By Lori L. Gordon

"This horse will shine in the halter and showmanship."

"What a mover! And pretty enough for the halter and showmanship class."

"Dusty is correct and well balanced, especially for the halter and

what exactly are these events, which novice and experienced horse people alike often get confused? How do these non-riding events differ? Can amateurs compete in these events without the help of a trainer?

We asked American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) amateur competitors Roy and Beverly Shriver of Shriver Quarter Horses in Freedom, PA, and AQHA amateur exhibitor Patricia "Trish" Ogburn of Houston, PA, to answer these questions and to offer tips for competing in halter and showmanship classes.

Halter emphasis: Conformation

According to the AQHA, " A halter class is defined as a class where the horse is judged based upon its conformation. The purpose of the class is to preserve American Quarter Horses type by selecting individuals in the order of their resemblance to the breed ideal and that are the most positive combination of breed, character, balance, muscling, structural correctness, and sex character.

Although each breed has its own ideal, halter horses are judged on how they measure up to their breed standards. Most halter exhibitors are required to walk and jog their horses so the judge can check for "way to going" and soundness. Some breed associations require the exhibitor to walk the horse to the judges and trot past and around to a "head to tail" line-up; others may have the exhibitor in and around to the line-up or perform a short pattern to the judge after lining up in the arena. Regardless of what method is required, the judge will evaluate the horses action or movement, his soundness, and his conformation and " resemblance to breed ideal" as most halter classes are judged on a combination of conformation and way of going.

In addition to checking halter horses for lameness, most judges will check stallions and mares for parrot mouth. Also, in accordance with AQHA rules, "All stallions two years old and over shall have two visible testicles. All lame horses, crytorchids, and parrot mouthed horses will be excused from the ring prior to final placing by the judge."

Successful halter competitors Roy and Beverly Shriver purchased their first Quarter Horse mare in 1973. Shortly thereafter they became hooked on halter. They began breeding their mares to outside stallion in 1975 and in 1979 bought their first stud, Chuby Helo (who is four points short of being a AQHA champion), but their breeding success soared when in 1985 they bought The Big Te, a halter point earning son of Te N Te, The Big Te has sired numerous halter and pleasure futurity winners and has won the Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association Breeders award three times-in 1992, 1993, and 1995. He has produced Superior Halter horses, and his get have placed in the top ten at All American Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Show.

According to Roy Shriver. "Breeding our own mares forces us to study more closely the conformation of the halter horse and to be very objective about the conformational weaknesses of our own stock. We have learned that the bone structure of the horse and the balance of that structure were the most important element of any horse-halter or performance. Halter classes are won on profile, and balance is essential. The four parts that should be equal in length are the neck, shoulder, back, and hip."

Beverly Shriver adds, "The ideal halter horse would have a beautiful head, a long slim neck and a good sloped and well-defined shoulder, a good level back, and long sloping hips with the tail set just right."

Says Roy, "When began watching, buying, and breeding halter horses, we were in love with big bulging muscles; but with time we learned that those big bulging muscles need to be smooth and you can often get along fine with a little less muscle if it is smooth and balanced-equal in front and behind. A long time ago in a conversation about halter horses someone said, 'If you can't have a big then give me a pretty, or give me balanced, or give me stout.'"

The Shrivers believe that success in halter takes all four of these things, "To have a winner you need to have universal appeal, but the single most important thing is a beautiful horse," they say.

Preparing the halter horse

Preparing the halter horse for the show ring involves more than training him to stand still. According to Beverly, "Getting a blue ribbon doesn't come easy. After you buy or breed this outstanding halter horse, you must prepare it for the show ring. An hour a day should be spent on grooming-clean skin and hair promotes a great hair coat, then splint boots and neck sweats are applied, and then longeing or ponying your animal from 6 minutes to a maximum of fifteen minutes daily. This time should be equally divided in both directions at a lope and a trot. After the workout, the horse is tied in his stall for an hour or two-depending on the need of the individual horse's neck. Then the horse is hosed off and finally put in the stall to dry.

"Feeding the halter horse is very important too. There is nothing worse that a fat halter horse." Roy says. "You want smooth and rounded lines, but not fat."

Beverly continues, "Depending on the individual, either a 14-percent feed or oats and a supplement can be fed; but high-quality alfalfa hay is essential. Poor quality hay will produce a 'hay belly,' but feeding great hay will allow less grain to be fed. And to get the most out of your feeding program, worm once a month."

Roy adds, "Practice standing up and trotting your horse at home. Teach the horse to give his neck to you and to put his ears up. The day before the show, clip your horse and hose him off. We almost never shampoo, since we thoroughly clean the skin and hair on a daily basis. Band the mane and trim to a length of about two to three inches. Get a good fitting classic show halter and you are ready to show. Halter classes are judged on the horse's conformation; but you appearance, both dress and show ability, can add to a winning look. After all, it is the total picture!"

The Shrivers are currently campaigning their registered Quarter Horse Stallion, Dream Broker, and will be showing him at the 1996 Congress in the Amateur Yearling Stallion Futurity.

