Their exceptional Quarter Horse breeding program earned them a place in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

Doug and Nancy Dear's birdtail ranch Quarter Horses breeding program flourished in Montana. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

At the 2012 AQHA Convention in Las Vegas in March, six new inductees will join the prestigious walls of the AQHA Hall of Fame. The new inductees include Gordon Hannagan, Walter Fletcher, Bob Loomis, Indigo Illusion, Streakin La Jolla and Hollywood Dun It.

In April, America’s Horse Daily will feature biographies about the new members of the hall of fame. Until then, enjoy this series about the people and horses honored in 2011 by induction into the AQHA Hall of Fame.

Doug and Nancy Dear

For decades, Doug and Nancy Dear’s Birdtail Ranch Quarter Horses were legendary throughout the Intermountain West. It was said that if you bought a horse from the ranch near Simms, Montana, “you knew you got a good one.”

Married in 1947, Doug and Nancy were Montana natives, raised riding and ranching. It was Nancy’s father, Curtis Diehl, who first took an interest in the “Steel Dust” horses that had arrived in eastern Montana in the early 1940s. Curtis bought a dun coming-2-year-old named Charlie Russell (by Texas Blue Bonnet) – the first registered American Quarter Horse to come into their part of the country. Curtis bred him to U.S. Army Cavalry Remount mares, along with a couple of palominos.

To receive more great articles like this one, subscribe to The American Quarter Horse Journal.

His vision was to breed a horse that “would make better cow horses for us on the ranch,” Nancy says, a sound horse with a good mind and athletic ability in surefootedness and speed. After Curtis died in 1948, Doug and Nancy carried on, determined to buy the best Quarter Horses they could.

Nancy says she and Doug “pretty much agreed” on horses and cattle. In 1950, they purchased Shirley Hunt by Tommy Clegg and out of Lady Coolidge by Beetch’s Yellow Jacket – a full sister to American Quarter Horse Hall of Famer Bert, bred by Bert Benear of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Liking the Bert/Starway blood, in 1953, with Doug busy calving, Nancy returned to Oklahoma for the Nicholson sale. She came home with the stallion Bear Cat (Little Brother-Flying Mary, unknown sire); the mare N R Chipper (Tamo- Jane Hunt by Button) along with her weanling and yearling colts by Bert; and Little Dixie Beach (Tommy Clegg-Dixie Beach by Beetch’s Yellow Jacket), the dam of AQHA Champion Paul A. Those horses became the foundation for the Dears’ 60-year breeding program.

Eventually, with mare herds as large as 35, they were raising more horses than they could use. In the early 1950s, they began an annual sale on the ranch to sell foals; they would end up holding “close to 50” sales.

“At one time, we figured we had horses in about every state west of the Mississippi and five of the provinces in Canada,” Nancy says.

They kept a constant eye out for horses to buy – helped by Doug’s travels as an AQHA judge – and they kept good homebred fillies. Their mares through the years included Miss Gillette, Burt’s Lady, Boulder Bell and Silky Lena Bars.

“Bill Sellers, an inspector for AQHA, he always came to this part of the country,” Nancy recalls, “and he’d say, ‘I’ve got to go have a look at N R Chipper and Little Dixie Beach.’ … For the size of our operation … he just couldn’t believe how many good mares there was among them.”

The Dears bought solid stallions for those mares, including Classy Bar (Sugar Bars-Mokey by Leo), open AQHA Champion Two Eyed Fox (Two Eyed Jack-Foxy Buck by Pretty Buck), and open AQHA Champion Jay Page (Page Lee-Zella Hep by Tucson A), who died young.

A monthly subscription to The American Quarter Horse Journal brings you articles about a variety of disciplines and AQHA news.

Bred by AQHA Past President Bob Norris, Two Eyed Fox had also caught the eye of Hall of Famer Howard Pitzer when the Dears acquired the horse in 1972. The stallion crossed well on the family’s Bear Cat and Classy Bar mares, helping to put the Dears 12th on the leading breeders of AQHA Champions list. From fewer than 400 total foals, he sired the earners of more than 5,000 points and two Supreme Champions, 15 AQHA Champions and four Superior halter horses.

Birdtail horses excelled at ranch work and in the show ring: “We used to halter our horses as well as show them in two or three events, and I think that should still be true today,” Nancy says.

With a reputation for versatility and good temperament, they were in high demand for amateurs, youth and 4-H colt-to-maturity projects.

“(The horses) had to have a good disposition, because our market always went that way (toward amateurs and youth),” Nancy says.

The Dears’ daughters, Barbara and Dee Dee, made names for themselves in rodeo, 4-H and the American Junior Quarter Horse Association (now AQHYA), riding home-raised horses. Barbara married Russ Pepper, and Dee Dee married the late AQHA judge Lennard Rains and remained involved with the ranch.

In 1954, the Dears helped form the Montana Quarter Horse Association. Doug was an MQHA director and Nancy the secretary. Involved nationally, Doug was an AQHA director from Montana, and Nancy and her good friend, Mildred Janowitz, lobbied hard for an amateur division within AQHA: “We didn’t quit until we got it in there.”

Doug died in 1999. A scholarship in his name assists Montana students with their college education. Now 91, Nancy is still involved with raising horses and rides occasionally when health and help permit.

“A person would be most proud of the fact that so many people liked the horses,” she says. “I really can’t remember anybody coming to me and telling me that (he or she) did not like (one of our horses). … It’s nice to have it that way.”

For live updates from the 2012 AQHA Convention in Las Vegas, follow AQHA on Facebook and Twitter.

Equine events coordinator Nancy Easton tells how to prevent accidents at shows.

Always be on the lookout for potential mental triggers for your horse. Journal illustration.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Picture an average horse show: spectators in bleachers and folding chairs, babies in strollers, tractors, rakes, shovels, tack and other equipment in aisles. Now add a panicked, loose horse.

