A Quick Guide to the English Method of Showing Spanish and Lusitano Horses in the UK
County Shows
A few of the larger county-sized shows and the Royal Windsor Horse Show hold separate classes for PRE (Spanish) and Lusitano (Portuguese) horses. The majority of smaller shows may list the classes as Iberian which encompasses both breeds. This is a generic term which, strictly speaking is incorrect – however many people use this word to describe any horse, whether Spanish or Lusitano which originates from the Iberian peninsular.
Most small shows group the male and female horses inhand together. Occasionally the sexes may be separated if the numbers allow or the age groups divided i.e. 1-3 year olds and 4 years and older.
Ridden and Inhand Foreign Breeds Classes
Owners of Spanish and Portuguese horses can enter most Foreign Breed classes just check that there are no separate classes for these breeds. The classes require the horses to be judged alongside other breeds such as Morgans, Friesians, Norwegian Fjords, Haflingers, Trakehners, etc. In a Foreign Breeds class the judge will have to drawn on a wide spectrum of equine knowledge. He or she may be familiar with one particular breed more than any other. However, a good judge will be looking for a number of points which include the horses’ way of going, conformation, manners and possibly presentation and turnout if the class is to be ridden or can be presented in traditional tack and costume.
Inhand Presentation for a Breed Class
It is usual for showing classes to be held on a grass surface. The traditional practice of lunging and ‘running out’ a Spanish or Lusitano horse can be difficult, if not dangerous unless the going is good. It may also be the case that the judge is unfamiliar with this way of presenting the Spanish horse. Although some judges, especially those who attended the joint BAPSH and LBSGB judging seminar at Hartpury, will feel this is appropriate for the breed.
If the surface is slippery or the judge asks for the horse to be show in the typically English way one usually follows the judges’ instructions. Prior to bringing the horse forwards individually, the handlers lead the horses into the arena on the left rein and walk around the arena behind each other but giving lots of room between each horse.
Standing Squarely and a Forward Walk
Many of the horses may be stallions or youngsters with limited ring experience so care should be given to ensure everyone has enough room. The judge will direct the steward to ask for the horses to stand in a line-up whilst each horse is led out individually for inspection by the judge. The horse should be stood squarely with the handler in front of the horses’ head. The handler may then be asked to walk the horse away from their position, turn and trot back going past the judge and then returning to the line-up. This gives the judge the opportunity to see a good forward free walk and an elevated straight-moving trot. A judge will like to consider the walk and trot movement from as many angles as possible so time should be given to give the horse the best opportunity to show its’ extravagant movement. English judges often speak to the handler and may enquire how old the animal is, or, in a mixed breed class, whether the horse is a Lusitano or a PRE. After each horse has been seen, the handlers walk around the arena whilst the judge deliberates on the placings.
Keep an eye on the Ring Steward
The ring steward will then call in the winning horses, usually from 1st to 6th place where they are lined-up and presented with their rosettes by the judge. They will then trot around the arena before leaving. Quite often in the in-hand classes the presenters will be wearing traditional Spanish costume but this is not by any means mandatory.
Ridden Classes
In the ridden classes there may be a mixture of horses carrying English tack and Spanish or Portuguese tack and costume (but never combined on one horse!). This depends entirely on how the show schedule describes the class. If it states “English ridden class” then it is self-explanatory. Or the wording may say “can be ridden in correct costume appropriate to the breed” where the rider has the choice of English or Spanish/Portuguese costume. It may be described as a ‘costume class’ which again is self-explanatory.
Individual Show
The actual format is usually much the same as for the in-hand class, other than the rider must give an individual ridden show after having presented his horse to the judge. All the competitors ride around the ring in walk, trot and sometimes canter and may be asked to change the rein; the horses are then lined-up. They are brought forwards individually from the line-up and are given roughly 2 minutes to perform a ‘show’ for the judge before the next horse is presented. If time allows, some judges will reflect on the morphological (conformation) points whilst the horse is standing in front of him or her. The individual show should take into account the level at which the horse is able to work, according to his age, but should show no advanced movements unless the class is an advanced riding horse class. A figure-of-eight showing walk, trot and canter with a simple or flying-change is the normal requirement with perhaps some lengthened trot strides and finishing with a square halt and possibly a rein-back and salute in the vicinity of the judge.
