In Hand or Showmanship with or without Doll Handlers

Western Showmanship of an Appaloosa foal.

Western Showmanship for Stock Breeds

Handler is judged on their ability to present the horse. The horse is merely a prop used to show the ability of the handler. The horse should be clean, well-groomed, attentive and in excellant phyiscal condition and be able to walk, trot stop and back as directed by the judge. The horse must be kept posed and the handler must know where the judge is at all times.

Attire & Tack:
Personal appearance of exhibitor should be neat, clean and well-groomed, attentive and courteous. The handler can wear a western exquitation suit or pants, shirt, tie, hat, belt with buckle and gloves. Chaps are not allowed. Western stlye leather halter with silver. Silver is not to count over nylon or rope halter. Halter is adjusted to fit tight under throat latch. A leather, rope or nylon lead or rope lead is used. Lead should be about 6 to 7 feet long with a 12 to 18' chain attached to lead. The chain may be clipped under the chin, over the nose (a judge may not DQ for use of chain over the nose as a restraint but normally it is counted down and an unruly horse may be asked to leave the ring) or doubled through the "O' ring under the chin and fed back to the leather lead and attached to chain junction. This makes the chain lead look like a double chain. The chain in NEVER clipped directly with the snap end of chain to the "O" ring under the halter. This is for two reasons: 1) The lead would be too long for the proper hold of the handler hand's on thelead. 2) If the horse would pull back on the chain the direct pressure on the snap may cause the chain snap to break, freeing the horse in the arena to cause havic. When the class is doubled or looped under chin or over the nose nose the snap as no pressure on it so less likely to break. The handler's hand should be placed on the leather part of the chain junction. No whips, quirts, bats, bridles or hackamores allowed.

The horse is lead from the left side with the hand on the lead strap about 8 to 12" from the halter. Smaller exhibitors may need to use a longer hold on the lead strap. Hold the excessive lead strap in the left hand, either in a rounded or flatten (collapsed)figure 8 or in a round coil. All turns of the horse shall be to the right with the exhibitor walking to the right around the horse. If a judge is standing at the rear quarter of the horse the showman must be on the same side of horse as judge. If judge is standing at the front quarters of the horse the showman is on the opposite side of horse as judge. The showman never stands directly in front of horse but slightly off to one side, even when asking horse to back and reset. The exhibitor is only required to show the horse to the judge from the distance of one horse on either side of where the judge is standing but should keep in mind the audience is also viewing the class and should be attentive to the horse for the time they are in the arena. When lining up either head to tail or in the line up, the horse must be stood squarely on all four feet. The exhibitor will be required to travel his horse individually, leading the horse into whatever the pattern or request judge or ring stweard asks for. Exhibitors must keep proper postion in line and allow reasonable space of at least 5 feet between horses.

The following are major faults during the class:
Failure to correct faults in horse's position.
Visiting or talking to other exhibitor's.
Kicking or placing the horse's leg into position (actual contact with leg).
Failure of horse to lead properly.
Failure to stop turning when showing at walk or trot.
Failure to back horse.
Overshowing through unnecessary actions.
Blocking judge's view.
Turning horse in wrong direction.
Causing judge to move to avoid being bumped, stepped or run over by horse.
Improperly fitted equipment.

Arabian shown in Native Style Hedstall.

Arabian Showmanship Native Headstall

The presentation of Arabian horses in their natural Arabina headstall. Headstall may be of halter or bridle style. Bridle may have bit, hackamore or other suitable stlye. Bridle may have halter-type braided headstall with one rein that turns from the left only or ornate bit with two reins. May have tassles, chains or other emballishment on it. May be of Bedoiun or any region of Middle East or of Hollywood Style.

Attire
Handler is usually dressed in Arabian costume robe and can either male or female. Hollywood style attire is generally more flashy with brighter colors. Native middle east attire is more primary colors like rede, blue, green yellow and black. Dogs, birds, cheetahs, and other props of Middle Eastern culture are often seen.

Arabian shown in a current Arabian Showmanship arena competition style.

