Multiple World and Congress champion trainer and AQHA judge Nancy Sue Ryan sat down with GoHorseShow and discussed this year’s 15-18 Youth and Amateur Showmanship Congress pattern. An added bonus is that Nancy Sue is judging the Congress this year.
It is undetermined at this point whether or not Ryan will be judging any of the Showmanship classes. However, we thought it would be beneficial to our readers to find out from an AQHA Judge whose customers have had success in this class, how the patterns should be executed. Even though Ryan of Nocona, Texas is mainly known as showing hunter under saddle world champions, her daughter, Courtney is one of the leading amateur competitors in the Showmanship. Courtney is a three time AQHA World Champion and two-time bronze trophy winner in this class. Courtney and Whiz Jewels will be showing again at the AQHA World Show to try and better her bronze win last year. We wish her good luck!
As far as why GoHorseShow chose the 15-18 Youth Showmanship Pattern, we wanted to breakdown the harder patterns because the easier patterns have many of the same maneuvers.
We would also like to thank HorseShowPatterns.com for letting us post the pattern in the article as well as provide a link to the pattern. Please print out the pattern and follow along or click here to open the pattern in a new window.
Here are some major tips about the pattern from Nancy Sue:
- First of all its important just look through and read your pattern – not to begin memorizing it but to note all the maneuvers and markers. In this pattern for instance, note that there is only one cone. So you will have to be aware of your spots and spacing. With only one cone and the judge, you will be able to demonstrate your own idea of pattern execution and some personal style as well.
- In this particular pattern, it would be important to start strong from the beginning by exhibiting purpose in all maneuvers. In addition, this pattern allows the judges to see how well you finish all of your maneuvers, especially your turns. If you don’t close your 90-degree turn completely or square you will be leaving a sloppy impression to the judges with an incomplete turn and a crooked beginning to your backing maneuver. The overall presentation will lack precision and correctness.
- A horse length…how well do you know your horse? How long is your horse? These are things you should get to know about your showmanship partner. In my mind, two horse lengths would be between eight to ten of your own steps depending on your horse. There is really no right or wrong here, just know your horse and what the pattern asks, not too much and not too little.
- Finish your backing sequence completely and let your horse settle before beginning your turn to reduce the risk of them stepping out of the 270 turn. Set yourself and horse up for success in the transitions. Finishing your turn completely will not only give you an attractive profile for the judges, but it will set you up in an ideal position for your next maneuver, trotting a half circle to your judge.
- Don’t anticipate getting to the judge in a hurry, I promise they will still be there when you get there. If you get in a rush to the judge, you will most likely end up cutting your half circle off and it is going to look like a teardrop, not a half circle. Take your time and make it symmetrical, because after all, it is drawn symmetrical and a half circle is symmetrical.
And now…. the set-up. There is a strong chance that you and your horse have shown showmanship together before and you have had to set –up to a judge as well…. just going out on a limb on this one. Just relax – so often you want to get in a hurry or rush into your set-up. Have some faith in your horse as a showmanship partner. Trot confidently up to your judge, stop, hesitate, and then set your horse up. Last time I checked, showmanship was not a timed event; by no means am I saying to bring a picnic and take all day, but make sure you don’t get in such a rush that your forget to do what the class was designed for…to show…. show your horse, show your style, and show your execution of the pattern. (Photo © KC Montgomery)
- When you are dismissed from your set-up, start and finish your 270-degree turn and make sure you finish your pattern as strong as you started it.
Congratulations ….you have just completed the 15-18 Showmanship at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. Good Luck!
**Next up is World Champion trainer Robin Frid breaking down the 15-18 Youth Horsemanship pattern.