Parade Class
A Parade class will be judged according to how the judge is directed by a breed representative or the show organizers. Given again, that they will most usually be riding on grass, safety is of paramount importance. Primarily, if the judge is familiar with the atmosphere of Spanish ferias or has visited an event such as Golega in Portugal, he or she may allow the competitors to convey the flamboyancy and ‘joie de vivre’ of the horses.
Main Arena
These classes often take place in the main arena of the showground where the maximum benefit to the viewing public can be gained. Riders are encouraged to perform the more advanced movements either as individuals or whilst riding around the arena as a group. The main ring commentator is often given a short resume of each horse which is read out to the public during the performances. The horses finish by lining up and receiving their rosettes and prizes.
Does Your Saddle Fit Your Horse?
How would you know if your saddle does not fit your horse? How could he tell you if he was uncomfortable? Would you recognise this only when he became nappy, awkward or downright dangerous or if he was uneven or worse still lame? Would you wait until the hair was rubbed, the skin became broken or sores appeared; would you notice any swelling? If your horse was young and being backed could you tell whether he was displaying unruly behaviour due to his new experiences or whether a saddle being used pinched him or simply did not fit?
Horses, like people, may tolerate difference amounts of discomfort and react accordingly. Some people exhibit a high pain threshold but carry on regardless of the pain; some are unable to continue without medication or removal of the root cause. The sensitivity of a horse, like a human, can also determine whether he can and will work regardless of whether he is feeling any pain.
Compare it to your shoes
Try walking in shoes two sizes too small, or with a strap which digs into your skin. Or, how would it feel if your shoes were slipping off at every stride, making it difficult to pick your feet up properly? Attempt to carry a rucksack or a bag in each hand. Endeavour to undertake all this and add being punished for a ‘crime’ like tripping or stumbling…. This can be compared to the treatment many horses have to endure when care is not taken to ensure a saddle fits correctly!
Albion Saddles
My saddles of choice for many years have been Albion dressage saddles plus Wintec G.P. and a treeless for new horses or horses with back-related problems. Last year I was introduced to a range of saddles designed by Peter Maddison-Greenwell specifically with the Spanish and Lusitano horse in mind. That is not to say that they are breed specific. Owners of native ponies, Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods have purchased an El Caballo saddle in preference to other makes; where the fit and comfort to the horse has proved these saddles to be superior.
El Caballo de Espana Saddlery
Peter has combined his years of experience training and producing horses with an instinctive feel for the correct fit of a saddle. He has considered the build and frame of the horse and the scope with which he needs to move so that he may carry a rider efficiently. Peter’s horses are able to work well into their late teens and early 20’s and produce physically exacting but correct advanced dressage work for public displays. They can only do so if the saddle takes into consideration their musculature and physique.
Peter’s saddles allow freedom of the shoulder, spine and loins and are balanced in every way. Added to this, he has introduced his unique flair and style to his range of saddles which sets them apart from many of their contemporary models.
Society of Master Saddles
The El Caballo de Espana saddles are produced by Ideal, a member of the Society of Master Saddlers and with over 30 years as a Walsall based manufacturer, they are highly regarded for their English quality and performance.
Young Horse – New Saddle
Even though my association and friendship with Peter goes back many years I did not automatically feel I had to buy one of his saddles when I was looking for a saddle for my new young horse. This horse was not difficult shape-wise but does possess a very sensitive temperament which relies on everything in his life being ‘just right’. Attempting to ride him with any element of his tack uncomfortable in ANY way, is simply not an option.