Arabian Showmanship Arena Headstall

Arabian Showmanship requires an Araiban Light Breed style halter with a manatory throatlatch. The chain goes under the chin and is clipped back to the lead. The length of the chain is normally about 12" so there is some double backed length that hanggs down but not enought as to make it dangerous and allow a horse to rear and get a front fromt through the par tof the chain that hangs down. Throatlatchs may be loose or tight but do not srap as much as in Native Arabian Headstalls.

Attire
Handlers wear comfortable clothing, usally dark pants and white shirt. Males may dressed more formally with a cumberband belt, tuxedo shirt and bow tie. Hats are not required. A short lounge style popwhip is normally carried to get the horse's attention and make the horse stretch his neck.

A Shire Stallion shown in British style showmanship.

A Belgian Brabant Stallion shown in Stallion bridle and surcingle of white leather.

Draft In Hand

Stallions wear what is termed a "stud bridle" which is adjustable white leather with a snaffle bit and a chain under the chin. Mares, geldings, and foals are normally shown in draft breeds show halter with no bit. The chain runs under the bars of the jaw instead. However (there are always exceptions and different breeds are listed below.) A rope halter is allowble in some breeds for their mares, geldings and foals. The rope halter is one solid length of rope that makes up the halter and revolves into a lead. Some breeds display their stallions in stud tack (a surcingle usually made of leather and bridle with side reins with or without a crupper. The belt itself goes around the barrel where the girth of a saddle would fit and can be black, brown or white. This is not seen in Belgians or Percherons any longer.

Handlers wear dark pants and white shirts (no flashy clothles)

Clydesdale gelding shown with bridle in white leather.

Mares are normally left natural, but in pulling contests the manes are soemtimes roached along with the forelock. Almost all American drafters have docked tails. Hoof black is used in most breeds except Clydesdales, even on horses with white feet. Long tails from horses in UK should not be penalized, but the tail should be plaited in some manner, not just hanging loose. Draft mares shown in hand only have their tails braided (no mane decorations) Male horses have their manes rolled and their tails braided for halter showing. The forelock is combed and left natural or can can braided into a single strand with a ribbon tied in a small bow at the end. The roll at the start of the mane following the bridle path and continues down the neck until just aobve the withers. The bunting can be long enough to almost reach the horse's elbow. Rosettes made of crete paper, ribbon, fake silk or plastic flowers (usually tulips or rosebuds) with floral wire "stalks" are placed in the mane roll. Seven rosettes is the norm, maybe 5 to 9 in certain cases, but always an odd number for symmetrical look. In England and especially on the Suffolk breed is the continental braid. The braid runs along the bottom of the mane and is the same as "french braiding" human hair. There is usually a light colored bunting that matches closely or complements the horse's mane color plaited into the braid. All tails are braided for showring in harness and halter. The tail of a correctly braided horse (docked version) looks like a woman's bun hairdo. The tail is then decorated with ribbons that match the mane decorations. England outlawed docking of horse's tails , so instead you will see the tail braided from the top down in a hunter fashion or the tail bone shaved except for a fringe a the dock which is braided in the traidtional tight bun and decorated with ribbons. Occasionally you will see a draft breed with long flowing tails with bows a the dock for onamentation.

Rolled manes for harness for rolled shorter than halter or in hand showing. Referred to as "breaking off before the harness bed" Manes are decorated with 5 rosettes for harness reguardless of sex. It is common to see mares, geldings and stallions in 6 and 8 horses hitches, hence the need for uniformity.

British Drafters are shown with a satin ribbon around the neck just before the shoulders with the horse's show number on it. British horses cannot have docked tails. Germany no longer allows tail docking and the Belgian horse society of Europe has also ruled against the practice. European and Canadian Draft Association and Dr. Sharon E. Cregier of the Equine Behaviour Forum would like to remind us of the cruelty associated with docking and its complete unnecessity.

The tack is usually much more ornate than the USA as well.

A Clydesdale foal shown in show halter of white leather.

Percherons are normally shown in white leather. Stud tack is not used, black or tan is not used. Facial hair and lower legs are trimmed. hoof black is used. A show stick is permissable. White rope halters are allowed on foals, mares and geldings.

Shires are shown in the "normal" fashion listed above with the exception that black, brown or fashionably trimmed tack is used and white is not seen in the show ring.

