Ok, I have to say that horsemanship is my worst class. I could really use a trainer, but I don't want to have to board my horse somewhere and pay a bunch of money.  Ok so heres what happens: I get soooo nervous! I have only done it a couple of times and its been only at walk trot. I'm doing loping this year and i'll be up there with the big guys. The pattern scares me! I can't remember it, and I just want to scratch the class everytime. I want to do it, i think I just need help being better at it. Kaz rushes, I think mainly because he knows i'm so nervous but he is good at it.

I think I need to be doing patterns at home, so maybe that would help if anyone has any patterns. I know that there are people on here that are experienced so...

Thanks for your help, Jesse

Cherry Hill has a great book of horsemanship patterns, but NOTHING is a substitute for working with a good trainer!  Find someone to come to you, or a barn to trailer into rather than boarding.

Remember to BREATHE.  Seriously, that can help you and Kaz relax, especially if you try to keep your breathing slow and match his pace to YOU, not you to him.

Patterns are nothing more than individual movements randomly strung together.  When you do work on your own, remember to practice each movement separately, otherwise your horse may start anticipating you. Pick different parts of the ring to start at.  Something like, "OK, we're going to pick up the lope by that clump of weeds and stop at that clump." 

When you're at a show, memorize each pattern in small parts rather than a whole.  It's a lot easier to remember something like, "I have only four things to do: 1) jog to cone  2) stop and back 4 steps  3) quarter turn to right 4) lope into lineup, running over the judge and 5 other riders."

See, not so bad in parts! 

You should be able to find someone in your area that will teach you without keeping the horse at their barn. A good coach will help in your confidence department.

Try to get the horsemanship patterns from your shows, take them home and practice. Have someone videotape you and then you can watch yourself and see what you are doing right and wrong.

Think delibert, controled and precise in your patterns, that is all its about.

Yes, you need to be working patterns at home to build up your confidence. Don't overwork them because your horse will either burn out or start to anticipate. Just make sure you switch the patterns around instead of working the same one over and over trying to get it perfect. You might be able to find a trainer that is willing to come to your place once a week or once every other week to give you lessons (or is willing to have you haul to their place to take lessons) since you don't need or want to board. It would really be helpful if you could find someone willing to do that. Plus, if you do, and build up a relationship with them then they will probably start letting you haul to shows with them or go to shows with you. You'll have "show fees" from the trainer then, but they can be really helpful with advice, between class horsecare and peptalks, and calming you down. I know a lot of the "big" QH trainers (at least in GA) have clients that only haul in once a week or occassionally to take lessons and then haul to shows with them, so you can find trainers willing to work that way...even at pretty high levels. What helps me with patterns at shows is to set up the pattern back in the stable area with brushes or whatever. Then "ride" it, horseless, over and over again. That way you ingrain the pattern in your head and build your confidence without overworking your horse.

Thanks a lot for the help. I will keep checking for a trainer, But I live in a VERY small town and not even my friends who are already in AQHA could find anyone worth paying their money for. I would really like to have a trainer to help me with all my classes. Ill keep looking but if you know anyone in TN that could help let me know.

 I always forget to breath! And I get so nervous. But Ill keep doing stuff at home to help

Thanks a lot, Jesse

Have you checked AQHA's 4ahorse.com trainer listing? I'd start with them since they are generally people training,showing,or judging the AQHA events. If there is no one on there close enough then pick the two or three closest and call them. They may have suggestions for you :) Also keep your eyes and ears open at shows and do some networking. If they are coming to shows close to you then they probably aren't too far and or know some people around you (unless these are HUGE shows).

We go to a trainer 60 miles away.  Not every week, but usually a couple of times before big shows.  Before really big shows, we'll board the horse there for a week or so, and try to get there every day for a lesson.

 Google Horsemanship Patterns and you'll find some on the internet.

The Cherry Hill book has 101 of them.

