Should I show my horse in AQHA halter?

[beau159]

I will be going to my very first AQHA show in a little less than month. My primary goal is to do the ranch horse classes and the hunter classes, but I’m contemplated also entering him at Halter. I figure I’m going anyway and the all-weekend entry fee would cover it anyway if I enter him … but would he be totally out of place? Or would you go for it? Of course, I’d love to put him in the Performance Halter class, but I can’t since neither he or I have ever shown AQHA before, and as I understand the rule book he would need to earn 10 performance points before I can show him in that class.

I am working with trainers for my riding events, but none of them really do much with halter.

This is the best conformation photo I have on my computer at the moment from last summer. He is 8 years old this year, and about 15.3 hands. I can take more pictures if more views are needed. I don’t think he has that glamorous halter head, but he’s alright too.

[sandsarita]

Since the all day fee covers it I would. Especially if its at the beginning of the day it is a relaxing time to get him in the pen, and he has a nice build. More suited for performance halter, but you don’t know who will be there. Lots of shows may not have any true halter horses in Aged geldings and you might sneak in there. Have fun and good luck! Let us know how the show goes

[findeight]

Heck, why not if it’s paid for and you are there all day anyway. Opportunity to do something new and also for you to get out there to watch and learn some of the finer points of presenting a horse at Halter. Some of which also apply to under saddle classes that are judged, learning to make them look better for a judge never hurts and it’s not all cosmetic.

How about Showmanshio too? That way you can start being ready for that Performance Halter when he’s eligible.

Practice, practice, practice. Squaring, walking, jogging, halting, turning, waiting. Always worked best for be to just work it in cooling out, horse wanted to stand anyway and it beat hand walking or the hot walker after sponging or rinsing. Talking 10 minutes a day here, no big drain. The more you learn to do well, the better you will do everything well in the show pen. Not to mention correct ground handling is huge in the show pen or just leading around at home, standing for the vet or loading in a trailer, it’s the best and safest way so never a waste of time,

Hes a nice enough guy. Borrow a pretty halter and shine him up.

There should be some videos of AQHA Showmanship out there, you can see what’s expected and maybe get some tips on squaring, presenting to the judge, might even be a clinic or two online. It’s not hard but you be patient when you are out there and learn to watch what the judoe is looking at, present the horse when they are looking at you, take a breath when they are not. Show a Halter horse exactly the same way.

And have fun with it.

[trubandloki]

Another vote for doing it.

If you are paying one price for the day, why not do the class. It will give you and your horse experience for when you move into the other halter division down the road.

[beau159]

@findeight

Heck, why not if it’s paid for and you are there all day anyway. Opportunity to do something new and also for you to get out there to watch and learn some of the finer points of presenting a horse at Halter. Some of which also apply to under saddle classes that are judged, learning to make them look better for a judge never hurts and it’s not all cosmetic.

How about Showmanshio too? That way you can start being ready for that Performance Halter when he’s eligible.

Practice, practice, practice. Squaring, walking, jogging, halting, turning, waiting. Always worked best for be to just work it in cooling out, horse wanted to stand anyway and it beat hand walking or the hot walker after sponging or rinsing. Talking 10 minutes a day here, no big drain. The more you learn to do well, the better you will do everything well in the show pen. Not to mention correct ground handling is huge in the show pen or just leading around at home, standing for the vet or loading in a trailer, it’s the best and safest way so never a waste of time,

Hes a nice enough guy. Borrow a pretty halter and shine him up.

There should be some videos of AQHA Showmanship out there, you can see what’s expected and maybe get some tips on squaring, presenting to the judge, might even be a clinic or two online. It’s not hard but you be patient when you are out there and learn to watch what the judoe is looking at, present the horse when they are looking at you, take a breath when they are not. Show a Halter horse exactly the same way.

And have fun with it.

Yup, I planned on doing Showmanship too … if I can get him reasonably ready in time. I don’t expect to place, but at least want to look presentable! I’ve been trying to work on it 10 minutes each day. The “setting up” part is going to be the most challenging for him, but he naturally does a nice pivot. We’ve got a few weeks left yet so I am hoping I can get him looking decent enough for an AQHA show. But again … I kinda figure “what the hell” since I"m already going to be there, LOL. The entry fee costs the same whether we are close to placing or whether we get are butts kicked, haha.

I’ve done showmanship for years at the local shows I go to, but I’ve never really worked on it a lot with him, because I usually use my other horse.

[findeight]

When you are there, watch some of the other Halter classes, the handlers not the horses. The best handlers square them up and, when the judge is inspecting the horse next to them, rock it slightly back lifting the neck just a smidge, that accentuates the back end muscling and the neck. Just as the judge turns to you, work out a subtle cue you can use to brighten the expression and ears. Raise one hand slightly, cough, very soft cluck or kiss, something slight and silent. Something. Remember the horse isn’t going to stay bright and alert waiting for the judge to get to you. don’t expect that, but work out a way to brighten him when it’s time.

If you really watch, you can see many small, very subtle things top handlers do to get the horse to present well. It’s an art. I think you have plenty of time here, Find some videos of clinics if you can. Just work your practice into daily ground handling any time you are leading him ( be sure to jog) going into the crossties, pivot, don’t schlep around, square up and pose every time. It’s not that time consuming but spend some time squaring and staying there for 10 mins so he learns to just drop a leg at each corner and stay there when halted. Every time ever ride/session. That’s a really nice skill to develop anyway, solid, sqaure halt and staying there is always attractive In the show ring in hand or under saddle. Any breed. Often overlooked because it’s not really exciting…until the day before the show. You can tell by watching the classes who did the homework.

Realize we will want pictures and a recap.