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Showing Off in the Show Ring
When it comes to looking a million dollars in the show ring, top show rider and producer Lynn Russell knows how to make a good impression. Here are Lynn’s top tips on how to present a ‘polished’ performance under saddle, which can make the difference between winning and losing…
- Keep an eye on the steward, he or she will dictate the pace and change of rein, so listen for instructions or for visual signals
- Take time to show off your horse. Don’t fly around the arena, 100 miles an hour!!! Think of a rhythm and keep to it – you would get marked down in a dressage test and in the showring, it looks just horrid and can ruin even the best moving horses’ paces - I make sure my horses are easy, relaxed and rhythmical in all of their paces, including gallop
- Practice galloping at home – make sure you SLOWLY ask for gallop, building up speed gradually – otherwise you end up sending the horse onto the forehand and it bombing off with you. Your horse should also come back to you with ease – fighting with his mouth and standing up out of your seat in an attempt to slow him down doesn’t fill the judge with confidence!!!
- If you do encounter a problem in the ring, try and sort it out behind the judge, as long as it isn’t upsetting the other competitors and their horses then, presuming it was a small hiccup, rejoin the flow of horses and continue relaxed and unflustered.
- Vary your classes – variety is the spice of life and your horse will keep that show ring sparkle and ‘look at me’ factor, if you don’t bore him with endless showing classes that all involve the same routine.
- Try and ride in fields where possible at all paces, so when your horses’ hooves hit the turf, you don’t!!
- Ensure that your horse is used to different riders, including men and women of different weights. Your horse should be well mannered and obedient, so make sure he stands whilst you mount, will stand whilst you are sat on board and is well schooled and fit enough for show season.
- If your horse is extremely badly behaved and is becoming a nuisance or danger to yourself or fellow competitors then ask permission to leave. Work on your ring craft by riding with other horses until your horse learns to behave – it's better to leave early than be asked to leave!
- If you know your horse will play up when the judge gets on, such as napping or worse, please please make sure you school this out of your horse before taking him or her into a class for some poor unsuspecting judge to discover! It's not the judge's job to school your horse, so ensure you do a good job yourself or get experienced help if a problem develops.
- Remember to smile and look like you are enjoying yourself, even if you don’t do well in the final placing – look at the combination that won, is there anything that you could have improved on?
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Show ring etiquette |
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