‑hand and showmanship classes.
II-C.2.c. Exhibitor
Horses are to be handled and shown by only one club member regardless of breed standards.
II-C.2.d. Procedures
Horses will enter the ring at a walk in a counterclockwise direction unless instructed differently by the judge or ring officials. Subsequent procedures will be as directed by the judge, the ring steward, or both.
II-C.2.e. Completion
On completion of the judging, the top 6 to 10 horses will be lined up in order of placing so that the public may see how the horses placed.