Looks pretty dangerous inside your head, doesn’t it?

At a horse show, exhibitors and show management must work together to make sure stabling areas are safe for everyone, events coordinator Nancy Easton says.

“Safety is an easy thing to take care of,” she says, “if people stay aware and are considerate of everything that’s going on around them.”

At a horse show, she says, “the horse and exhibitor have a very tight bubble around them. Any noise or movement pushes into their bubble and causes them to react.”

Accidents Waiting to Happen

Many accidents happen because of a horse’s unexpected panic reaction.

“There is a reason for everything a horse does,” Nancy says. “So whether an exhibitor is in the saddle or on the ground, he or she must be aware of the horse every second. And it’s important to see what’s going on around you – what the noises are, the visual triggers and other horses going by.”

New to showing? Get the Beginner’s Guide to Showing and learn what to expect.

What’s going on in the horse’s head can be another trigger.

“What a horse does might be a reaction to something that the handler has done at some other time,” she explains. “The horse might hear a noise and associate it with a time when the handler jerked him or whipped on him, so he gets frightened, jumps and lunges forward.”

The leap is so instantaneous that a group of people in the way won’t have time to get clear.

“I have seen stall fronts pulled down and dragged through the alleyway,” Nancy says. “Then all the other horses, both in stalls and out, also panic.”

Dangerous Clutter

When managing horse events at California’s state fair, Nancy does not allow exhibitors to leave objects in the alleys of the stable area. With thousands of spectators passing through during the fair, this reduces risks to both visitors and horses.

She cautions exhibitors at any show to avoid filling aisles with such things as wheelbarrows, gear, tables, chairs, bales of hay or coolers. These objects are better left in a tack or feed stall.

Grooming and tacking up horse in the aisleways can also court disaster.

Many people coming through the barn areas have never been close to a horse and might assume since it is tied in a “public area,” that it is as safe to be around as a statue, she says.

If you decide to groom a horse in the alley, be aware of any foot traffic or other horses approaching. It is certainly not impolite to ask people to stay back or take another route through the barn, Nancy says. The same holds true for riders or handlers.

“Always ask the person who has the horse in the alleyway if it is safe for you to lead or ride by,” Nancy says.

Create a Visual Barrier

To keep foot traffic from going through a barn aisle, curtains at the end of the row are often effective. Even cones can provide a visual signal that this is not a public area.

“When I’m at the Congress or World Show and curtains are blocking off the alleyway, I don’t feel welcome to pass through there,” she says as an example.

She says the blockage doesn’t give her the feeling that the exhibitors using those stalls are unfriendly but rather that they are trying to create a safe environment for themselves and their horses. This is especially true when stallions are involved.

Use the Beginner’s Guide to Showing for more tips on showing etiquette and procedures.

Caution! Stallion in the Stall!

Housing stallions at shows can be risky, especially if the horse is unruly. And even if the stallion isn’t normally a problem, things can become dangerous if a rider on a mare, for instance, comes down the alley and stops in front of the stallion’s stall.

Nancy says if management knows someone is bringing an unruly stallion, an end stall that is not in a high traffic area can be assigned. And, she says, care must be taken not to stable stallions next to each other.

“It’s never an easy situation to handle, but a lot of the safety certainly does depend on show management,” Nancy says.

For example, the stallion’s owner or trainer might be able to secure a stall between two tack rooms. If there is a mare in the stall behind him, this might also be changed with other exhibitors switching horses around.

With a stallion, the practice of keeping the top stall door closed enhances the safety factor. It might also be advisable to post a sign on the door – “Please do not open” – to fend off curious passersby.

Slick Dangers

One sight that makes Nancy cringe is a rider trotting a horse on concrete to get back to the stabling area.

Trotting through a stable area is risky enough, but concrete increases the chance for disaster, especially if the horse and rider wind up on a wet surface from the wash racks or because someone just dragged a hose through the area.

Nancy recalls when she was about 5 years old and her father warned, “Never gallop or even lead a horse fast over any ground that is not safe for it, especially when it has shoes on.”

He instilled in her the danger of the horse slipping and falling. She is thankful for that early lesson in safety and encourages parents and trainers to educate young riders at home before they ever go to their first show.

“If a program focuses on teaching safety to kids at home,” Nancy says, “a lot of accidents would never happen at the shows.”

Western pleasure specialist John Dean explains his strategy behind rail position.

Understanding rail placement for western pleasure will help you and your horse stand out to the judge in the show ring. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

As western pleasure classes get more competitive and the gap between first and last place narrows, rider strategy becomes increasingly important in separating champions from contenders. A rider’s first opportunity for strategic advantage comes before the judging begins, as riders take their places on the rail.

Entries in a western pleasure class perform along the arena wall, circling at a walk, jog and lope both directions around the show pen’s outer edge while the judges watch from the center of the ring. Ideal rail positioning allows a horse and rider to work smoothly, creating a natural and consistent image for the judges, without having their “zone” encroached upon by other entries.

Finding a Place on the Rail

“At most horse shows, you have a choice as to where you can go on the rail at the start of a western pleasure class,” says trainer John Dean. “What I consider when I make that choice is the speed my horse is going to go, especially jogging.”

John suggests you pay attention to other entries in the warm-up arena and take note of faster-moving horses. Once the class is ready to begin, position yourself behind a horse you expect to move faster than yours, eliminating the need to pass and ensuring that you and your horse stay in position along the rail while the judges critique your ride.

“You don’t want to get behind any horse you’ll gain ground on,” John says. “Stay where you lose a little ground on a horse, or at least keep the same pace.”

What Is the Best Way to Pass?

For more tips on western pleasure, get Showing to Win: Western Pleasure.

If you find yourself stuck on the rail behind a slower horse, John says passing isn’t a sin, especially if a rider has to forfeit his horse’s cadence to avoid gaining ground on the slower entry.