You can buy little practice cones to set out in your arena to set up patterns.  Take them with you to the show, and set them up in the practice arena.  They will have the patterns out well in advance of the class.  Usually first thing.  You will find other people doing the same thing, and they will also practice using your cones, just ignore it, and practice until you know it.

The key to Horsemanship, is to keep the pattern symetrical and even.  So, if your pattern calls for a loping circle to the right, and then lope a circle to the left, make each circle the same size.  It doesn't matter if it's a large or a small circle, just keep them the same.

KNOW the pattern before you go in the arena.  If there are several different Horsemanship classes using different patterns, DON'T watch them do them!  You might get confused!  If you have a question about the pattern, you can ask the ring steward to explain it to you.  Do this as early on as you can so you can practice the correct pattern.  Don't wait until you enter the ring to try to do the pattern the first time.

I think performance anxiety is the same, no matter what discipline you ride --- horsemanship, dressage, jumping, whatever.

I remember way back when, I used to enter 2ft 3 in jumping classes and one weekend somehow entered a 2ft 6in class. I was terrified as I walked the course and the jumps looked HUGE.

They say you should always school at home at one level above the level you're showing at (at least that's what they say about dressage, and I apologize for not knowing how it works with Horsemanship). But it comes down to, if you know in your mind that you could do it blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back (figuratively speaking, of course!) you won't suffer the anxiety in the show ring.

I agree that working with a trainer will really help you. But in addition, here's a couple of links to books that will help too.

101 Horsemanship & Equitation Patterns by Cherry Hill
http://horsebooksetc.com/index.php?p=product&id=10&parent=0

101 Arena Patterns
http://horsebooksetc.com/index.php?p=product&id=6&parent=0

Both of these will give you exercises you can work on at home, on your own, to help you build confidence.

Best of luck to you!

Someone replied that you should be practicing patterns at home.  I'm sorry but I disagree.  What you should be practicing are the "components" of patterns.  Practice the components... i.e. practice getting the absolute best straight line jog or practice getting the absolute perfect circle.... whatever, practice each component WITHOUT putting it into a pattern then you'll be ready for whatever is thrown at you and since you've practiced components, A. your horse won't be anticipating the next move and B. you've taught yourself a way to memorize the pattern more easily by breaking it down into components.  PLUS since you have practiced each component then your horse will be relaxed and confident when putting it together as a pattern and YOU'LL know that you and your partner horse are ready for whatever is coming.  If you cannot afford or don't want to pay for a coach or instructor then you could have someone video record your practice so you can see what needs improving.  Get other horse show friends to critique your video and go from there. 

ah, but you SHOULD practice putting those movements together, but in creative ways to keep your horse from anticipating. We do this in reining, we dont practice "patterns" per say, but we practice a string of movements(small slow circle to large fast then to lead change for example) However, I may do 20 circles before I swap leads, and then 15 small slows before I ask for a large fast.

Putting components of a pattern together are important in helping a "green" rider learn to think "Pattern". A person riding a pattern has to learn to think ahead.

I could practice individual elements until I was blue in the face and they were all perfect and I still would not be able to put together even a decient horsemanship pattern in the showpen. You have to learn to put these elements together seamlessly and the only way to do that is to put them together.

You don't want to practice the same pattern over and over again, because then your horse will learn to anticipate and you haven't really taught yourself much either. But you still want to practice stringing elements together (maybe only two or three at first or ever). Horsemanship isn't like reining where you have a limited amount of show patterns to choose from, that I suppose you could sit at home and route memorize if you chose (to your detriment) since judges are free to make up their own patterns on show day. So long as you don't ALWAYS pick up a left lead canter from a jog at cone two at home I don't see how your horse is going to anticipate the show pattern simply because you practice a variety of different patterns at home.

So long as you don't ALWAYS pick up a left lead canter from a jog at cone two at home I don't see how your horse is going to anticipate the show pattern simply because you practice a variety of different patterns at home.