Showmanship emphasis: A polished exhibitor

Showmanship classes may seem similar to halter classes- after all, both feature well-groomed horse and handler in non-riding events-but showmanship's emphasis couldn't be more different. According to the AQHA handbook, "For showmanship at halter only the exhibitor is to be judged; the horse is merely a prop to show the ability of the exhibitor. This class will be judged strictly on the contestant's ability to fit and how in a halter class. It is mandatory that the judge post the pattern the he/she will ask for at least one hour prior to the commencing of the class; however, if the judge chooses to bring back exhibitors for consideration of final placing, the finals pattern need not be posted."

The Pennsylvania 4-H Horse show rule book states, "The judge should consider 1) ability of club member to move the animal freely at the walk and trot, to set up and pose the animal, and to show him the best advantage; 2) condition and cleanliness of hair coat, mane, tail, and feet, which should show evidence of regular grooming; 3) neatness of any clipping, trimming, or braiding; and 4) clean will fitted tack. All horses and ponies are to be shown with a halter and may be shown with the lead shank under the jaw or over the nose."

Both AQHA and 4-H rules state that the exhibitor should entere the arena to the right and proceed counterclockwise unless specified by the judge. Some judges will require exhibitors to execute a pattern as they enter the gate. The exhibitor always walks on the horses left side and should not control the horse from the chain of the lead hand, but only from the leather portion of the lead strap, which is held in the right hand. The remaining portion of the shank is held in the left hand "either in a figure eight or one or two large loops."

Showmanship contestants line up side by side after they have entered the ring instead of the head to tail halter class fashion. At the judges direction, each exhibitor worked individually and return to the line-up. 4-H exhibitors are judged on their horses appearance (condition, grooming, trimming and braiding) showmanship (leading and poising), showing their animals to their best advantage, poise, alertness, and attitude. AQHA exhibitors are judged on their horses' appearance (condition and thriftness, grooming, trimming and tack), their own appearance ( clothes neat and clean, attire suitable), and showing the horse in the arena (leading, poising, movement around the horse, poise, alertness and merit).

Trish Ogburn has been executing these precise showmanship maneuvers successfully for some 16 years. She qualified in showmanship for the Pennsylvania State 4-H Show in Harrisburgh five years in a row and won the showmanship reserve championship. She is a two-time AQHA World Show qualifier in showmanship and a Congress finalist. Ogburn earned an amateur AQHA championship in 1992 and an open AQHA championship in 1994 on her thirteen-year-old chestnut mare, Scotch Neat. She also gives 4-H showmanship clinics and judges 4-H and open shows.

"What I like best about showmanship is the ability to make up for mistakes you have made at the beginning of the class," says Ogburn. "The horse is only a prop, so you have the ability to redeem yourself over and over."

"One thing I make sure of each time I compete is that I never take my eye off of the judge, no matter where they are. I also like to take a half step out and away from my horse so that I am standing out in front when the judge looks out and down the line. It is easy to get lost that it enables the judges to see me away from the others."

Competing in showmanship is like going on a job interview. "You have to make the first impression, and then you can do your job fulfilling the class requirements," Ogburn says, "It is important to have an overall look. The judges look for well groomed and conditioned. A more ideal horse may enhance you, but not necessarily if you have done your homework."

Ogburn says she likes to do a lot of "walking, trotting, and stopping" to be sure her horse stays with her. "I do a lot of geometrics - working in a perfect square for an hour or straight lines and quick movements. When setting a horse's feet, I always set the feet the same way. Always set the same back foot first, then the other; and the same front foot first and then the other. So the horse stays with me, I don't let his mind stray. Always briskly walk and jog whenever you are training for showmanship."

With a willing prop and an enthusiastic handler, non-riders or even beginners can compete successfully in showmanship. Says Ogburn, "It is pretty basic. It just requires a lot of repetition and practice every day. All training comes from the shoulder, whether turning or setting your horse. Be very light on the horse's head with the chain so that he is not super sensitive in the ring. The horse needs to work in line when leading or turning, so the shoulder really is the focus."

The icing on the cake is attention to detail says Ogburn, "Neat and clean, fit and conditioned is first and foremost. Your pants, boots, and hat should be the same color; and your jacket should tie in well. Long hair should be contained in a bun or braid-no pieces out! Makeup should not be overdone and should look natural. A pin or a tie is fine, but scale down the jewelry. The halter should be clean and oiled and fit well. When you walk out with the blue ribbon, you should look like you deserve it."

Both the Shrivers and Ogburn believe that doing your homework and paying special attention to neatness and cleanliness is crucial to the halter and showmanship package. Part of their homework includes getting professional help when they need it. All three have worked with trainers to add to their knowledge and to enhance their show-ring presentation. Halter and showmanship are very different events, as these successful amateurs have helped to illustrate. Be sure you know the requirements for each before you enter the arena. And practice, practice, practice-it really does make perfect.

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