“A horse looks better alone and on the rail in a pleasure class,” he says, “but you can’t sacrifice the way your horse moves by trying to cover such little ground.”

When overtaking a slower entry, it’s important to make your move without disrupting the horse you pass. Move off the rail before getting within four feet of the slower horse and pass with two to three feet between your outside stirrup and the inside stirrup of the other rider. A rider shouldn’t get within a four-foot comfort zone of another horse and attempt to maintain a position along the rail.

“I hate to see someone run up on another horse and try to stay there,” John says. “It’s a rude thing to do to another competitor, and it makes your horse look bad, too.”

A typical error John notices among western pleasure riders is the tendency to pass too wide, calling more attention to the pass and increasing the amount of time it takes to overtake another horse.

“So many riders pass too wide, with 10 feet or more between them and the slower horse beside them,” he says. “They can lose a lot of rail position that way. When you pass before a corner, it’s even more important to stay in the correct position and maintain the two to three foot distance between your horse and the horse you are passing. In a full class, passing too wide before a corner can force exhibitors to pass several horses that are moving at the same speed as theirs just because they are out of position.” It’s also a common mistake to not use all the ground that’s available in the corners to circumvent passing.

Learn expert tips for winning western pleasure in Showing to Win: Western Pleasure.

If a faster horse overtakes you, John suggests keeping your pace steady and holding your position as the other horse passes. Be prepared to slow up or move off the rail yourself, though, if the faster horse makes a return to the rail too quickly, cutting you off.

Maintaining Position

Once you’re in position behind the horse of your choice, stay close to the rail, keeping your horse’s shoulder and rump as close as possible to the arena wall without touching it. If the arena floor hasn’t been worked and there’s a rut or trail along the wall, stay in the center of the track. Riding on one side or the other might cause your horse to alter his stride unexpectedly or trip.

The 2011 AQHA Amateur Western Pleasure World Champion talks about her experience at the show.

Dave Page offers his advice on proper show halter fit.

If you need a chain for control, Page suggests running it under the horse's chin. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

In any given halter class, each entry represents months of preparation directed at creating the perfect picture. Before a horse enters the arena, his handlers develop individual feeding programs, exercise regimens and grooming routines, knowing it’s the details that separate the champions from the contenders.

Unfortunately, something as easily changed as the halter fit can ruin that picture, especially if a halter fits poorly, hangs loose and gives an overall sloppy appearance.

“There are different styles of halters, and everyone has their preferences,” says halter horse trainer Dave Page, “but the most important thing is that the halter fits right.”

When you’re not in the show arena, learn how to make your own rope halter for your horse in AQHA’s FREE report, How to Make a Rope Halter.

How Should a Halter Fit?

A show halter should fit snugly, with the halter conforming to the shape of the horse’s head, particularly behind the jaw and under the throatlatch. The noseband should be positioned halfway between the eyes and nostrils. A halter shouldn’t be loose enough to slide and shift from one side to the other.

“It should look like the halter is made to fit the horse,” Dave says. “Ninety percent of the time, the halters are too big, and they fit sloppy over the nose and hang down the throat.”

To accommodate a variety of horses, Dave keeps six to eight adjustable leather and silver show halters – in weanling, yearling, mare and stallion sizes – with interchangeable top straps.

Wide or Thin?

When it comes to selecting the right headgear for your horse, even the width of the halter’s leather straps comes into play.

“For a horse that’s really pretty-headed, you can use a narrow halter,” Dave says. “When a horse isn’t as pretty in the head, or is heavy on the jaw or wide between the eyes and muzzle, you want to use a wider halter.”

While the weather is cold outside, use AQHA’s FREE report, How to Make a Rope Halter to learn a new skill with these simple instructions.

What About Chains?

While a halter chain may not always be necessary, especially on the calmer, easier-to-control horses, it’s common to see an exhibitor using a chain for added control in the ring. If you choose to use one, other aesthetic issues arise.

“A lot of times, an exhibitor will put a lead shank over a horse’s nose, but I don’t recommend that,” Dave says. “It makes the halter pop up on top, over the nose. In addition to raising the halter and creating a bump, it makes the horse put his head up higher than you want.” Instead, Dave shows his horses using a chain under the chin.

When a chain is used, there should be adequate slack in the chain, between the lead and the halter. Dave uses leads with a long length of chain, so the chain can be run under the chin and up to the right side of the halter. “If you do that with a shorter chain, it pulls the whole length of the chain into the halter, leaving no slack,” he says. “It looks a lot better with a little more chain left over.”

Concentrate on the moment to create overall success.

During a reining run, a dramatic sliding stop followed by a blur of spins and gorgeous circles leaves you watching in awe. Journal photo.

By Barbra Schulte in The American Quarter Horse Journal

Early in my career as a cutting-horse trainer, I noticed special showmen. Certain people consistently qualified average horses for the final. They regularly collected big checks. Other competitors would show an outstanding horse and fumble. I was intrigued to understand the differences.

In my own experience, some days I showed a horse to his potential. I helped him when circumstances threatened to expose our weaknesses. I asked for more when opportunities arose to maximize his strengths. Other days, if I concentrated on something going wrong, that’s all I could think about. The rest of the run fell apart.

I now realize the essence of a magnificent performance. It is a series of beautifully interwoven moves that set it apart from the “also rans.” It’s an evolving masterpiece as one maneuver flows into the next.

During a reining run, a dramatic sliding stop followed by a blur of spins and gorgeous circles leaves you watching in awe. In a cutting run, precise, deep stops and expression mesmerize.

In the AQHA FREE report Laminitis Treatment, you’ll hear a first-hand story about how Dr.  Micheal Steward’s technique took a critically ill horse and gave him renewed life.

Great riders and great horses lure us into thinking that they have achieved supernatural performance levels. As perfectionists, we turn green with envy. We would pay anything to make that ride.

