2025 Open Showmanship Trends/Off Breed Horse

[FjordBCRF]

As it stands today, I am planning to show my fjord on my open local circuit in showmanship and shankless showmanship. I showed this as a teen and was very competitive in it, so I know the mechanics of the class/judging. I showed AQH’s at the time and did all the polishing one did over 20 years ago.

This is all there is in the show rules and regulations for showmanship:

SHOWMANSHIP:

• 1. English may be shown in a halter or bridle (snaffle, Pelham, Kimberwick or full bridle).[1/6/22]*
• 2. No whip or crops allowed.*
• 3. Western must be shown in a halter. [1/8/88]*

SHOWMANSHIP CLASSES: To be judged on the ability of the exhibitor to properly show their horse/pony and upon the grooming, fitting & turn out of the animal. The confirmation of the horse/pony has no bearing on placing in the class. Credit should be given to properly braided/banded manes and tails. Grooming, fitting & turn out of the animal 40%, appearance of exhibitor & tack 10%, showing animal 50%. [1/8/88] Patterns are required. [11/18/02] Points earned in regular showmanship classes may be accumulated towards daily high point. Points earned in regular showmanship classes may be accumulated towards year-end class and high point awards. [4/1/05, 4/12/18]

Can anyone chime in on current trends and anything related to off breed showmanship horses? Im willing to take a hit on points by not shaving his muzzle and ears (I’ll tidy those but not willing to clean shave). He has a traditional fjord mane, so nothing to band.

Human side… what is “in” in regards to showmanship clothes? Googling looks similar to what I remember, just a bit more modernized…showmanship pants/boots/blazer/hat.

Horse side…looks very similar to what I remember. I generally go with black tack since it works so well with the fjord colors, but Im thinking about a light oiled halter that almost matches his coat to look like he’s just wearing silver. Are the horses still all generally shellacked? Any good product recommendations for coat/hooves/tail?

[Foxglove]

My kids did showmanship for years, as did my grand kid. My conclusion after 32 years of watching the kiddos, is :

• Wear what is suitable, focus on neat and tidy. --Kid got dinged one time (judge spoke to her) for black nail polish . . .FYI

• Absolutely clean horse --even if that means getting up early and doing a complete wash before your class. Keep baby-wipes on hand for last minute touch up (hocks on white horses!).

• Kids did all the bells and whistles --face oil to make nose shiny, hoof shine, tons of coat products to make coat/mane, tail glossy. We kept our showmanship horse out of the sun so his coat would be dark (light sheets or no turn out until night time).

BUT having said all that --and everyone in the top 5 will be turned out immaculately, your greatest effort should be working on the movements for the pattern. Showmanship classes are won or lost on tiny things like “the pivot” —another one is trotting in hand (horse should keep eye at your shoulder --and the expected squaring up. Never make your judge wait while you square your horse. It should be automatic every time you stop. And the back up should be effortless.

If you do place in the top 3, you’ve won. The details that separate 1-2-3 are miniscule.

OH and remember once you line up at the entry gate, you are being judged. Do NOT have a bad moment with your horse at or before the entry gate --the judge is watching you.

You are being judged every minute you are in the ring --biggest problem I had when my kids were young was they would lose focus if the class was big --never take your eyes off the judge!

[FjordBCRF]

Sounds exactly like I remember it

We’re already pretty solid on the groundwork elements. I started those with him when I got him 4 years ago and I started do more at liberty with him these past couple months. Im planning to use the time over the winter to really work on refinement, but he’s already infinitely more solid with all that than my childhood horse was. I made up for her with my own “showing” scores.

Im all but guessing I will just bath him morning of since slinky jammies will NOT work with a fjord mane

On the nail polish ding…do people not wear gloves? I can’t remember that vividly, but Im pretty sure we all wore gloves for showmanship.

[Paint_Party]

Nope. No gloves.

I agree that-- all things being equal-- your execution of the pattern is what decides the placings. I had a tendency to “push” my horse around in the pivot, which caused him to step back with his right hind, and also “push” him to back, which caused his haunches to swing out. Instead, the movements should (ideally) look effortless, with the horse reading my body language.

As you can tell, this was never a class I enjoyed. But I did it to get points toward the all-around.

There’s also a certain body posture you need to emulate: Elbows bent with your hands carried in front of your body as if you’re carrying a tray of drinks, your back straight, your eyes looking forward with chin up. I always felt like I was at a coronation, carrying the royal crown on a tufted pillow.

[Paint_Party]

By the way, are you doing showmanship in western or English presentation?

[FjordBCRF]

Very familiar with the posture and ins and out of movements (both human and horse). I won overall year end high points for several years in my divisions for showmanship. Im pretty sure the ONLY time my posture wasn’t crap, was when I was in the showmanship ring!