 

Right but unfortunately this is often what happens with green riders who are practicing without a coach or instructor (and even sometimes then).  The point I was trying to make is that concentration on getting each component correct helps overcome a fear of the big picture because you know that you are capable of accomplishing each component.  And I would still say that you wouldn't want to practice a "pattern" but I agree that you have to join components and work to get a seamless flow one to the next.  But it's important to get your components correct individually.  No matter how seamless your transition from one component to the next you absolutely will not be successful if you ride your horse into an oval when the pattern calls for a circle or if your horse drops his shoulder or if your horse's pivot is more like a disengagement of the hind quarters.  You see what I'm getting at, I hope. 

LilDrmr,

 It won't matter HOW perfect your circles are if you have to stop between doing them if the pattern calls for no stops. 

You see, Horsemanship combines the elements and transitions into one class. 

And, symmetry and evenness matter, too.  It is better to have two "oval" circles (one left and one to the right) that are the same shape and size than to have one big left circle and one small right circle. 

Yes, you should practice the components.  But, yes, you should practice combining the components into a full pattern. 

There are an endless number of patterns that can be devised.  You could make up a new pattern every day for the rest of your life!  So, your horse won't anticipate if you change the pattern every day!  If your horse starts to anticipate that "something" will happen when he reaches a cone, put extra cones out, and just ignore them and ride past.  He'll learn to only listen to you, the rider, rather than try to read the cones.

 Edited to add:

And, learning patterns at home is practice for learning patterns at the show! 

I agree that practicing the whole pattern is not good.  Horses will learn them and learn to anticipate and rush.  I also agree with practicing the components of each pattern.  The whole point of a pattern is to see how you transition from one manuver to another.  So practice transitions at home, all over the ring not just on the rail.  In your case I would be looking for smooth changes from walk to trot and back to walk as well as stopping from a trot.  a nice balanced stop is something you should practice often, many can't do them well.  Uniformity in your pattern is also a must.  Don't do a circle on one side that is larger than the other in a figure 8.  It was a great suggestion someone made to walk a pattern on foot, especially at a show to help you learn it.  Practice doing straight lines in the middle of the arena and making sure your horse backs straight and without hesitation.  The only way to get over the nerves is to do it!  Remember, the judge has no idea if you are doing a great job or not, they have not seen your horse before.  They don't know if its a good day for you or not unless they are reading your face, so remember to look confident even if you make a small mistake.  The next person might make a worse one! 

The more you practice at home the more comfortable you will be in the ring, and video is a great tool if you can find someone to do it for you.

"Practicing the whole pattern is not good" ???

Sorry, guys, I'm not buying it.  Are you talking about at the show or at home?  You won't know what the pattern is going to be at the show until you get there.  Practice tougher patterns at home than you expect to see at the show.

Listen, my daughter's horse qualified for the World Show in Equitation.  That's the English version of Horsemanship.  You better believe they practiced "doing whole patterns".  If you don't practice "whole patterns" how do you know where you have a problem?  You set up a pattern.  Any pattern.  Attempt to do it.  Find the weak spots.  Work on the weak spots.  Start over, and do the whole pattern.  Then do a new pattern.  Maybe, the cones will be at the same place, but the PATTERN is different.  Maybe do several patterns.

When my daughter does Horsemanship and Eq patterns with her trainer, they set up 3 or so.  She does them over and over until she gets them right.  If there is weak combination, they'll do that combo several times, then tie it all together.

At the show, the pattern is posted or printed out in advance.  Get a copy, go to the practice arena, set up the cones and go do it.  If you try to go do one "cold" and compete against someone who has gone out and figured out all the tricky parts, you don't stand a chance.  Besides, if your horse is an experienced show horse, he'll learn the pattern with you, and he'll KNOW that he's supposed to counter-canter here, stop there, back up, etc.  He can help you out!