The perfect horse with the perfect rider is an illusion. Below the surface of our visual perception lie two top performance secrets. The first is the rider’s ability to remain focused in the moment. He or she is not worrying about what almost happened, what just happened or what might happen. The rider is mentally centered in the millisecond at hand and nowhere else.

The second secret is a rider’s ability to respond to the horse from moment to moment and make appropriate adjustments. A sensitive feel of what a horse is about to do right or wrong and then changing seat or leg cues, for example, are the little things that make a ride appear perfect.

If moment-to-moment focus and minute adjustments are the goals, we need strategies to achieve them. Here are some suggestions:

• Let go of the fear of exposing your horse’s weaknesses. Every horse has its less-than-perfect aspects. Instead, it’s your job to help him through difficult situations. Enjoy being flexible and responsive to the moment. Take pride in overcoming obstacles. Instead of being immobilized by problems, you’ll shine when everyone else is complaining.
• Remain in the moment by saying to yourself, “No problem” when you or your horse makes an error. When you say, “No problem,” you release yourself from replaying the negative action repeatedly in your head. You will focus on what’s going on at that time. This simple phrase is one of the most powerful performance tools used by world-class and Olympic athletes. It’s basic tenant of “mentally tough” philosophy.
• Do your homework prior to the competition. Mentally practice how to ride your horse effectively through his weak areas. Do mental visualizations with confidence and eliminate anxiety. Rehearse in your mind how to handle a situation if it arises. If you have your weak areas covered, you will show with confidence because you have nothing to fear.

Learn about one of the treatments for laminitis, the wooden rocking horseshoe, in AQHA’s FREE report Laminitis Treatment.

• No matter how bad it gets, never show any weakness in your facial expression or in your body language. If you can’t get the arena floor to open up so you can drop out of sight, then act like nothing ever happened. You may not win or place this time, but you’ve practiced mental and physical control for another show when an error might be small and you need to help your horse.

Becoming a great competitor is a learned art. Stay cool, focused in the moment and responsive to your horse. Although magnificent rides appear larger than life, it’s the little things you do second by second that will take you there.

An AQHA judge describes the psychology behind showmanship classes.

Tony Anderman and Goodness Im Green at the 2011 AQHA World Championship Show. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Holly Hover of Cave Creek, Arizona, became an AQHA judge in 1988. She judges AQHYA and AQHA world shows, and has judged internationally throughout her career. She’s a professional horse trainer who coaches amateurs and youth showmen with a focus on all-around competition.

One of her amateur showmen was Sarah Marold, All American Quarter Horse Congress versatility champion and reserve all-around amateur at the AQHA World Show.

Holly has helped transform many exhibitors into showmanship champions with her collection of showmanship psychology tricks. Her tricks include handwriting analysis, dressing for success, body language and positive thinking.

Handwriting Analysis
“The first thing we do when we get to the show is look at the pattern,” Holly says. “If someone hand-scribbled ‘Showmanship – walk in, circle around, walk to the judge, walk out,’ it’s obvious to me this judge is not a stickler for detail. He’s wanting you to get in there, get the job done and get out. So do exactly that. Don’t make a big deal out of it.

Your AQHA or AQHYA membership does much more than bring you together with other horse enthusiasts.

“On the other hand, adjectives and adverbs show you a judge is more in tune to detail. If I write ‘Walk straight to the judge,’ I’m telling you right there I’ll be watching whether your horse walks straight. If I write ‘Back four steps,’ you can be sure I’m going to count them.”

Another tactic Holly suggests is copying the pattern down when you first get to the show. Just the act of writing it down will help commit it to memory.

Dress for Success
“You can tell a lot about judges by the way they dress,” Holly says. “If a woman (judge) is dressed conservatively, you can bet she’ll appreciate that in a showman. If a woman comes in wearing bright colors, obviously she likes them or she wouldn’t be wearing them. As a rule of thumb – and there are exception to this – I think men judges will accept and appreciate a fancier look.”

Holly explains that showmanship exhibitors have to dress up more than in horsemanship. She admits fighting the new fancier looks but she and Sarah had to eventually give in and trade in the old starched jeans for purple polyester pants and a shiny, floral jacket.

“Same girl, same horse, same patterns, different clothes, and she suddenly stated winning,” Holly shrugs. “I think we got a look that was between conservative and flashy. That’s what I suggest now, finding a median style that’s going to appeal to most every judge.”

Showing Your Horse
Exhibitors who give Holly the impression that are showing themselves and not their horses are not going to earn any points.

“Don’t set your horse up, then tip your shoulders toward me. Your feet, hands, head and shoulders should direct attention to the horse. Only your eyes should acknowledge the judge.

“I see a lot of people go through this routine where their eyes go to the horse’s ears, shoulders, feet and tail, and then they cock their head toward me, and it is so synthetic. Just check your horse,” Holly says.

The Power of Positive Thinking
“As a part of positive mental attitude, when you inevitably make a mistake, don’t chastise yourself. Just figure out what you’ll do differently next time, and do it in a positive way. Instead of saying ‘I blew it. I dropped my hands,’ say, ‘I could help my horse turn better if I’d lift his head.’ The great thing about showing horses is there’s always another day – even with the World Show, there’s always one next year.”

Plus, your AQHA membership gives you discounts on many corporate partner products and the award-winning America’s Horse magazine! Join today.

Holly says her students are trained to think, “I’m going to do my best,” instead of thinking about who they’re out to beat. “I think it is counterproductive to have a rival,” she says. “I think you lose sight of the whole picture if all you’re thinking is ‘Beat Suzy.’ ”

Another part of Holly’s program has surprised some of her younger clients.

“They get a big surprise. If you aspire to be a world-class competitor, you have to think of yourself as an athlete, no different than a skater or gymnast. You have to be healthy, get enough sleep, eat right and feel good. You can go to a movie or party and stay out all night at home. I have seen people change their priorities from going to the show just for the party to saying to me, ‘I need to get to bed early because I need to get up and work my horse.’ When that revelation happens, you’ve got yourself a showman.”