Suffolks are shown in white tack and mane is rolled in plaited french braid.

American Belgian shown in white leather and stallions do not use the surcingle. A tuft of hair is left at the ankle and down the pastern to the back of the hoof and rest of leg is trimmed. Show sticks allowed as are whippers (a second person who runs behind the horse to make it move out.)

Brabant show in surcingle and white or black leather is used.

Clydesdales are shown in a white rope, natural rope or leather halter or stallion bridle (white or tan) Stallions may show in surcingle. Leadlines should match halter. Mares, geldings and foals show in rope halters or leather draft halter. Mares and gelding may use a bridle as well. Muzzle and eye hairs are trimmed, long hair under jaw and on belly not trimmed. A bridle path is not required. Any horse over 2 years old is shod. Stallions/geldings have rolled manes and tails, mares and foals with tail braids only. Mare's mane is uaully plaided for the Royal show in Toronto but this is the only show i which they are so decorated. No hoof blacking allowed. No show sticks or whips or whippers allowed.

A pony shown in English showmanship wearing an English bridle.

A Highlander pony stallion shown with native pony stallion headstall and rider attire.

A foundation shetland mare shown in regulation show halter.

Light Breeds and Pony In Hand

Light Breeds and ponys are generally shown in light breed halter with mandatory throat latch. Handlers wear consevative clothing of dark pants and white shirt or blouse and paddocks boots. Hat is not required.

Trakehner stallion shown in English Showmanship.

Warmblood In Hand

Stallions are shown in a bitting rig (bridle, bitting reins attached to a surcingle and a crupper) or in a English bridle with snaffle with one of both reins, or in a English style bridle but without a cavesson and a snaffle bit.

Male handlers generally wear dark pants, white long sleeved shirt with or without a vest and tie. Female wear dark pants and white long sleeved blouse. Paddocks boots are worn and hats are not required. English Hunt style clothing may be worn as well with conservative colored hunt coat and cap

An ASB Stallion in the line up

Gaited Horse In Hand

ASB are normally shown with a bridle or leather show halter on a long lead. Halter chain may be placed any way, but usually seen over the nose. Snaffle bits used in younger horses, curbs used for horses 2 years and up with a single rein or full double bridle with both reins pulled down and lead jointly. Handlers should be dressed conservatively. Two handlers permitted at the trot (header and tailer.)

A Missouri Fox Trotter gelding shown in MFT bridle.

MFT wear a show halter or bridle (reguardless of gender or age) foals wear a show halter. Bridles should be of the browband type. Cavessons are optional, but it is customary to use one. Browbands and nosebands typically match the color of the ribbons, currently white is the popular color used. When a bridle is used, grazing, snaffle, curb, and halfbreed bits are permitted, but Walking Horse S-curbs are the most common. An occasional Western curb is seen. Curb chains are permitted. Handlers typically wear suits, often with contrasting yokes and cowboy hats. Women typically wear slacks, dress shirt and a co-ordinating vest or short jacket. Whips are permitted.

A Tennessee Walking Horse Stallion shown in THW bridle with Walking Horse S bit.

TWH wear a Walking Horse Bridle with a single rein. Colored browbands are considered appropriate, but rhinestones are forbidden. Weanlings and yearlings are shown in a light breed show halter. Handlers wear habits or suits. Foal handlers wear a collared shirt (long or short sleeves) and tie. Hats are recommended during evening performance, caps and hats are optional during the day. Handlers may carry a whip.

ANational Show Horse mare shown in a light breed halter with chain under jaw.

NSH may or may not exhibit gaits. But usually a NSH with or without Saddlebred gaits is shown in a light breed show halter with chain uncer the jaw.

English Showmanship or English In Hand

Horses are judged in an Hand In Class for conformation, temperant, movement, etc. In English Showmanship it is the handler's ability to exhibit the horse that is judged and the horse is merely a prop. In showmanship a pattern is usually given to exhibitor to follow in the same manner as a Western Showmanship class.

