Showmanship / Mulemanship / Donkeymanship
These classes are judged on the exhibitor’s ability to fit and show the mule or donkey. These classes have proven to be highly competitive and advocate that exhibitors learn the proper way to present their animals to the judge and the public.
189 Showmanship at Halter
A. Showmanship at Halter shall be judged strictly on the exhibitor’s ability to fit and show a mule or donkey at halter. The animal is merely a prop to demonstrate the ability and preparation of the exhibitor. The ideal showmanship performance consists of a poised, confident, neatly attired exhibitor leading a well groomed and conditioned animal that quickly and efficiently performs the requested pattern with promptness, smoothness, and precision. The showmanship class is not another halter class and should not be judged as such.
B. Posting of Patterns: It is mandatory that the judge post the pattern he/she will ask for
C. Class Routine: All exhibitors may enter the arena and then work individually or each exhibitor may be worked from the gate individually. When exhibitors are worked individually from the gate, a working order is required. The following maneuvers are considered acceptable: Lead the animal at a walk, jog, trot, or extended trot, or back in a straight or curved line, or a combination of straight and curved lines; stop; and turn 90 (1/4), 180 (1/2), 270 (3/4), 360 (full turn) degrees or any combination or multiple of these turns. The judge must have the exhibitors set the animal up squarely for inspection sometime during the class.
D. Scoring:
APPEARANCE OF THE MULE/DONKEY: Condition and thriftiness: Grooming: The hair coat should be clean and well groomed. The mane, tail, foretop and wither tufts should be free of tangles and clean. It is prohibited to use any ornaments on the animal. Manes, tails, foretops and wither tufts may be English braided or manes may be Western banded if the exhibitor desires. Hooves should be trimmed properly. If shod, shoes must fit properly and clinches should be neat. Hooves must be clean and may be painted or shown naturally. Trimming: Manes may be roached. Inside of ears may be clipped. Long hair on jaw, legs and pasterns should be clipped. Tack: Tack should be neat, clean in good repair. Proper fit of the halter is imperative. Silver halters should not count over a well fitted, clean and functional halter
APPEARANCE OF EXHIBITOR: Clothes and person are to be neat and clean. Appropriate western attire must be worn.
LEADING AND POSING ANIMAL: Leading - The exhibitor must lead on the animals left side holding the lead shank in the right hand near the halter with the tail of the lead loosely coiled in the left hand. It is preferable that the exhibitor’s hand not be on the snap or chain portion of the lead continuously. The excess lead should never be tightly coiled, rolled, or folded. When leading, the exhibitor should be positioned between the eye and mid-point of the animal’s neck, referred to as the leading position. The position of the exhibitor when executing a turn to the right is the same as the leading position except that the exhibitor should turn and face toward the animal’s head and have the animal move away from them to the right. When executing a back, the exhibitor should turn from the leading position to face toward the rear of the animal with the right hand extended across the exhibitor’s chest and walk forward beside the animal with the animal moving backward. Leading, backing, turning and initiating the set up should be performed from the left side of the animal. At no time should the exhibitor ever stand directly in front of the animal. The exhibitor should not touch the animal with their hands or feet, or visibly cue the animal by pointing their feet at the animal during the set up. Posing - When setting the animal up for inspection, the exhibitor should stand angled toward the animal in a position between the animal’s eye and muzzle, and should never leave the head of the animal. The exhibitor should maintain a position that is safe for them and the judge The position of the exhibitor should not obstruct the judge’s view of the animal, and should allow the exhibitor to maintain awareness of the judge’s position at all times. The exhibitor should not crowd other exhibitors when setting up side by side or head to tail. When moving around the animal, the exhibitor should change sides in front of the animal with minimal steps and should assume the same position on the right side of the animal that they had on the left side. Exhibitors should be poised, confident, courteous, and genuinely sportsmanlike at all times. He/she should be business-like, stand and move in a straight, natural, and upright manner, and avoid excessive, unnatural, or animated body positions.
PERFORMANCE The animal should be led directly to and away from the judge in a straight line and track briskly and freely at the prescribed gait. The animal’s head and neck should be straight and in line with the body. The stop should be straight. prompt, smooth and responsive with the animal’s body remaining straight The animal should back up readily with the head, neck and body straight. When turning the animal to the left 90 degrees or less, the animal should be turned to the left. On turns greater than 90 degrees, the ideal turn consists of the animal pivoting on the right hind leg, while stepping across and in front of the right front leg with the left front leg. An exhibitor shall not be penalized if their animal performs a pivot on the left hind leg,
191 Western Mulemanship/ Donkeymanship
A. The western Mulemanship/Donkeymanship class is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional, and fundamentally correct body position. The ideal Mulemanship/ Donkeymanship pattern is extremely precise with the rider and animal working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues.