The Edge
To have the competitive edge in any horse show event, you have to look through the eyes of the judge. “Realistically, you’ve got about 30 seconds to make it or break it,” Holly says. “I would never go into the ring with a deficit – something I can control. I can control my clothes being clean and my hair being neat, my horse being fit, clean and clipped. I can control my knowledge of the pattern and knowledge of what the judge may or may not like. Go in with a loaded gun, and if the chips go your way, great. There’s a lot of luck involved. But you can increase your luck with confidence and a lot of work at home.”

How to show like a pro, with tips from AQHA Professional Horseman Mark DeFreece.

Josh Weakly makes his first impression on the judges at the 2011 AQHA World Championship Show. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

They say you never have a second chance to make a first impression.

A cliché, yes – but true.

Nowhere in the show world are first impressions more important than in halter competition, where a horse’s conformation is scrutinized and a showman’s ability can make or break a performance.

While getting your halter horse in top show shape is key to his success, many competitors overlook an equally important factor of the equation: the showmanship aspect of halter. You’ve got to know how to best show your horse to the judge, so that the judge can examine – and appreciate – your horse’s “best side.”

AQHA Professional Horseman Mark DeFreece of Whitesboro, Texas, has been training and showing halter and performance horses since the early 1980s, and he uses his AQHA judge savvy whether he’s standing at the end of the lead shank or behind the clipboard. Here are his suggestions for the best way to show off your halter horse.

Grooming Basics

In halter classes, it’s not necessary for the human competitor to dazzle the judge; that’s the horse’s job. The showman’s appearance should complement a well-groomed horse with an air of professionalism.

“The showman’s first impression to the judge is by means of his attire,” Mark says. “The best impression can be made with a clean, neat appearance.”

Get the full, colorful story of Stan and his adventures with Quarter Horses in AQHA’s FREE report, Stan Immenschuh: All-Around Hand.

For clothing, Mark’s motto is simple and clean. Blue jeans, nice boots and a button-down shirt score as appropriate attire – for both male and female competitors – at weekend shows. Large shows, like circuits or the AQHA World Championship Show, may entice competitors to dress up, but Mark still stresses simple colors and quiet prints. Clothing can be dressy without distracting a judge’s attention away from the horse.

For the horse, first impressions are made by looking at the judge through the halter, so halter fit is immediately significant. A correctly fitted halter lays tight against the horse’s head, close behind the ears and close to the throat. Sizing is essential; the noseband should lay flat halfway between the muzzle and the eye, and the silver plating and buckles should follow the line of the leather.

The overall appearance of a well-groomed halter horse mirrors that of the showman: simple and clean.

Traveling to the Judge

Judging begins with the horse’s walk to the judge.

It is the showman’s job to keep the horse under control, alert and traveling in a straight line, to give the judge the best opportunity to examine the horse’s soundness, muscling and balance.

“You need to get your horse traveled to the judge as quietly and as mannerly as possible,” Mark says. “I don’t mind one jumping and bucking a little bit when I’m leading to the judge, because it just tightens up the horse’s body and makes him look better, but he must not be a danger to himself or to the judge when he’s traveling.”

Get stories about racing, roping, rodeo, western pleasure, wartime hardships and more in AQHA’s FREE Stan Immenschuh: All-Around Hand report.

In the Lineup

Alertness and manners in the lineup both depend on the showman’s ability to control the horse’s body and mind.

“Being able to set your horse up with the halter – with your hand on the lead shank only – is preferred to moving their feet with your hands,” Mark says, who suggests leaving 10 to 12 feet between horses in the lineup. “It’s a lot quicker if they set up from the halter, and it shows you’ve done your homework.”

To set up his horses, Mark teaches them to plant the right hind leg, move the left hind leg even with the right and then adjust the front feet. For an even, balanced stance, the horse should “stand on the corners of his body.” Each leg should be squarely under a “corner” of the horse’s body, as opposed to being spread too far apart or crowded too close together.

After setting the legs, Marks usually lets the horse relax, and brings him to attention when the judge is two or three horses away. To bring the horse to attention, Mark suggests finding something for him to focus on, in your hand or across the arena. Ultimately, however, the charisma is up to the horse.

You and the Judge

Mark suggests watching the paths judges walk around other horses in the class, so you can anticipate where you will need to stand when the judge gets to your horse.

“You want to stay on the opposite side from the judge, to keep the horse exposed to the judge,” Marks says. “Stay alert to where the judge is at all times, and move no more than twice while the judge is inspecting you horse. You won’t be distracting to the judge or to the horse, and your horse will stand more quietly and more alertly.”

Look the part of the confident equestrian with advice on visual appeal from AQHA Professional Horsewoman Gretchen Mathes.

Jessica Johnson wears traditional gear for hunt seat equitation. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

It’s no secret that horse show judges favor riders who exude confidence and convey strong communication-based partnership with their horses.

To present themselves as relaxed but attentive equestrians ready to take on the challenges of a class, youth riders must convince judges they understand the nature of their event and how best to position themselves in the saddle for effective commands.

Connecticut trainer and AQHA Professional Horsewoman Gretchen Mathes spends much of her time molding novice riders into picture-perfect competitors. As an AQHA judge, Gretchen knows that posture, body position and tack and clothing all play a part in creating a young showman’s image. She doesn’t let her student make the same presentations mistakes she saw in show rings throughout North America and Europe.

“It should look like you spend hours every day riding that horse,” Gretchen says, “and that you’re in the best position to tell the horse exactly what you need to.”

Posture

In either western or hunt seat, a rider should be balanced, sitting straight, with his ear, hip and heel in a straight line perpendicular to the ground. If you have a habit of getting behind the horse’s motion, reacting to a horse’s movement rather than moving in rhythm with the horse, overcome that tendency through training.

