Ring Position In Performance Classes IŠ
by Wayne G. Hipsley, BSc, MSc
Hipsley & Associates, LLC
International Consultants and Educators
Lexington, Kentucky
"The key is to have a strategy
which keeps your horse in
a positive image."
Q. How do you pass another horse and rider properly without drawing undue attention to yourself?
Answer: Apparently there is some unwritten 'rule' about not passing a competitor in a performance class, in either ridden and driven classes. It is very confusing to me as a judge, because if that is the case, the slowest horse in the ring sets the 'speed' for the entire class. And, the slowest horse is not always the winner. Let's explore the situation.
In most Western Pleasure and Hunter Pleasure classes the forward movement of the horse while it is working on the rail is important to demonstrate to the judge. The forward movement can be at the walk, trot/jog and canter/lope, and even at the hand gallop.
As the exhibitor your challenge is to show the best gaits and movement of your horse in the ring with other competitors. And to accomplish this, you need to have your horse positioned on the rail so your horse is visible at the gait, speed and tempo you have chosen which best presents the image of your horse. If that means passing someone, than it needs to be done with a strategy for maintaining your gait, speed, and tempo, and not interfering with the horse[s] you are passing.
You will be passing to the inside of the ring. You should start moving to the inside track of the rail about 4 to 5 horse lengths before you approach the horse you want to pass. Keep your horse moving forward, and use your legs to guide the horse to the inside track without lost of forward motion.
Generally, the distances will be determined by the number of horses in a class and the position your horse is in the ring, straight-away, corners, turns, etc. Be sure you pass the horse on the rail with a sufficient distance to not cause the horse to shy or demonstrate other negative behavioral instincts which could result in your horse instinctively misbehaving. So, the distance to start the inside track and distance from the horse you are passing is important.
Once you have passed the horse, you may wish to return to the rail if you are on the straight-away or remain there through the curvature of the ring, and as you come out of the curve/turn, position yourself back on the rail.
You want to pass all horses with grace and style. Not unnecessarily drawing attention to your horse, but keeping a positive image of your horse toward the judge, remembering, you have to show your horse to the best of its gaits.
Remember, never pass a horse to it's right, toward the outside of the rail. Putting your horse between another horse and the rail places your performance in jeopardy, and risks the chance of the horse on the inside crowding your horse toward the rail. Always pass to the inside of the ring.
Q. What happens if a horse in front of you has a behavioral problem, kicks, bucks, shys, stops unexpectedly, etc?
Answer: This is where your ring-craft and knowledge of how to pass becomes important. And this will happen in many classes with green and junior horses, horses new to the show ring. Yes, it could be anticipated in Youth and Amateur classes.
So, it is important for the rider to anticipate what is the best strategy for use in dealing with situations like this. Practice at home. Practice it at a show where the competition is not the pressure of an approved show. The key is to have a strategy which keeps your horse in a positive image. It may require you to cut across the ring, stop and re-start your horse, make a circle from your current position on the rail to avoid the 'wreck'.
Q. What happens in a multi-judged show?
Answer:Sometimes the multi-judged show does not allow you the opportunity to recover from mistakes and situations that force you to pass another exhibitor. It is possible for one or more judges to observe the situation. And typically, if you are passing a horse, the judge will recognize the reason for the need to pass another competitor, and it will not be counted against your performance.
The key to remember in a multi-judge show, there is no place for you to 'hide' in the ring. Whereas in a single judged show, you have 4, 6 or even 8 sets of eyes on you. Therefore, your ring-craft skills will be tested to the ultimate to present your horse to its most potential.
Q. What happens in a driving class?
Answer: Granted in the stock horse breeds, pleasure driving is not a widely competitive class. However, in many other breeds, pleasure driving classes are very popular as a means for exhibiting horses. And, ring position and passing is very important to understand.
Depending upon the breed, the horses will perform a walk, pleasure trot and a working trot, all demonstrating a progressive increase in extension of movement, thereby increasing speed. The key is the judge is seeking the horse that performs the most ideal extension of the gaits, looking for freedom of movement, impulsion, height and animation of knees and hocks, along with length of stride. Speed is not important and is often confused with extension. Many believe speed is the extension of the trotting gait, when it is not.
Horses will perform a pleasure trot at generally the same forward tempo, with some horses having longer strides, requiring them to pass other horses. The extension movement with which the horse passes others is important, and gives a judge a comparable to which to judge other horses.
The ring-craft rules for passing in the ridden performance are the same as in driving performance. Preparing a strategy to take the inside track must be made at least 6 to 8 horse lengths behind the horse being passed. The distance from the horse while passing is very important to allow your horse a positive image, not crowding your horse next to the horse on the rail. If your horse has excessive length of stride at the working trot, it may be best to take the entire class at an inside track. Only returning to the rail for the walk and pleasure trot. The key to remember is you need to be showing your horse to the best of your ability, and your horse's best gaits, and not be impeded by the other horses in the ring
~Thank you Judge Hipsley~