B. Class Routine:
1. All exhibitors must enter the ring and then work individually or each exhibitor may be worked form the gate individually. The following maneuvers are acceptable in a pattern: walk, jog, trot, extended trot, lope, or extended lope in a straight line, curved line, serpentine, circle, or figure 8, or combination of these gaits and maneuvers; stop; back in a straight or curved line; turn or pivot, including spins and rollbacks on the haunches and/or on the forehand; sidepass, two track, or leg yield; simple change of lead; counter canter or ride without stirrups. Judges should not ask exhibitors to mount or dismount.
C. Judging Considerations-Position of Rider:
1. Seat and legs - The exhibitor should appear natural in the seat and ride with a balanced, functional, and correct position regardless of the maneuver or gait being performed. The rider should sit in the center of the saddle with legs hanging to form a straight vertical line, from the ear, dropping down through the center of the shoulder and hip, touching the back of the heel. stirrup length should allow heels to be lower than toes, with a slight bend in knee and the lower leg directly beneath the knee. Body should always appear comfortable, relaxed and flexible, and back should be nearly flat. The shoulders should be back, level and square. Stiff and/or arched lower back should be avoided. Feet may be placed home in the stirrup, with boot heel touching the stirrup, or may be placed with ball of foot in the stirrup. Riding with toes only in stirrup will be penalized.
2. Hands - Both hands and arms should be held in a relaxed easy manner, with shoulder back and down, and upper arm in a straight line with the body. The arm holding the reins bent at elbow forming a straight line from elbow to the animal’s mouth. The free hand and arm may be carried bent at the elbow in a similar position as the rein hand, or straight down at the rider’s side. When using a romal, the rider’s off hand shall be around the romal with at least 16 inches of rein between the hands. Wrists are to be kept straight and relaxed, with thumb on top and fingers closed around the reins. One finger between the reins is permitted when using split reins, but not the romal Some movement of arm is permissible, but excessive pumping will be penalized. Reins are to be carried immediately above or slightly in front of the saddle horn. Only one hand is to be used for reining, and hand shall not be changed. (EXCEPTION: animals being shown with a hackamore or snaffle bit.) Reins should be carried so as to have light contact with the animal’s mouth and at no time shall reins be carried more than a slight hand movement from making contact with the bit. Excessively tight or loose reins will be penalized.
3. The rider’s head should be held with the chin level and the eyes forward, and may be directed slightly toward the direction of travel.
4. Rider should sit both the jog and extended jog and remain seated at the lope. The rider should maintain a vertical and secure position at all gaits. All movements of mule should be governed by the use of imperceptible aids. Exaggerated shifting of the rider’s weight is not desirable.
These classes are judged on the exhibitor’s ability to fit and show the mule or donkey. These classes have proven to be highly competitive and advocate that exhibitors learn the proper way to present their animals to the judge and the public.
189 Showmanship at Halter
A. Showmanship at Halter shall be judged strictly on the exhibitor’s ability to fit and show a mule or donkey at halter. The animal is merely a prop to demonstrate the ability and preparation of the exhibitor. The ideal showmanship performance consists of a poised, confident, neatly attired exhibitor leading a well groomed and conditioned animal that quickly and efficiently performs the requested pattern with promptness, smoothness, and precision. The showmanship class is not another halter class and should not be judged as such.
B. Posting of Patterns: It is mandatory that the judge post the pattern he/she will ask for
C. Class Routine: All exhibitors may enter the arena and then work individually or each exhibitor may be worked from the gate individually. When exhibitors are worked individually from the gate, a working order is required. The following maneuvers are considered acceptable: Lead the animal at a walk, jog, trot, or extended trot, or back in a straight or curved line, or a combination of straight and curved lines; stop; and turn 90 (1/4), 180 (1/2), 270 (3/4), 360 (full turn) degrees or any combination or multiple of these turns. The judge must have the exhibitors set the animal up squarely for inspection sometime during the class.
D. Scoring:
APPEARANCE OF THE MULE/DONKEY: Condition and thriftiness: Grooming: The hair coat should be clean and well groomed. The mane, tail, foretop and wither tufts should be free of tangles and clean. It is prohibited to use any ornaments on the animal. Manes, tails, foretops and wither tufts may be English braided or manes may be Western banded if the exhibitor desires. Hooves should be trimmed properly. If shod, shoes must fit properly and clinches should be neat. Hooves must be clean and may be painted or shown naturally. Trimming: Manes may be roached. Inside of ears may be clipped. Long hair on jaw, legs and pasterns should be clipped. Tack: Tack should be neat, clean in good repair. Proper fit of the halter is imperative. Silver halters should not count over a well fitted, clean and functional halter
APPEARANCE OF EXHIBITOR: Clothes and person are to be neat and clean. Appropriate western attire must be worn.