Before hitting the show ring, work on keeping your body position, shifting only in tune with the horse’s rhythm.

The “Selecting and Showing Hunter Under Saddle Horses” DVD provides a wealth of information about what makes a good hunter under saddle horse.

The judge’s impression of a rider often begins with the face and head positioning and, as in all other riding categories, if it isn’t natural, it isn’t right. In both western and hunt seat events, the ear should be in line with the middle of the shoulder. Avoid sticking your head forward in an attempt to look determined and focused, since it puts your shoulder out of position. Make any necessary head movements appear natural.

Hands and Reins

“If I had just one complaint about what I saw as a judge, it would be about hand positioning,” Gretchen says. “I see so many people showing with horrible hands.”

In western classes, the upper arms should be in line with the upper body, with the forearms at slightly more than a 90-degree angle. A rider’s elbows can be just forward of the sides of his body. The free hand and arm should mirror the positioning of the rein hand and arm.

Keep a soft but direct rein and use the imaginary box as a guideline to rein length. The imaginary box is a six-inch square right in front of the saddle horn.

“Try to keep that rein hand inside a box about six inches by six inches and extending straight up,” Gretchen says. Your reins should be short enough to allow you to direct you horse without moving your hands outside the imaginary bounds.

In hunt seat, create a definite line running from your elbow to your hand and to the corner of the horse’s mouth. Your hand positioning should feel loose and natural, not stiff and rigid. Avoid cocking your wrists inward, which forces your elbows out, and make sure your hands aren’t too far back. There should be little rein slack in hunt seat events, with the rein forming a nearly direct line from the rider’s hand to the bit.

Hand positioning shouldn’t vary with gait, but it is acceptable to ride the rail on a slightly longer rein than you might use in pattern work.

The “Selecting and Showing Hunter Under Saddle Horses” DVD will allow you to learn from the best, AQHA Professional Horsewomen Carla Wennberg and Leslie Lange.

Tack and Clothing

“I like simple stuff, so plain, clean tack that fits your horse is just fine,” Gretchen says. “It doesn’t have to be covered with silver. That’s not the point of horsemanship. The point is how well you ride and communicate with your horse.”

The coloring of the tack – saddle, bridle and breast collar – should be similar, if not perfect, matches. There have been crazes over light-colored western tack, but before dropping thousands on new show equipment, remember that routine cleaning and sunlight will darken leather, meaning that you’ll have to make repeat trips to the tack shop every few years if you want to follow the fad. Instead, Gretchen advises, keep it simple and put saddle fit above the momentary fashion.

In hunt seat, the look is conservative. English tack should be russet (a reddish-brown) or Havana brown, as dark as possible. If you buy new tack, be sure to oil or stain it to get the dark look hunt seat dictates.

As for clothing, avoid the temptation to wear a Technicolor shirt or hunt jacket meant to seize the judge’s attention. Western clothing should be simple, with colors tying together. Hunt seat attire should be traditional. Jackets should be tailored for a proper fit and in a standard color such as navy blue, hunter green or charcoal black. Breeches should be gray, rust or khaki. Black field boots or brown jodhpur boots are the best bet in hunt seat events.

If you feel the need to wear jewelry in a class, Gretchen says, keep it simple and opt for a small earring or pin. Leave distracting accessories at home.

Als Kaper shows at his last AQHA World Championship Show at the age of 31.

Cecil’s age has not slowed him down much in the ranch sorting ring, but owner Ross Graham says he has to keep his age in mind during a run. Journal photo.

By Samantha Eckert

At age 31 and with eight AQHA World Championship Shows under his belt, Als Kaper has earned his retirement. The 1980 sorrel gelding bred by Ronnie Brooks of Clark, Missouri, retired after his final appearance with Ross Graham of Sherman, Illinois, in the preliminaries of amateur ranch sorting November 7.

“I have had him for 16 years,” Ross says. “He has gone for years now with me now, and he’s just as solid as can be.”

This year’s competition was the horse’s first time competing in ranch sorting at the World Show but definitely not his first go-round at the World Show.

“He was always team penning from Day One,” Ross says. “Then, we used to team sort in the full arena before they came up with the ranch sorting. It was really the same thing. Then the ranch sorting was put into a smaller confined area. They had had a few feedlot sortings throughout the country that we had been to. Really, it wasn’t that big of a change. The ranch sorting is a little easier on him. It’s less ground to cover and a little more user friendly.”

Als Kaper, aka “Cecil,” has qualified for the AQHA World Show eight times, placed in the top 10 four times, was a reserve champion and a world champion. He has an extensive record in team penning.

Being a member of the American Quarter Horse Association means supporting the world’s most versatile horse breed.

In 1996, Als Kaper earned his amateur team penning world title. He returned in 1999 to earn a reserve champion amateur world title.

“He was a pretty big cutter when he was a 3- and 4-year-old,” Ross says. “Ronnie Brooks – when I first won the World Show on Cecil in 1996 – he called me right away, and he was just ecstatic to hear that the horse had done that.”

Ross has owned Cecil since 1994, when Cecil was already middle aged at 14. Ross purchased the gelding through AQHA Professional Horseman Conway Miller of Sage, Arkansas.

“I got him because he was hard to ride,” Ross explains. “The people that owned him before had a hard time staying on him. He was physical. As he got older, of course, he calmed down, but he has always just fit me to a T. We’ve just had a ball ever since.”

Not only does Cecil have an extensive show record, but he also sired six American Quarter Horse foals and has quite the personality.

“He’s just a big ham,” Ross says. “He just loves people. He loves to eat and take naps. He’s missing his front teeth, so his tongue always hangs out a little. You can turn him out with anybody, he’s just as easygoing as they get.”

Cecil’s age has not slowed him down much in the ranch sorting ring, but Ross says he has to keep his age in mind during a run.

