Presenting youre horse at show

[Ouburgia]

I'm watching the world show, and I'm wondering....

If you present youre horse, why walk on the inside? This makes that you become between youre horse and the judges. If you walk on the outside, In my opinion, you can show more to the judges because they don't have to look around you.

Anybody knows why?

 

[txminipinto]

Because that's the proper way to lead a horse. The only class that it is acceptable to walk on the off side of the horse is color. Eventually, in a halter class, the judge will come by and see an unobstructed view of each horse.

 

[Ouburgia]

you need to walk on the left side of the horse, so.... walk on the right hand than....

It's just not logical to walk between the judges and youre horse.

That the judges walk around youre horse is only when you present them not walking. But they also judge the movement (don't they?)

 

[rabbitsfizz]

The Americans, for some reason, walk the opposite way round the ring....that is what is confusing you!!!

The rest of the world walks clockwise, Americans anti clockwise...thus the horse is on the correct side of the handler but the handler is between the Judge and the horse.

It does seem nuts but it's what they do, and I am sure some of the things we do, do not make sense to them!!

There are many more important things that I would like to see addressed before we start criticising minor problems like this.

For instance I would really like to see the Judges look at each individual horse moving, that might be a good place to start.......

 

[Sue_C.]

Do they not see you walk away from, and after direction is changed? Besides, you are at the head, so the movement of the horse is taking place BEHIND you...where it is seen by the judge.

When I show halter, I train the horse to keep it's nose by my shoulder/hip area, so actually, there is very little of the horse that isn't seen from the off-side.

 

[txminipinto]

Actually, if you want to speak of terms of "correctness" here in America, the correct away to lead a horse when presenting is to have the throatlatch/poll of the horse even with your shoulder/hip. And at most multi-judge shows, you walk to and between the judges and then trot away.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I would say the positioning is roughly the same her, too, especially with a big horse...no way would I want to run in front of an Arab like that!!

(And Yes, I am aware some people do, I am just saying I would not want to myself)

And I have been watching the show every day, there is no way a Judge can properly look at the horses action or soundness form the two seconds of individual show that they get....IMO there is far too much judging of the horse standing still for this to make any sense.

 

[Ouburgia]

Absolutly true rabbitsfizz, but it was just something I saw and wondered why.

Movement is IMO not inly the setting of the legs, but also the placing of neck and head. How can someone judge that if there is a handler walking in sight?

I think it's sad that it's more important how a horse is for conformation than movement. They should be at least equal.

Txminipinto: How can someone really judge a trot if it's only away from the judges?

Sue: Maybe you train them that way, I see other things at the world show

 

[Leeana]

Well, like said above the judge will at one time come around at look at each horse on their own. When we come out of lineup and walk TO the judge they are normally infront..then move to the side as we trot by and then i always give my horse plenty of room on the lead to get away from me and really show off their trot when i " L " off to the side. That would be much harder to do if the horse was on the inside and me the outside....

I dont think there are any problems with how it is done now..

When i L off i give the horse, most of the time, almost all of the lead and trot over to line up like such..i think that gives the judge plenty of viewing...

 

[REO]

The very first AMHA show I showed in (1994) they had us come in the ring clock-wise. Every show after that it was counter clock-wise and I have been wondering WHY all these years. Why can't they come in clock-wise so the people are not between the judges and horses? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Ouburgia]

Indeed Reo....

I'm used to: Presenting (standing still) to the judge. Walk (away from the judge and back), and trot around clockwise.

But, that's europe

 

[Sue_C.]

Sue: Maybe you train them that way, I see other things at the world show

The only "World" showingI've been involved with were Appaloosas, so I'm not so much used to the "mini-ways" of showing halter. But...if you are not holding your hands way out in front of you...and the halter chain/lead, is at the horses muzzle, where it should be, that would be at my side/hip/shoulder. How else would you lead the horse?

no way would I want to run in front of an Arab like that!!

I guess our horses were broke/trained enough to not expect them to be ill-mannered in the halter ring.

Seriously though, I am NOT in front of the horse, but beside it. Honest...and yes, I have even led Arabians...they too can be a safe horse to lead.