Tack
English style bridle is optional on yearlings and younger horses and mandatory on oldder horses. Bridle must have eggbutt, D-ring, O-ring or full cheek snaffle bit. Pelham, kimberwick, twisted, twisted wire, roller or knife edge bits and any variety or inhumane mouthpiece are not allowed. The commonly used white lined dressage bridle with dropped nose band is permitted as well as a newmarket chain. Decorative bridles and silver halters are prohibited. Young horses show in plain leather or nylon halter. They may also show with a chiffey bit attached to the halter. The use of chain under the chin, over the nose or doubled and clipped back to lead is allowed. No chain lead is allowed to be clipped directly to the "O" ring under the chin on the halter.

Suitability for Dressage

Horses are judged (not the handler) individually on a triangle course. The horses approach the judging area and set up for inspection in an "open" position with all four legs visible by the judge standing on either side of the horse. At the judge's request the horse will then walk a small triangle ABCA. The horse will continue on at a trot following the larger ADEA. At the completion of the judging the handler will lead the horse away fromt he judging area. As one horse leaves the next one will enter the judging area promptly. When all horses in class have completed the triangle course they may be lined up for judge's to place, or "ringing" (walking in a large group circle around the judge) may used. Scoring system is 60% movement, 30% conformation, 10% temperament.

Attire
The attire should permitted free movement. Color may be chosen to completment the horse but should be conservative. Suitable recommended attire would be collared polo shirt, preferrably white, vest, tie, and gloves are optional. Trousers should be loose enough to run in, jeans are not allowed. Running shoes or paddock boots are required.

Standard Spotted Jennet (mare donkey)

Mammoth Jack (stallion donkey)

Longear Showmanship

Mules and donkey typically show in plain leather stock halters but silver is also allowed. Leads are usually leather with a chain lead that is placed under the chin, over the nose or doubled and clipped back to lead. Jacks must show in a stallion halter with chain over nose. Handlers wear clean levis or pants, boots, western style long sleeves shirt, tie and hat.

Photo Credits:
Stock: Night Visionary, Appalooso filly, Joanna Richardson. Tack and doll by Joanna.
Arabian Native Headstall: DA Sidi Bishiir, Arabian Stallion, doll, horse and costume by Karon Grieve and owned by Karon.
Arabian Arena Headstall: Khasmir, horse by CAry Nelson, headstall by Cynthia Jameson, Doll by Traci Durrell-Khalife, owned by Cynthia Jameson.
Draft In Hand:
Light Breed & Pony In Hand:
Gaited In Hand:DA Deca Dance, horse, doll and bridle by Karon Grieve and owned by Karon Grieve
English Showmanship or In Hand: Shanglang, BHR Hunter CM'd by Chris Nandell, bridle by Elaine Sulser, doll by Cynthia Jameson and owned by Cynthia Jameson.
Suitability for Dressage: Shangalang, doll by Traci Durell Khalfie, owned by Cynthia Jameson.
Longear In Hand Female, Gelded or Foal: Calico Cricket, a Cricket resin by Michelle Locke, halter & doll by Cynthia Jameson and owned by Cynthia Jameson.
Longear In Hand Male (Jack or Stallion): Leviticus, Mammoth Jack by Carol Herdon, doll and halter by Cynthia Jameson owned by Cynthia Jameson.
Draft: DA Lugton Lad, Shire Stallion in British Style showmanship owned by Karon Grieve.
Pony Showmanship: DA Prince Egor set up in English style showmanship. Owned by Karon Grieve.
Highland Pnoy Stallion: Shown in Traditional dress. Set up and owned by Karon Grieve.
NSH:Fernwood Fancy Free owned, tack and doll made by Traci Durrel Khalife.
MFT:Mardi Gras owned by and tack & doll made by tRaci Durrel Khalife.
TWH: Lewie Prima owned by and tack and doll made by Traci Durrel Khalife.
WB: Virtual Reality: Trakehner CM'd by Karen Gerhardt, owned with doll and tack by Traci Durell Khalife.
Foundation Shetland Mare: Crescent Moonbean owned and tack and doll by Traci Durell Khalife.
Clydesdale Foal: Highland Lass owned with tack by Traci Durrel Khalife.
Clydesdale Gelding: Jumpin Kack Flash owned by with tak and doll by Traci Durrell Khalife.
Belgian Brabant Stallion: Le Roi de Liege, tack and doll by Traci Durrell Khalife and owned by Traci.