Your AQHA or AQHYA membership does much more than bring you together with other horse enthusiasts.

“You have to really take care of him. You can’t ask him for too much at the wrong time, and you really have to look after him first. At that age, it’s very senseless to try to push a horse into a spot that you know is going to be hard for them to succeed in.”

Ross and Cecil have been a great team in the past years, but this year, Ross just wanted to keep Cecil safe in his final runs.

Ross, Cecil and their partners, Charles Vesback of Platteville, Wisconsin, and Awesome Miss Gogo, ended up sorting their cattle in 56.808 seconds, putting them in 25th place out of 77 teams.

Catch all of the AQHA World Show winning runs, results and behind-the-scenes stories at www.aqha.com/Showing/World-Show.

Progressing from psyched out to psyched up.

Pinpoint when, where and under what circumstances your nerves are an obstacle. Journal photo

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Do you know this competitor?

“Although I try to have a positive mental attitude, I’ve always been nervous about competing.

“If I could just handle my nerves, I have everything else I need to be a real winner.”

Managing your mind is like every other facet of horsemanship – it takes work.

A little nervousness is good. It is a sign that your body is getting a dose of adrenalin, which brings with it a sense of heightened awareness and edginess. With that acceleration comes temporary extra strength and sharpened, quicker reflexes. Think about the advantages that adrenalin can give you rather than worrying about feeling shaky. Many winners admit to being nervous when they compete. The key is that they have managed to make their nerves work for them.

Researchers studied U.S. Olympic-level athletes to find out who was more nervous before competition – the ones who eventually won or those who lost. They found there was about an equal number of each. The difference was in how the competitors, themselves, felt about their nervousness.

“Junior Master Horseman” empowers children with useful ways and ideas to safely interact with their horse, or the horse they dream of someday owning!

The winners accepted the nervousness and shakiness as part of competition – maybe not a pleasant one, but a sign that competition time was near. The ones who were eventually losers perceived their nervousness in a different way. They thought, “Oh my gosh. I’m nervous; what if being nervous makes me mess up? I wonder if I can do well if I’m this nervous.” So, it wasn’t whether or not the athlete was nervous that made the difference in winning or losing. It was how he felt about it.

Define the situations that make you nervous.
When do you get nervous? What makes you nervous? Is it when your event starts, when the announcer calls your name, or is it when you think about the competition? Are there times you are more nervous than others? Knowing when and where and under what conditions you’re nervous will help you overcome the problem. Sometimes it’s a case of having too much time to think about the upcoming competition.

Have you ever been late to an event, getting there right before your class? You hurry in, unload the horse, saddle and warm up, finishing the warm-up as the announcer calls your name. You move into the arena feeling rushed and WIN!

What happened? Maybe you didn’t give yourself time to get nervous. If so, revamp your preparation strategy. Of course, you don’t want to rush through your warm-up every time, but you might want to start a little later so you have a task (getting ready) to occupy you when the butterflies hit.

How about the scenario? You get to the event, unload the horse, get entered and ready to warm up, and you know you can have your best day ever. You ride over to the exercise arena and here comes Sally. You know Sally. She’s the one who’s here to tell you that “I don’t think the judge likes your style of horse” or “The ground is slick around the first barrel,” or “You’re going to use that bit?”

Suddenly, you don’t feel so great anymore.

“It’s all Sally’s fault,” you might say. But it’s not Sally’s fault. You’re the one who let her do such a job on your head. You could have said, “Hi, Sally, it’s great to see you. I want to visit with you after my class, but I have to go lope my horse right now.” Don’t get trapped into talking with Sally.

Have a young horse lover in your life? Enjoy the experience of spending time with your young horseman as you work together through the “Junior Master Horseman” books.

Then you ride up to the arena gate and look around. “My goodness, there are two world champions here!” Suddenly, you don’t feel so confident. You frantically think about how you could get more out of your horse. You think of every mistake you have ever made in the arena. Then, you get a little sick to your stomach and wish you were somewhere else. Even a piano recital sounds good.

You have gone from trying to win, to trying to run with the champs, to just wanting to get out of there without humiliating yourself. You’re not staying with your game plan. You have abandoned everything that works for you because you are intimidated by the competition.

And that competition will probably beat you in this instance. Although you’ve forgotten the game plan, they haven’t. They are going to give that same solid performance that earned them their championships.

Unknowns do beat champions. It happens all the time. They do it by doing the best job that they’re capable of and concentrating on their own performance – not on the competition.

Remember, every champion was once an unknown. And every champion was once nervous about going up against really tough competition.

The good news is, like any other competition problem, nervousness can be fixed. The not-so-good news is that the same cure doesn’t work for everyone.

For some, admitting the nervousness is a help. Telling someone that your nerves are bothering you helps if your nervousness comes from a fear of looking foolish.

If fear of failure is a problem, ask yourself whose opinion really matters anyway. Remember, those people who are watching didn’t pay your entry fees.

Some nervous competitors report that exercise – a few jumping jacks or running around the trailer a couple of times – loosens them up.

What helps you get over your nerves in the show pen?

Tips for keeping your horse slick and sleek all winter.

The last thing you want is for your horse to be the fluffy one. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

For most people, long-haired horses aren’t such a bad idea.

It’s natural for livestock to grow thick coats when the days get shorter and cooler, and the extra hair keeps them safe and warm, protecting them from chill and sickness.

If you show horses, however, there has probably been at least one frustrating season where your horse got a little fluffier than you would have liked. And goodness knows, a shaggy horse just doesn’t sparkle when he stands next to a slick horse in the show ring.

Gigi Bailey says she remembers a day when the wind-chill factor at her De Pere, Wisconsin, farm plummeted to minus 92 degrees Fahrenheit. With winter weather as frigid as that, it’s a wonder that Gigi’s barn was full of short-haired horses – and they usually stay that way all winter long.

