BY BRITTANY SIMS, JUNIOR JOURNALIST
Britany Marino of North Carolina with Details Leading Lady and AQHA Professional Horseman Michael Colvin prepare for the semi-finals of showmanship.
Is this your first show? Worried about showing and forgetting your pattern? Do you get nervous easily?
Put your mind at ease with these tips on reining from trainer Sam Schaffhauser of Schaffhauser Stables in Brooklyn, Arkansas, and tips on horsemanship from AQHA Judge Doug Huls of Phoenix.
Remembering Patterns:
AQHYA offers 11 pattern classes and memorizing patterns can be hard.
- Sam says: “The easiest way is just break it down into small maneuvers like a set of circles and get that down pat and move to the next thing. Get out there and walk it on foot, take your finger and draw it (the pattern) on your leg, then just keep going over it and over it and over it until it gets stuck in your head, and then you don’t have to think about it.”
- Doug says: “Walk the pattern. Set it up. Walk it and use the cones. Make sure that you go through it two or three times until you can do it without thinking about it.”
Overcoming Nerves:
You will be nervous enough because you are at a show; the last thing that you need to worry about is your horse.
- Sam says: “By (show time) your horse should know what to do. You have to keep your mind off of it; think about something else.”
- Doug says: “Go out and ride and don’t think about the pattern or the event so much. Even on a really broke horse, if you are nervous they’ll break the pattern.”
Making the Most of Your Experience:
Being prepared will help prevent accidents and help create good show memories. Preparation is one of the easiest ways to avoid having a bad show experience.
- Sam says: “Just go and have fun. Go and don’t worry about winning and get out there and do the best that you can do. You may not be able to win it but get out there and just be happy with what happens.”
- Doug says: “Make sure that you are prepared every time. Practice the patterns and practice the event. Your horse needs to be clean, and your horse needs to be ready, then everything goes better.”