Balanced Saddles
I firstly tried one of the El Caballo saddles on my advanced horse who usually carries an Albion SLK. The difference in comfort (for me) was immediate and the balance, even without the saddle being properly fitted to this horse, highlighted how my usual Albion saddle was very slightly tipping me forwards. Not enough for most people to notice but under Peter’s analytical eye it sent me back to my saddler to have my Albion saddle re-flocked.
We then tried the El Caballo saddle on the young horse which confirmed my preference for Peter’s saddle. Any attempt by this horse to fling me skywards would be made slightly more difficult by enabling me to sit deeper and feel more secure without being ‘held’ in place.
German Designed Saddles
During this period I was also able to take the opportunity to act at a guinea-pig rider for a well-known German saddle manufacturer who has embarked on producing a new range of saddles for Spanish and Portuguese horses. We spent an afternoon with the company saddle designer and a popular South-East saddler and saddle retailer. Although I was impressed with SOME elements of some of the designs, I was unable to recommend one saddle which met with all of my criteria. I hoped my input could be helpful with the progress they were making with their newly designed range but I was grateful I could make the comparison with both the El Caballo range and the Albion dressage saddles.
Comfortable riding for you and your horse
When I ride my horses I need to feel comfortable.
When I ride my horses I need to know they are comfortable.
Saddle Fitting
I don’t want to have to ‘hoick’ my saddle back into position every time we travel around a corner, neither do I want to keep adding panels, layers of numnahs, shims, pads, gels, breast plates, cruppers or any other devices which keeps the saddle in place or which attempts to make it fit. It’s true to say that the conformation of a horse (or pony) can sometimes mean that some of these items may be necessary for a short period or that the horse is going through a transition weight-wise or is one-sided for some reason or another. But by and large I prefer that my saddles fit like a pair of comfortable shoes worn with cotton socks!
The El Caballo saddle certainly does this.
Do I need riding lessons on my horse?
The Unhappy Hacker
Before answering the question – do I need riding lessons? I thought about how far we have come in our vocabulary with regard to learning how to ride our horses once we have left the confines of the riding-school and own our own horse. No longer are we taught by teachers, we all have trainers – and not the ones which reside in the cupboard under the stairs! Even the word ‘instructor’ is rarely heard outside the British Horse Society but it all boils down to the same thing. Someone wants to learn, someone else can teach them.
West Spring Stud only recommends instructors who can actually teach you.
Over the years I have heard many stories with regard to teaching and learning – it’s important here to understand the maxim ‘teachers teach and pupils learn’. One story imparted to me spoke of a woman and her horse who received 3 years worth of lessons in walk. This must have suited all 3 members of this unit otherwise it would not have continued for so long. Perhaps the trot was a fearsome thing, perhaps the walk was never perfect – who knows, but one has to suppose that the pupil was learning and the teacher was teaching!
On the other end of the scale was the rider receiving instruction from a highly respected dressage teacher; he always chose to teach from the confines of the judges’ box. All very well in bad weather but when the pupil’s mother had to constantly wake him up during the lessons, one wonders how much instruction was being received?
West Spring Stud trainers deliver value for money.
So, this is all very well if you absolutely know you and your horse need to walk for 45 minutes, or that the mere presence of your trainer, even in a dormant condition, is enough for you to be able to magically acquire knowledge. But, even before we are receiving this expert level of instruction, for most of us there comes a point at which we realise we need to look round for help.
A friend once said to me “I’ve bought an unbroken pony and I’m going to break it in and school it”. “Marvellous” thought I – how lucky she is to be able to school that pony, until it dawned on me that she had never learned how to school any pony. Yes she rode, but she was a passenger on a pony which had been schooled by someone else. I asked her if she spoke fluent French, “no” was her response – so how would you teach somebody to speak French if you did not speak the language yourself? I feel the same notion applies to schooling ponies and horses.
