Amateur Handler: What is it?

30 Mar Amateur Handler: What is it?

By Lydia Chiasson

This year, the United States Dressage Association (USDF) created a new year end award – the Adequan®/USDF Handler of the Year Awards.  From their website, USDF states “Designed to recognize Junior/Young Rider and Adult Amateur handlers, as defined by USEF, in two separate divisions. Scores in this award category may be earned using one or more horses and must be from the USDF Amateur/Junior/Young Rider Handler scoresheets that are current at the time of the competition. Visit the USDF Member Guide for more information.” I was very excited to see this new award, as the Amateur Handler classes were something that I was already interested in because the National Dressage Pony Cup also does a year end award for this class.

What is the amateur handler class you might ask?  Don’t worry, I had that same question.  Some shows put on a section of classes known as Breed Show classes – and you might think that these classes are just for young horses, but that is a misconception.  There is a class division within the Breed Show classes known as Amateur Handler – and it is open to all Adult Amateurs and Junior/Young Riders, regardless of their horse’s gender or age!  The horse and rider combination are judged on presentation of horse to judge, neatness and appearance of handler, overall condition of horse, handling techniques, appropriate tack and equipment, demonstration of correct training and ability to show horse to the best of its ability.   This class presents both Adult Amateurs and Junior/Young Riders with an opportunity to learn how to handle horses for the Breed Show classes, but then to also show off their skills.

Having all this information, I was very excited to learn that our local show, The First Dance was, going to host this class during their show in March, so of course I signed up for it.  I wanted to share my experience of participating in the class as I think it is a great opportunity for us Adult Amateurs, but also the Junior/Young Riders. I hope that by sharing this experience, it will encourage more individuals to sign up for it at the upcoming Le Bon Temps licensed dressage show.  

If you have not participated in an in-hand class before, the preparation before the show is very important so that you understand how the class works, and how to present your horse in an appropriate manner.  There is a wonderful video produced by USDF titled “Introduction to Sport Horse In-Hand Classes” that is available on the USDF University (and also YouTube) that is about 15 minutes long and goes in depth on how to present the horse.  I highly recommend watching it multiple times prior to showing in an in-hand class.  In fact, that is one of the things that I felt where I may have missed in preparing for the class at The First Dance.  I watched this video several times last year, but did not in the weeks leading up to the show, and so forgot a few things.  No worries though – the judge (and show manager) were great and gave several helpful hints/reminders of how to present – like to stand my horse up so that she was facing the direction that we would be walking off around the triangle in.   At the end of the class, the judge called us back in and gave us some feedback on our presentations and what we could have done to improve – similar to the commentary riders get at the end of Equitation or Materiale classes.  

Some tips for those who are now intrigued enough to enter the class at the next show – wear sneakers (or at least well fitting shoes you can run in)! Also, practice running around your ring at home.  Running in the sand/dirt, especially in boots, is harder than you realize.  Also, you do not have to get fancy and buy a new outfit for this class – I showed in a pair of my white breeches and a conservative color sunshirt.  

I hope to see more folks competing in this class at the next show with me – entries should be opening up soon, so keep your eyes peeled.  For those that want a little more guidance on how to present horses in hand before diving into a show, I’ve also heard that Southern Eventing And Dressage Association might be hosting a Sport Horse Handling clinic later this year so keep an eye out for communication about that clinic also.