LEADING AND POSING ANIMAL: Leading - The exhibitor must lead on the animals left side holding the lead shank in the right hand near the halter with the tail of the lead loosely coiled in the left hand. It is preferable that the exhibitor’s hand not be on the snap or chain portion of the lead continuously. The excess lead should never be tightly coiled, rolled, or folded. When leading, the exhibitor should be positioned between the eye and mid-point of the animal’s neck, referred to as the leading position. The position of the exhibitor when executing a turn to the right is the same as the leading position except that the exhibitor should turn and face toward the animal’s head and have the animal move away from them to the right. When executing a back, the exhibitor should turn from the leading position to face toward the rear of the animal with the right hand extended across the exhibitor’s chest and walk forward beside the animal with the animal moving backward. Leading, backing, turning and initiating the set up should be performed from the left side of the animal. At no time should the exhibitor ever stand directly in front of the animal. The exhibitor should not touch the animal with their hands or feet, or visibly cue the animal by pointing their feet at the animal during the set up. Posing - When setting the animal up for inspection, the exhibitor should stand angled toward the animal in a position between the animal’s eye and muzzle, and should never leave the head of the animal. The exhibitor should maintain a position that is safe for them and the judge The position of the exhibitor should not obstruct the judge’s view of the animal, and should allow the exhibitor to maintain awareness of the judge’s position at all times. The exhibitor should not crowd other exhibitors when setting up side by side or head to tail. When moving around the animal, the exhibitor should change sides in front of the animal with minimal steps and should assume the same position on the right side of the animal that they had on the left side. Exhibitors should be poised, confident, courteous, and genuinely sportsmanlike at all times. He/she should be business-like, stand and move in a straight, natural, and upright manner, and avoid excessive, unnatural, or animated body positions.
PERFORMANCE The animal should be led directly to and away from the judge in a straight line and track briskly and freely at the prescribed gait. The animal’s head and neck should be straight and in line with the body. The stop should be straight. prompt, smooth and responsive with the animal’s body remaining straight The animal should back up readily with the head, neck and body straight. When turning the animal to the left 90 degrees or less, the animal should be turned to the left. On turns greater than 90 degrees, the ideal turn consists of the animal pivoting on the right hind leg, while stepping across and in front of the right front leg with the left front leg. An exhibitor shall not be penalized if their animal performs a pivot on the left hind leg,
191 Western Mulemanship/ Donkeymanship
A. The western Mulemanship/Donkeymanship class is designed to evaluate the rider’s ability to execute a set of maneuvers prescribed by the judge with precision and smoothness while exhibiting poise and confidence, and maintaining a balanced, functional, and fundamentally correct body position. The ideal Mulemanship/ Donkeymanship pattern is extremely precise with the rider and animal working in complete unison, executing each maneuver with subtle aids and cues.
B. Class Routine:
1. All exhibitors must enter the ring and then work individually or each exhibitor may be worked form the gate individually. The following maneuvers are acceptable in a pattern: walk, jog, trot, extended trot, lope, or extended lope in a straight line, curved line, serpentine, circle, or figure 8, or combination of these gaits and maneuvers; stop; back in a straight or curved line; turn or pivot, including spins and rollbacks on the haunches and/or on the forehand; sidepass, two track, or leg yield; simple change of lead; counter canter or ride without stirrups. Judges should not ask exhibitors to mount or dismount.
C. Judging Considerations-Position of Rider:
1. Seat and legs - The exhibitor should appear natural in the seat and ride with a balanced, functional, and correct position regardless of the maneuver or gait being performed. The rider should sit in the center of the saddle with legs hanging to form a straight vertical line, from the ear, dropping down through the center of the shoulder and hip, touching the back of the heel. stirrup length should allow heels to be lower than toes, with a slight bend in knee and the lower leg directly beneath the knee. Body should always appear comfortable, relaxed and flexible, and back should be nearly flat. The shoulders should be back, level and square. Stiff and/or arched lower back should be avoided. Feet may be placed home in the stirrup, with boot heel touching the stirrup, or may be placed with ball of foot in the stirrup. Riding with toes only in stirrup will be penalized.
2. Hands - Both hands and arms should be held in a relaxed easy manner, with shoulder back and down, and upper arm in a straight line with the body. The arm holding the reins bent at elbow forming a straight line from elbow to the animal’s mouth. The free hand and arm may be carried bent at the elbow in a similar position as the rein hand, or straight down at the rider’s side. When using a romal, the rider’s off hand shall be around the romal with at least 16 inches of rein between the hands. Wrists are to be kept straight and relaxed, with thumb on top and fingers closed around the reins. One finger between the reins is permitted when using split reins, but not the romal Some movement of arm is permissible, but excessive pumping will be penalized. Reins are to be carried immediately above or slightly in front of the saddle horn. Only one hand is to be used for reining, and hand shall not be changed. (EXCEPTION: animals being shown with a hackamore or snaffle bit.) Reins should be carried so as to have light contact with the animal’s mouth and at no time shall reins be carried more than a slight hand movement from making contact with the bit. Excessively tight or loose reins will be penalized.
3. The rider’s head should be held with the chin level and the eyes forward, and may be directed slightly toward the direction of travel.
4. Rider should sit both the jog and extended jog and remain seated at the lope. The rider should maintain a vertical and secure position at all gaits. All movements of mule should be governed by the use of imperceptible aids. Exaggerated shifting of the rider’s weight is not desirable.