Heels down, chin up – well, if it were only those two things you had to master, Hunt Seat Equitation would probably be easy. But it is a very complex combination of seat, posture, cues, riding a pattern while presenting a horse as a Hunter horse. We have talked to two competitors who have successfully mastered this class for their advice.

It looks like a dance, two souls guided by an invisible bond – that is the ultimate goal in Showmanship. Whereas in other events, riders can rely on cues with their legs, voice, a bridle and the impact of shifting their weight in the saddle, Showmanship exhibitors only have a little chain – and ideally, it looks like they’re not even using that. But what does it take to create that picture? We have talked to a World class trainer, Jenny Jordan, and three successful European Amateur exhibitors about the first steps of the event and how to ultimately master that skilled dance that high-class Showmanship is.