[Paint_Party]

Same here. Sometimes I think that’s why I blew some part of the pattern, because I was focusing so much on walking with good posture rather than just schlepping from one cone to the next.

[FjordBCRF]

How does this combo look? I’d do black pants. Hat thoughts? I have an Ariat straw hat but could look into a felt.

.

[Bluey]

No straw hat for that fancy outfit!

Black felt, of course and you can wear it forever and will always fit every place.
Maybe even get a nice bit of silver on the hat band?

[Paint_Party]

Really pretty! My showmanship jacket was very similar. It’s amazing how heavy they are!

Definitely wear a black felt hat with it. No silver hat band, though.

[Bluey]

@Paint_Party

Really pretty! My showmanship jacket was very similar. It’s amazing how heavy they are!

Definitely wear a black felt hat with it. No silver hat band, though.

Right, I meant maybe a small silver accent buckle, not a gaudy silver explosion on that black hat.

[FjordBCRF]

@Bluey @Paint_Party Thank you!

Is there a specific style of hat being used in showmanship? Looking at AQHA photos, they see to have more prominent creases than what I remember people were wearing back when I showed 20+ years ago!

[endlessclimb]

This photo combo made me LOL, it looks like something from a blatantly photoshopped Amazon description from China.

At any rate - I think your combo looks fantastic, and you just reminded me of something else I can work on with my pony when the weather isn’t cooperative to riding outside. Thank you!

[Paint_Party]

Yup. It’s called a modified “taco hat.” Mine looks just like the one in the photo.

Edited to add: I believe the crown crease is just called the cattleman’s crease and the brim is referred to as AQHA. If you order online from Shorty’s or NRS they’ll know, although your best bet is to have the hat shaped in person so the flat part in the center lines up with the shape of your face. However, I know that’s not always practical. You might luck out at your local Boot Barn. About once a week there’s a lady at mine who shows AQHA and she’s actually quite good at shaping felt hats in the store.

[Paint_Party]

@Bluey

Right, I meant maybe a small silver accent buckle, not a gaudy silver explosion on that black hat.

I understand. Some of the felt hats do have a teeny, discreet silver buckle on the nearly invisible hat band.

The only reason I perked up at your post was because when I first started showing western and all-around, I asked my trainer if I could swap out the plain ol’ hatband for my braided horsehair hatband with a silver buckle. I think she almost fainted in horror.

[Bluey]

@Paint_Party

Yup. It’s called a modified “taco hat.” Mine looks just like the one in the photo.

I don’t really like those, too wide, for women a bit more all around, front and top narrow slims you up.
At least that one has some height to it, some new taco looking ones are more squatty.

Not sure judges care, as long as the whole picture is not painful to the eye.

I am partial to the Salem shape, adjusted for the shape of the face of the wearer, in Resistol:

[FjordBCRF]

A hat!! That’s actually pretty descriptive

@endlessclimb here’s a new version!

Could I get away with a colored felt hat or would that be offensive . We’re already going to look like a punk rocker with all the stock horses.

He’s really enjoying this stuff. He just figured out it’s fun/a game to trot with me and is a lot snappier about it. And he’s getting closer to staying planted for 360’s

https://youtube.com/shorts/BLk_noIUS1E?si=b_fdb-TV07TXYvyz

[Paint_Party]

Look at you two! That’s awesome! You put me to shame.

Rock on and wear the teal hat if you want. It’s not like you’re showing your QH stallion in open halter at the World Show. Be yourself and embrace your own style with your Fjord. You’ll nail the pattern and that’s what really matters.

By the way, did you get your jacket at All My Bling or on Etsy at Ruby’s Fashion Store? Just asking because I think they all originate from one huge site somewhere in India.

[endlessclimb]

If it were me - while I LOVE the turquoise hat, I would want flexibility to change colors/themes without needing a new hat, if possible. Black or that khaki color in the taco hat example.

[FjordBCRF]

Thank you!! We have ALL winter to work on refining things which I’m excited about. With his intermittent tripping, I don’t want to commit to any riding shows, but we can DEF do some showmanship. Cheap entires and it’s a 15 min haul for our local circuit. We have surrounding counties that have comparable circuits so we could venture out if we want.

@Paint_Party

By the way, did you get your jacket at All My Bling or on Etsy at Ruby’s Fashion Store?

Here’s the store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1158303516/ It probably what you’re thinking of, said it ships from India. I got that ordered last night…my Christmas gift form my parents. Charlie’s Christmas gift his the halter/lead.

@endlessclimb Good point about being able to wear it with other outfits.