The back up can be a tricky maneuver to teach, but when done correctly it can add a lot of style to your showmanship pattern. We will go over how you can school to back up to keep your horse straight & moving off of your body rather than your hand.
Work on having your horse respect your personal space. When you start to move towards them, they should move away from that pressure. A lot of people want to go straight to their hand & the chain to get their horse to back up, instead think about what their shoulders are doing. By backing them up off their shoulders rather than their chin, you will be able to accomplish a lighter & straighter back up.
When you come across a trot to walk transition in your showmanship pattern, there may be more to that transition than what you read on paper. Your showmanship pattern should flow like a dance and follow a consistent tempo. Don't let this transition be a hiccup in your dance, smooth it out with these tips to seamlessly go from one gait to another.
Square corners can be challenging, so here is an exercise you can do with your horse to improve this maneuver. I like to see a horse execute a square corner as it would with a rider- slight bend through its body, shoulders up, & a straight spine before & after the corner. This can be more challenging to teach from the ground though. By practicing this drill, you will be teaching your horse that the chain is not only connected to their chin but also the rest of their body. By pulling them to the side behind you, you are asking your horse to move its shoulders and rib cage over in a side pass motion. The goal is to teach your horse to keep their shoulders up through the square corner, rather than leaning into the corner.
The set up is the presentation of your horse, so you want to make sure they look their best. Not only should their feet be square, but their legs should also come straight down from their body. Make sure you are presenting them in a flattering manner. Work on being able to move their feet where you want them, not just to a square position. Excellent foot control comes from a lot of practice, so don't be afraid to repeat this exercise many times throughout your practice sessions. In this video you should gain a better understanding of the set up and how to improve this skill with your horse.
The showmanship set up is a key maneuver that you will perform at least twice in the course of a pattern. The key to having a good showmanship set up is to gain excellent control of your horse's feet. Focus on moving your horse's foot where you want it to go, not necessarily just to the correct potion. Find a rhythm with your horse and try to keep the set up to 2-3 foot movements.