Part of Gigi’s short-hair recipe is standard: Make sure the barn stays warm, make sure the horses are kept warm, and keep the barn lights on for 16 hours a day. But, as she says, “Winning is 100 little things,” and sometimes you’ve got to be willing to take the 100 extra steps to help your horse maintain a slick hair coat.

“You can lose a good hair coat so fast,” Gigi says. “All it takes is one good chill – in the trailer or at a horse show or wherever – to lose it.”

Stem cell therapy is helping horses with tendon and ligament injuries. Learn more in the AQHA Stem Cell Therapy FREE report.

Start with a warm barn

Gigi explains that an insulated barn keeps horses warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Her show barn was constructed with this in mind. The building’s walls have a 14 R-factor; the ceiling has a 20 R-factor (R-factor refers to the energy efficiency rating of a structure.) She keeps the thermostat at about 64 degrees in the winter, and ceiling fans constantly circulate warm air throughout the barn.

“At 64 degrees in the wintertime in the barn, the horses typically wear a sheet and a heavy blanket, and they wear a light hood or a slinky at night,” Gigi explains.

Away from home and on the road

“Feel the day,” Gigi suggests, when discussing whether or not to haul horses with blankets. “Before we take a trip, we stand around and take a poll. ‘Should we haul in heavy blankets and light hoods? Just sheets? Sheets and blankets? Nothing?’ I prefer to put more blankets on the horses and open the windows up a little bit, mostly because I just think the circulation is healthier for the horse.

“When we’re at a show, we check blankets all day long,” Gigi continues. “We feel under the blankets at their withers and on their backs. We want them to be toasty – but not sweating.”

To body clip, or not to body clip?

While many trainers and barn managers prefer not to body clip a horse – because the buzzed hair often is duller and a different color than a normal short hair coat – there are times when it becomes necessary.

“If I do have to show one that grows long hair, I usually clip it,” Gigi says. “I think body clips are fine as long as you keep that horse’s hair as healthy as you can before you clip it.”

If she is unable to body clip the long-haired horse for some reason, Gigi makes certain that every other aspect of the horse is in pristine condition before she steps into the show ring. Every day throughout the chilly season, her show horses are curried and vacuumed, followed by a spray coat conditioner. She expects each horse’s grooming to be impeccable – just like a halter horse.

Find out where different types of stem cell therapy are being used around the world and learn their status on becoming approved in the United States in the AQHA Stem Cell Therapy FREE report.

A matter of health?

Maybe you’re doing absolutely everything you can think of to keep your horse’s hair coat nice and short, and he still fuzzes up. Unfortunately, it happens. Some horses just naturally grow more hair. But if the hair coat is dull, or if it is difficult to get the horse to shed throughout the winter, have your veterinarian run some routine health tests.

“When I see a horse’s hair go bad, I try to determine the cause,” Gigi says. “That little alarm will go off in my mind that says I may have a health problem – which routinely is anemia or a low thyroid. It doesn’t hurt to pull blood to make sure we’re OK.”

Feel what your horse does when you ask him to collect.

Feel for yourself what your horse feels when you ask him to collect. Journal photo.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

One of the great mysteries of horsemanship is collection – the body position a horse adopts to perform at its maximum level of athletic ability.

For most people, it’s an “I know it when I see it” concept.

AQHA Professional Horsewoman Lynn Palm recommends this exercise to give you insight on how a horse works – and how he does and does not collect.

Lay a beach towel down on the floor to keep yourself clean and kneel on it. Place your knees directly under your hips with your hands on the ground, directly under your shoulders. Hold your head normally, looking forward.

This is a balanced position of self-carriage for a horse. Notice there’s more weight on your hands (forehand of the horse) than on your knees (the hind legs of the horse), due to the weight of your head and neck.

Get your copy of the industry’s most-comprehensive horse teaching tool, AQHA’s Fundamentals of Horsemanship.

Lift your upper body as if you were a horse departing into a lope. Feel the effort it takes to lift yourself up. A horse naturally has to lift the forehand as the hind legs propel him forward into the lope.

“(A horse) can do that easily,” Lynn says.

Next, move your knees up under your body and round your back. This simulates a horse that is collected – the hindquarters lower and more weight goes to the hind legs (feel this in your knees). The forehand lightens as the horse rounds his spine. In this advanced position, a horse can do advanced transitions from stop to run, lead changes with every stride, jumping, turning a barrel or doing a sliding stop. Looking straight ahead, lift your front end as if you were loping off.

Feel how much easier it is to get your front end off the ground. “When the horse rounds and collects correctly, the hind legs engage farther underneath him and allow less weight on the front legs,” Lynn says. “You can get more activity, and it enables you to do more advanced maneuvers.”

AQHA’s Fundamentals of Horsemanship will give you the inspiration, skills and confidence to create a more rewarding relationship with your horse.

Finally, drop your head so that it hangs down from your shoulders (note the increased weight on your hands), and move your knees back so they’re positioned behind your hips. This is an example of a horse that has been pushed into a low headset. With the head lower than his topline, the horse can not engage the hind legs. It forces his legs farther out behind him to accommodate his balance. There’s now more weight in the front end than the hind end, commonly referred to as “on the forehand” or “downhill balance.”

Now attempt to lift your upper body to lope off. There’s more weight and more effort on the front end, which means the horse is going to have difficulty doing athletic things.

“Feel how hard it is to get the front end up to lope off,” Lynn says. “If the rider sends (the horse) forward then pulls and sets the head, the horse keeps it down to avoid pain in the mouth. It forces more weight on the front, and the horse can’t do so. It can become a vicious circle if the rider has to use more aids to get the horse to do the maneuver and instilling forceful aids.

“The anatomy of the horse allows collection one way, and that is in an uphill balance. A horse will set his head and break at the poll naturally if a rider flexes the head correctly without bending the neck.

“If a horse is balanced, he is happy and will respond with lightness, relaxation and willingness.”