Registry Inspections
When you present a horse at a breed society inspection, the horse is evaluated for future breeding. Mares are accepted into various books within the registry; stallions are accepted as breeding animals or turned down. If accepted, stallions are required to go to performance test. The inspectors are usually from the registry’s counterpart in Europe. They are primarily interested in your horse’s conformation and movement. The score your horse receives will stay with it through its life. Behavior will not affect the score. Foals are shown loose at their dams’ sides.
Breed Shows
Showing at a breed show is often done to prepare mature animals for presenting at breed inspections. Behavior is a component of the score, so it is important that the horse is practiced, just as for a riding class. Foals must lead next to their handler at breed shows.
Training Process
Training a horse to show in-hand requires time, practice and patience. Horses should be kept on a regular training schedule, and lunged or otherwise conditioned muscularly. It takes at least a month of practice to adequately prepare a horse for showing in-hand.
The first thing the horse must learn is to walk beside you. This may require the assistance of someone walking behind you, so you don’t have to pull a horse through the triangle. This is especially important at the trot. A person with or without a whip can follow behind you on the triangle. Make sure the horse is used to a person behind it before you go to the show, so it doesn’t shy. A good whip handler knows when to push and when to back off.
Practice transitions on the lunge or under saddle. Then, teach the horse how to pick up the trot in-hand, so it is forward.
Don’t over practice for shows or inspections. Horses are often better when they are surprised by their surroundings. Over practice can lead to bad behavior in the ring.
Tack and Grooming
Mares and stallions are usually shown in a bridle. Foals are shown in halters. Yearlings and up can be shown in a bridle or halter. Braids are not required, but are preferred.
Almost all horses are shown in a clean bridle, but foals are often shown in halters. Mares are sometimes shown in halters if they have foals beside. If you show in a bridle, you can lead with the reins, or a leather shank with two short “snake chains” connected to the bit.
Conformation Evaluation
The handlers’ job is to stand horse up properly for the judge, in an open stance. The handler stands in front of the horse, facing it, and keeps the horse well presented to the judge. Keep the legs on the side of the judge squarely under the horse and the off-side legs “inside” them, i.e. toward the horse’s center.
Keep a piece of plastic in your pocket, or some sand in your hand to drop, or make a noise, so you can step away from the horse and create a big neck and great expression.
Foals at inspections are usually shown loose, but at breed shows they are shown in-hand. They can be very unpredictable, and sometimes the element of surprise works to make the foal show better at liberty. As long as they are well-schooled in-hand, don’t make them dull by over training.
When walking toward the judge, keep the horse straight and forward. When you stop, remember the open stance, and try to maintain your horse’s expression, while keeping it still and focused. Stay out of the judge’s way when he or she is viewing your horse.
On the Triangle
Once the conformation evaluation has been completed, the horse will go on the triangle. It is important that the horse display a nice big stride at the walk, just as under saddle. It should appear light on the forehand. For this, you might need to shorten your reins and raise your hand.
Try to slow down and make the turn, rather than letting your horse pull you to overshoot it. If that happens, you can turn the horse in a circle and start down the straightaway again. The backside of the triangle is where to show off the brilliance of the trot. Keep the horse fully extended, but don’t let it run or go into a sewing-machine trot. Slow down to make the next turn and bring the horse straight at the judge. This is when they evaluate straightness and correctness of gaits, so it’s critical to keep the horse straight. To give your horse a sight-line to follow, try shortening your right rein slightly and raising your left hand where your horse can see it.
A whip handler behind your horse will prevent the horse from lagging back. Have them stay on the same side of the horse as you, and not too close, or the horse will be shying or craning its head to see them.
Turnout
Proper turnout is extremely important. Start well before the event with proper exercise, grooming, bathing and diet, to have the horse’s skin and coat in good condition. During hot, sunny days, turn the horse out at night to prevent sun damage to the coat. The bridle path and muzzle should be clipped. Trim the ears. Have the hooves in good shape, and don’t have the feet trimmed too close to a show, in case the horse becomes footsore. If the tail is sun-bleached, you can dye it. Braid the mane and bang the tail. Have your tack clean and oiled. Don’t forget your own grooming. Khaki pants and a polo shirt, and tennis shoes or paddock boots are standard attire. And don’t forget to smile!