 

[Just Us N Texas]

Just a little history lesson! Since anyone for hundreds of year can remember, the correct side to lead a horse on is the off side, or left side, your right. Rabbitsfizz, surely you know the Americans started going the opposite way of the track when we started racing in America because England ran the other way, and it was in protest to that. Remember that pesky thing called war? You know, when we fought England to gain our independence? Had something to do with tariffs also I believe!

Believe it or not, I wasn't around at the time of the war, but somedays I feel old enough to have been, lol !

 

[Ouburgia]

but what does your history lesson says about walking clockwise or counter clockwise?

 

[Just Us N Texas]

The history lesson says that the horses in America started racing counter clockwise because England raced clockwise. Therefore, all horses being led or raced are going counter clockwise. Sorry, I didn't realize there were people that didn't know about racing, and the direction the horses go.

 

[Sue_C.]

surely you know the Americans started going the opposite way of the track when we started racing in America because England ran the other way, and it was in protest to that. Remember that pesky thing called war? You know, when we fought England to gain our independence? Had something to do with tariffs also I believe!

Then, I wonder why WE do it that way too...as we didn't fight that fight.

I didn't realize the show ring and horse racing directions were decided by any wars or tariffs...curious... Ya do learn something new every day.

 

[Karen S]

Hi All,

If movement is what you are concerned about, since the Miniatures walk to the judge, trot way and make and "L" pattern to go to the line-up, then I guess the Miniatures could do as the Shetland do. Come in line up side by side, walk away from the judge, trot the rail both directions and then walk back to the lineup. This way the judge CAN see the movement of the horse since they have to work the rail both directions. Just a thought.

Karen

 

[squeaky]

Hi,

So (in an American show) would you be dismissed if you walked/trotted the "L" on the right side? I have been debating doing this with my mare, as she pays better attention to me when I am using my body language to "push" her away from me.

When I showed the Friesian stallion this summer in halter, we entered the ring trotting counter-clockwise around 3/4 of the ring, and lined up on the rail. From there we were to walk straght to the judge, set up for inspection, and then walk to the rail. At the rail, you turned left, and trotted the whole rail (like the shetlands) up and down at either breakneck speed (as much flash as you could get) or a slower collected trot (like for dressage)...and then back into line - up. Talk about needing to be in shape! Makes me appreciate the minis that much more.

Amanda

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I am pretty sure AMHA rules dictate the side the handler walks on....it does dictate the direction in which you walk.

You have to understand where we are coming from, the WHOLE American way of showing is crazy to us as we place so much emphasis on way of going...which does NOT mean "let's see how fast or flashy our horse can run" (any breed, BTW)

but "let's see how good the conformation on our horse is when it is moving"...so running up and down a rail would not do it for us.

In European showing the Judge gets a chance to view the horse walking and trotting away, and can thus judge the hock action- which it is not possible to do when a horse is standing still, and the conformation of the horse- it is almost impossible to cover conformational flaws on a moving animal.

At no time except maybe up the back of the line up, is a horse required to extended, these are breeding classes, not speed classes.

I do hesitate to criticise other countries methods of showing, as everyone does things a little differently, but the American way seems to be based on glamour, speed and hype, and speaking personally, I loathe these things.

And I showed Arabs for years, I had no problems with ring manners whatsoever, the French Arab show does have people hurtling along in front of the horse (fit young men in trainers, not demented dwarfs!!!) I just see no advantage to it.

I find the American shows really interesting to watch, but I am constantly glad I do not have to do it that way.

As Oubergia said, just be walking clockwise you could make the whole thing so much easier all round, and the Judge would be able to see everything so much better.

Which, of course, leads us to the conclusion that, as with the measuring, maybe this is why it is not done???

 

[dannigirl]

Hi All,
If movement is what you are concerned about, since the Miniatures walk to the judge, trot way and make and "L" pattern to go to the line-up, then I guess the Miniatures could do as the Shetland do. Come in line up side by side, walk away from the judge, trot the rail both directions and then walk back to the lineup. This way the judge CAN see the movement of the horse since they have to work the rail both directions. Just a thought.

Karen

I was thinking the same thing. The main problem I see with this idea is 'time' It would take the class about twice as long as it does now. Can you just imagine how long the AMHR nationals would be if we did that?? It would take anothe 3 days--at least.