I Have to Show a Horse in Round Robin! What Do I Do?

     At many county fairs, a multi-species showmanship competition is part of the youth shows. They go by many names, Super Showmanship, Supreme Showman and in our area, Round Robin Showmanship. Most competitions take the top showman from each species and have them show one of every other species. Many stay with meat animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. A few add poultry. The biggest addition usually is halter horses.

     Many youth are either livestock kids or horse kids. Showing a new species that is completely unfamiliar is intimidating. Livestock showman, now tasked with showing a horse at halter, need to understand some basic things to safely and properly exhibit a horse.

    Let's address safety first. Horses react differently and must be handled differently than livestock. Showing a horse at halter is similar to cattle, but the differences must recognized.

• Horses are like cattle and have blind spots in front of their nose and directly behind them. Do not sneak into their blind spot.
• Horse halters fit differently. A cattle halter has a chain under the chin to keep their head up. Horse halter lead chains can go over the nose or under the chin.  We might lightly "pop" a calf's chain to ask them to get their head up, but if you do this to a horse, you could have a blowup on your hands.
• If a horse does panic, they usually pull back. This will put pressure on the halter lead chain. Do not try to pull them forward. Try and walk backwards with them to keep the pressure off of the chain.
• How you hold the lead is different. A calf lead is held close to the halter with some upward pressure to keep the calf's head up. A horse halter lead is held loosely and no pressure is applied unless you are asking for them to move.
• We use a show stick to move cattle feet. We use the halter to ask a horse to move their legs and may use hands to move horse's front feet. Youth need to learn to stand safely to the side when moving the horse's feet.

     Showing halter horses is a two part process. Horses are shown standing still during  "inspection" by the judge. They will also be asked to move by walking and trotting away and back to the judge. Exhibitors may be asked to perform a basic pattern provided by the judge. The pattern should be studied, memorized and then followed by the exhibitor. It may include walking, trotting, rotating, stopping and backing the horse.

     A halter horse should be standing square on all four feet for inspection. To move a horse into proper position, the exhibitor will use the halter only. Start with the back feet. It is easier to ask a horse to step back a foot than to step one forward. Step around to the horse's left shoulder and ask them to step back until they move the desired foot to be even with the other back foot. To set the front feet, decide which one is set correctly. Now ask the horse to either set the incorrect foot back or forward by pulling or pushing gently on the halter.

     Showing at inspection means understanding the Quarter Method which divides the area around the horse into four quarters or quadrants. Imagine drawing two lines on the ground. The first runs from the nose to the tail dividing the horse into left and right. The second line would divide the horse into front and back and forming the four quadrants. The exhibitor will need to rotate between the front two quadrants as the judge goes around the horse during inspection. The idea is to be out of the judges view as they examine the horse, as well as keep the judge and other exhibitors safe.

• Judge is at the horse's front right, exhibitor is at the front left.
• Judge is at the horse's rear right, exhibitor moves to front right.
• Judge is at the horse's rear left, exhibitor moves to front left.
• Judge is at the horse's front left, exhibitor moves to front right.

     The exhibitor should keep the lead in the right hand as they show the horse with their arm extended out toward the horse's head. They should stand straight, and keep their eyes on the judge. When the exhibitor needs to switch sides, they should drop the lead slightly to go under the horses chin, and step quick and purposely to the other side.

     When it comes to moving the horse or performing the pattern, the exhibitor needs to stay on the horse's left side and face forward at all times, unless backing the horse, or setting up legs. Clicking, smooching or other minor noises to cue the horse to move are acceptable. The exhibitor should not touch the horse's body at any time when moving the horse at the walk and trot, or while performing a pattern. If the horse balks or stalls, keep trying to move them, but at some point a ring steward will help you get them moving.

     Now if you are a horse exhibitor, parent or trainer and this seems way to simplified, it is. This post is to try and help those livestock exhibitors who have never touched a horse to have some idea of what is expected.

Here are some additional resources on showing halter horses:

Judging Horse Events - Showmanship at Halter eXtension.org
Basics of the Showmanship Set-Up: A Breakdown of the Quarter Method AQHA
Quartering System for Horse Showmanship Oregon State University Extension, YouTube Video


Don't worry. You can do this. And don't forget to ask for help!

Thank you to these two ladies for assisting with this post and adding their input:
Kali Benson, Colorado State University, Extension Agent, Elbert County, CO
Kelli Vaughn, 4-H Volunteer, Horse Project Leader, Kit Carson County, CO

Scott Stinnett
Extension Associate
Kit Carson County
Golden Plains Area
Colorado State University Extension