Quite a few elements can come together in the decision to have lessons. For many of us we bob-along as happy hackers, blissfully unaware that the horse is actually having difficulty carrying us, or is simply not enjoying the experience. The horse goes forwards when he’s following his stable mate; he stops, especially outside the gate; he trots – sometimes much faster on the way home and he canters – especially on the way home. All-in-all we have a wonderful happy relationship – until the horse does not go any further than the gate or he canters all the way home ignoring hazards and our feeble attempts to wrestle him to a halt. This is riding on a wing-and-a-prayer and usually where we admit that the happy hacking is becoming a lot less happy. At this point the excuses NOT to ride begin and years of paying for a horses’ keep whilst someone else rides it, or worse still it languishes in the field, become the norm.
Learn to ride your horse safely and effectively, West Spring Stud is offering to help you.
But for the sake of riding lessons which will instill confidence and determine any obvious problems with teeth, tack, feeding, shoeing etc., the reins of control can be put back into the hands of the rider – where they belong. There is no shame in needing lessons – but there is shame in knowing you need lessons and in not looking for help.
Author: Lorri Ould Owner West Spring Stud
All content is copyright West Spring Stud 2010 unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced without written permission
Show me the way!
Showing your Spanish Horse
This year sees a greater number than ever of events at which to show your Spanish horse. Whether you have a youngster, part bred or you are looking for an introduction to show-riding or in-hand showing, the opportunities are endless. But, in this slightly cooler economic climate you may well be carefully considering just how far you will travel, as the price of a tank of diesel or petrol has now become a serious issue for most of us!
There is a growing recognition that the Spanish horse, especially in costume, makes for a wonderful attraction which entertains the public. Show secretaries are often unaware, until we arrive, just what an impact our horses make. Breeders may like to take this opportunity of a current swell of enthusiasm to generate an on-going interest in our horses. These shows are often the place where a non-Spanish horse person becomes excited at the beauty of the horses and decides to investigate further. Our British breeders are using these shows as a platform on which to show the quality of their stock.
There are guidelines, articles and excellent books, in addition to the information on the BAPSH website which will assist members who wish to show their horse in the correct tack and costume. The long-held traditions of the Spanish people regarding clothing and saddlery should be proudly preserved by anyone intending to emulate them. We must continue to work hard to ensure that our standards are as high in the U.K. as they are at the regional shows throughout Spain. Although there are no direct parallel examples of ‘showing classes’ in our traditional English way, the Spanish people take the business of displaying their horses very seriously and exhibit great attention to detail.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is usually very well attended, possessing the kudos of taking place on Her Majesty the Queen’s lawn. I have often wondered if there is the possibility that she may be ‘curtain twitching’…or worse still, actually peering over the top of her glasses at the side of the arena. To my knowledge, this has never occurred whilst I’ve been competing there, although I’ve had vivid nightmares in which I have spotted Her Majesty scrutinising my horse whilst he attempts to show his masculine credentials to all and sundry!
There is an obvious benefit of taking young or nervous horses (especially colts) to smaller, therefore quieter shows where they can be educated under less intimidating circumstances. This is possible at a show which includes Foreign breeds classes, usually both in-hand and ridden. On the other hand, (metaphorically speaking) the American horse shows offer the opportunity to show in a class where they positively encourage more ‘pizazz’. Again, we can use this to accustom a horse to an atmosphere in which the horse is unfamiliar but where exuberance won’t be disdainfully frowned upon. That is not to say real misbehaviour is tolerated. But for the handler or rider it is certainly less daunting. The viewers on the outside of the arena at American shows become very vocal, especially when all the horses are asked to canter and this often leads to unexpected explosions of ‘joie de vivre…’
On the whole, showing mares and geldings allows the rider to deal with less challenging behaviour, although not always. How refreshing it is to see the fairer sex and the less well-endowed proving their status in the final line-up at shows. A skilled judge will never fight shy of placing a mare or a gelding above a stallion in a mixed class, should the principles of that class demand it.
Author: Lorri Ould Owner West Spring Stud
All content is copyright West Spring Stud 2010 unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced without written permission