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1/13/12 Train Your Horse for Showmanship from Horse&Rider | EquiSearch
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Here􀂶s how to teach your horse the six basic maneuvers that allow you to compete in
showmanship at halter—and that put a fingertip-finesse handle on an􀁜 horse.
Showmanship at halter, one of the most popular events at all levels of Western showing, tests a
handler􀂶s ability to fit and show a horse in halter competition. But no matter how skilled the exhibitor,
he or she can􀂶t do well in the class without a horse trained to perform it required maneuvers. If you􀂶re
an aspiring competitor wondering just how that􀂶s done, you􀂶ve come to the right place, as it􀂶s what
this article is all about.
Regardless of whether your care about showing, though, basic showmanship training offers benefits
outside the show ring that every horse owner can appreciate. It improves a horse􀂶s ground manners
and increases his respect level for you. It also fine-tunes your ability to control your horse􀂶s position
and pace, a skill useful in real-life situations such as backing out of a trailer, turning in tight quarters,
even moving a hoof off the hose in the wash
rack. At its most developed, showmanship
training gives you a level of body control
from the ground that can be operated with
fingertip finesse.
Who wouldn􀂶t want that degree of handle
on a horse? It􀂶s like leading a dance
partner instead of lugging a 1,000-pound animal at the end of the rope.
The Foundation
At its core, showmanship consists of six basic maneuvers that are combined in various orders and
degrees of difficulty to form a pattern. These basics are leading at a walk, leading at a jog/trot,
stopping, backing, setting up for inspection, and pivoting. They form the foundation of showmanship
training.

1. Maneuvers are taught with pressure on the
lead chain and pressure from your body
position. Immediately reward a correct
response with a release of all pressure and a
brief pause before you ask for another move
or different maneuver.
2. All exaggerated body position and verbal
cues shown in photos are for training
purposes only. Such excessive cues are
faults in a judged showmanship class. As
your horse progresses in his training, you􀂶ll
gradually decrease and refine these cues
until they are extremely subtle or nonexistent.
3. At the beginner training level, progress
comes in baby steps. A close approximation to the desired result is considered a correct
response. Reward accordingly.
4. When your horse reliably responds with a beginner-level effort, request improvement by
maintaining or increasing pressure as needed, until your horse responds with a result that􀂶s
better than his initial effort. Continue to use the baby-step training method to build toward a
solid foundation.
Walking The Walk
Goal: Your horse should lead calmly and willingly, at a pace that matches yours, and with his head
and neck in alignment with his body (straight on a straight line).
S􀁗a􀁕􀁗ing poin􀁗: Position your horse so his off-side (his right) is next to a rail, wall, or fence line (see
upper-right photo on page 66). This ensures that your horse develops the habit of traveling in proper
alignment. Tip: As your horse progresses, gradually wean him away from the rail so he learns to
maintain proper alignment on his own.
Position yourself at a point between your horse􀂶s throatlatch and the middle of his neck, facing
forward. Tip: You exact position will depend on your size, your horse􀂶s size, and the length of your
arms.
T􀁕aining 􀁖􀁗ep􀁖: Keep your hands and arms firm and still as you step off into a brisk walk. Tip:
Accentuate your body-language cues for forward motion by slightly inclining your shoulders forward
and stepping first with you right foot. This creates a visual cue your horse perceives slightly before
the physical cue of chain pressure.
Showmanship training teaches your horse to be as responsive and light on his feet as a dance
partner. And that􀂶s useful outside the show arena as well as in! Use our step-by-step instructions for
getting started.
T􀁕o􀁗 Take-Off
Goal: your horse should step smartly into a jog/trot at precisely the same moment you start your
run, without changing his basic body alignment.
S􀁗a􀁕􀁗ing poin􀁗: Remain on the rail and in the same position as described in the walk training
section. Start forward at a walk.
T􀁕aining 􀁖􀁗ep􀁖: Keep your elbows firmly at your sides, to anchor your lead hand and arms. Tilt your
upper body forward as you simultaneously take a huge step forward with your right leg.
Your horse is likely to respond with either of the reactions previously described, although at the
faster pace; you can expect the reaction to be more dramatic. Remain calm and continue at a run
with your elbows anchored and lead hand steady. The second you horse corrects his pace and
position to match yours, he􀂶ll earn his first reward—release of chain pressure. After a few successful
strides together at the jog/trot, reward him with a brief, calm walk, then try again. If your horse is
extra-reluctant to step into the jog/trot, add a verbal cue such as a “smooch” or “cluck” just before
you execute your initial cues.
Whoa Mean􀁖 Whoa
Goal: Your horse should stop in a soft, balanced manner, with his head, neck, and body in proper
alignment.
S􀁗a􀁕􀁗ing poin􀁗: Position your horse on the rail and start walking. Tip: When your horse reliably
“whoas” at the walk, progress to stopping at a jog/trot.

T􀁕aining 􀁖􀁗ep􀁖: At the walk, say “whoa” in a soft voice and then immediately stop and stand still
(saying whoa as a “pre-cue” before you stop gives your horse􀂶s brain time to start processing the
stop command). Your horse is likely to drift past you and then stop when the lead chain tightens
against his chin. Tip: Don􀂶t pull back on the lead chain when teaching the stop; let your horse
discover that his incorrect response, not your hand, initiates the correction.
You􀂶ll know your horse didn􀂶t stop correctly if your position, in relation to his body, has changed—for
example, when you stop, you􀂶re standing by his shoulder, instead of at a midpoint between his
throatlatch and mid-neck.
If your horse continues to respond lazily to your stop commands, try this correction: Say “whoa” and
stop as described above. Then, instead of standing still, immediately start walking backward. At the
same time, pull back and down (don􀂶t jerk) on your lead chain and repeat the verbal cue “whoa” with
every step you take. Your horse most likely will respond by pushing his head up and resisting
moving backward with you. Keep your correction-cue pressure on until your horse lowers his head
and takes at least one step backward with you.
When he does, immediately release the chain pressure, then walk forward a few steps and repeat
your stop command. You might need to apply this correction a few times while your horse learns to
coordinate his body to stop in time with yours. This correction can be used throughout the
progression of your showmanship training to sharpen and fine-tune your horse􀂶s “whoa” response.
Tip: A few horses tend to stop too rapidly (before you do) when you ask for a stop. You􀂶ll know you
have one of these fellows if you find yourself positioned forward at the throatlatch when you stop.
Eliminating your verbal pre-cue should fix this problem for you.

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