The 2015 IHSA Western Semi-Finals are this weekend and I'm looking forward to heading up to the Ohio State University this Friday with University of North Georgia western rider Jaime Nesemeier.
Jaime qualified for semi-finals by placing second at regional finals a couple weeks ago. If she places in the top four out of a possible sixteen riders in her division this weekend, she will advance to IHSA National Finals in May.
Needless to say, we are both very excited.
Today's blog post provides a link to all the potential western patterns the IHSA horsemanship riders may be asked to perform and gives my personal tips for successful completion of those patterns.
I know IEA western horsemanship riders don't currently perform western patterns in IEA competition, but those riders can still benefit from studying and practicing these patterns in anticipation of one day being IHSA western riders themselves.
IHSA Western Semi-Finals Horsemanship Patterns
Here is the link to the approved western semi-finals horsemanship patterns on the official IHSA website (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
http://ihsainc.com/events/western-semis
All possible patterns for the semi-final show are posted beforehand on the official IHSA website (and thank goodness for that because they are quite intricate!)
You will see there are five horsemanship patterns listed per class, with the exception of the advanced and open classes, which have a whopping thirteen potential patterns.
Each horsemanship class has sixteen riders, so they are run in two preliminary heats of eight riders each. Then the top eight of the original sixteen are called back for the final. The top four riders in the final advance to IHSA National Finals to be held in West Springfield, Massachusetts (the same venue where 2014 IEA Hunt Seat National Finals were held) this May.
From this list of approved patterns, the judges will select one pattern per class for the preliminary heat and one pattern per class for the final heat. The selected patterns will be posted the morning of the show.
All riders perform rail work and one of the patterns during their preliminary heat. Then the riders who are called back for the final perform additional rail work as well as another pattern in the final heat.
The judges also have the option of asking for additional testing after the riders have completed the rail work and pattern, such as switching horses or riding without stirrups.
The riders will draw a horse for their preliminary round, then the finalists will draw again for the final round. They will not ride the same horse they rode in the preliminary round unless they draw it again for the final class.
My rider, Jaime, will be competing in the Novice Horsemanship class. Here are the five patterns she may be asked to execute.
These patterns may seem a bit intimidating at first glace, especially considering the competitors will be performing them on horses they've never ridden before, but here are a few tips to make them seem a little more attainable.
1. Remember, everyone is in the same boat--Here is a little mental preparation to get you started. Sure the patterns are challenging, but remember that they are equally difficult for everyone. You've earned your spot at this level of competition and you deserve to be in that pen just as much as anyone else.
2. Keep breathing, take your time, and finish one maneuver before beginning the next. Break the pattern down into its component maneuvers and take your time. Give each maneuver adequate attention in the pen. Don't get ahead of yourself. For example, in novice pattern C, when performing the simple change, make sure you make it all the way down to the walk before asking for the new lead.
3. Think of horsemanship patterns like Mexican food. I love Mexican food. I probably eat at our local Mexican restaurant about once a week, and what I've found is that Mexican food is basically all the same ingredients put together in different combinations to make various entrees. It's all just a mix of beans, rice, cheese, meat, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and/or guacamole.
The same is true with horsemanship patterns. They are all just a bunch of simple maneuvers (straight lines, circles, serpentines, pivots, changes of gait, collection/extension within gaits, halt, back, etc.) put together in different combinations. Practice the individual maneuvers by themselves, then put them together to make a pattern. Seeing the patterns as just a collection of ingredients can make them seem a whole lot less overwhelming.
4. Be ready at the cone. This is a big pet peeve of mine when I'm judging. Be ready to begin your pattern when the rider in front of you finishes. Stand ready at the first cone and look at the back of the judges head so that when the judge looks in your direction you make instant eye contact and show that you are ready to go.
5. Know your back number. This is another pet peeve of mine. If the judge asks to rider 249 to step forward and go first, know if that's you, and if it is, get on that cone and go!
6. Show consistency in your pattern shape, speed, and rhythm. If the pattern has two extended jogs (novice pattern B), make sure that both jogs have the same speed and rhythm. If the pattern has two circles and one is supposed to be larger than the other (novice pattern C), make sure they have the same shape and that one is larger than the other. If the pattern calls for a regular lope and an extended lope (novice pattern E), make sure your extended lope shows a bigger stride than your regular lope
7. No matter how bad you think things are going, keep riding! This is a tough one for a lot of folks. Maybe you feel like you messed up your pattern right from the beginning and it causes you to change your whole demeanor, dropping your head, slouching, or not finishing your pattern with the confidence and ring presence you started with. Remember that these patterns are tough, and its rare for anyone to have a perfect go, so keep working through you pattern. Even if you make a mistake at the beginning you may be able to make up some lost points by riding well through the remainder of the pattern. If things are going really poorly and you feel like you need a re-ride, trust that your coach has your back and will make that call if necessary. Keep riding until the announcer tells you to stop.
For those of you who are going to semi-finals, best of luck! If you're attending the one at Ohio State, come by and say hello. I love meeting my readers :-)
If you're an IEA rider, ask your trainer to run through some of these patterns with you. It will improve your overall horsemanship and help prepare you for college riding.
Amanda Garner is an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), and Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) steward, schooling show judge, head coach of the University of North Georgia IHSA Equestrian Team, and owner of Epiphany Farm, LLC in Dahlonega, Georgia. She is also a member of the IEA Board of Directors and the author of "A Parent's Guide to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association."
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Thanks! --Amanda
