Eyes on the Prize
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Seeing the Path to Success
by Erica Greathouse
Eye contact is an important aspect of nearly every interaction in our lives. Whether we are meeting someone new, interviewing for a job, or driving down the road, our eyes play a vital role in helping us exude confidence, make good first impressions, and navigate traffic. When showing horses, the strategic use of an exhibitor’s line of sight is vital to success. In order to investigate the role this plays in different disciplines, we interviewed top industry professionals and asked them to share their tips for success.
Lainie DeBoer: Over Fences and Hunt Seat Equitation
Lainie DeBoer, AQHA Specialty Over Fences judge and AQHA World Champion trainer and exhibitor, often educates carded judges to help broaden their knowledge about Over Fence classes. DeBoer stresses that the way exhibitors use their eyes while navigating a course or pattern is imperative to their success in the show arena. Exhibitors who properly use their eyes are able to be proactive during their ride and make adjustments when necessary. “The eyes tell the body how to react to what’s going on and what’s about to go on. Regardless of the event, the eyes help exhibitors choose and modify the line of travel based on what’s happening during the ride,” DeBoer says.
According to Lainie, an exhibitor’s eyes can help them modify their track and make the decision either to shorten or lengthen their horse’s stride when necessary. “In Jumping classes, there’s a lot of depth perception involved to find a take-off point and achieve proper position to take off for the next fence,” she says. Exhibitors should use their eyes to find the middle of the jump and help to gauge the proper take-off point. “Keeping your eyes focused helps you over the top of the jump, aids in keeping the horse straight, keeping your body straight, and will help dictate your track to the next fence,” she says. When an exhibitor’s eyes are fixed on a planned focal point, the exhibitor will be cueing his or her horse to go straight in line with their body, since the eyes and body language are directly connected. Additionally, she says exhibitors can use their eyes to look ahead and create forward motion. “If your eyes are forward and you give yourself a destination, you will create a more forward pace, keep your horse in front of your leg, improve your horse’s motion from behind, and be able to be the eyes for your horse as you guide him/her around the course. Contrarily, keeping your eyes down will result in your horse being behind your leg, which can cause loss of pace and many other potential complications during the course,” she says.The most likely way to hit something is to stare directly at that object and, for that reason, it’s important to look ahead while on course. “When you’re riding a bike and there’s a rock in the middle of the road, you may tell yourself you’re not going to hit that rock. But, you will hit it, because you’re staring down at it. Your path is dictated by your eyes, and you’re going to go where you’re looking,” says DeBoer.
In addition to keeping eyes up and forward, it’s important to look into the corners and not cut them off, since the corners are where riders are able to get organized for the next line. “Remember that the corners and the ends of the ring are where it all happens. You can do a lot of planning and adjusting at the end of the ring. Always look for a focal point on the backside as a destination and that will help you get deeper into the corners, thus giving you more time to plan for the next line,” she says. DeBoer says one of the most underutilized aids in Over Fence classes is the use of peripheral vision. “By opening up your field of vision, you will have a clearer and more detailed picture of your surroundings. Upon examination of the whole picture, you will be able to think a few steps ahead and plan your next move,” she says.
DeBoer encourages exhibitors to work on refining their eyes at home. One of her favorite exercises for eye work involves placing four rails evenly spaced in a circle. Then, she has a student stay on the circle and pop over each rail while using their eyes to look to the next rail. “I find this exercise not only helps acclimate riders to using their eyes to look ahead, but it also encourages them to feel what’s going on underneath them. The body is in the present, and the eyes must be looking to the future,” says DeBoer.
In Hunt Seat Equitation, DeBoer looks for a rider who is natural and doesn’t appear manufactured. “An effective rider will look controlled, workmanlike, and ready to mitigate any situation that goes awry. Top exhibitors aren’t riding in the moment; they’re using their eyes to be ahead of the moment,” she says. According to DeBoer, nodding to the judge at the beginning of a pattern is unnecessary. She says, “If you need to keep an eye on the steward as to when you must proceed, that’s one thing, but a nod and smile is not something that has to be done. I want the rider to be so focused on feeling what’s underneath them. The judges know when the pattern starts and ends. When exhibitors pay close attention to their ride and their horse, the outcome is usually favorable.”
When executing circles, she recommends exhibitors use their eyes to look ahead and around the circle. “Wrenching the neck in any maneuver is unnatural and unnecessary. Instead, look where you’re going and your horse will respond to your body position. The same ‘less is more’ rule applies to forehand and haunch turns. A maneuver should never look forced. Any body or eye movement that appears overly dramatic or ‘theatrical’ will interfere with the pattern and overall picture presented to the judges,” she concludes.
Jeffery Gibbs: Western Pleasure
Jeffery Gibbs, Multiple APHA World Champion Western Pleasure trainer and exhibitor, considers the use of an exhibitor’s eyes to be crucial in order to have a successful ride, even while on the rail. “While showing, it’s important to use your eyes to be aware of how the rest of the class is showing,” Gibbs says. By looking around, it’s possible to assess the speed of the class and make adjustments to one’s ride depending on the traffic and pace of the other horses in the pen. “If the class is going fast and you’re getting passed, you might want to pick up your pace. Contrarily, if you’re the one passing a lot of horses, you might want to slow down, if possible,” he says. Use of the eyes allows for awareness of traffic in the arena, creation of rail space during the class, and attention to where the judges are looking. Gibbs says, “It’s important to use your eyes to watch the judges to see if there is a spot in the arena where you can check in with your horse and make sure they’re rating. You should also use your eyes to rate off the horses in front of you and use what you see to make plans if you need to pass.”
Exhibitors should remember that the flow of traffic in the arena is always changing. “If you look down, you might be surprised by what can happen around you. Always keep your head on a swivel. That way you’re aware of what’s happening and you will be able to be proactive about your ride,” he says. When everything is going as planned, Gibbs recommends exhibitors keep their eyes to the outside of the horse in front of them or the rail in front of them in order to help their horse stay on the rail.
Whether it’s acceptable to look at the judges while showing is a controversial topic with many differing opinions. According to Gibbs, there is no need to make eye contact with the judges while showing in Western Pleasure. “When going down the rail, look pleasant and maintain a straight path for your horse. It’s okay if you happen to make eye contact with the judges, but don’t stare. If you’re having a good ride, sit up tall, put your hand forward, and be confident. The rest will fall into place,” he says.
Alisa Bernhard: Over Fences, Hunter Under Saddle, and Hunt Seat Equitation
Alisa Bernhard, multiple APHA, ApHC, and AQHA World Champion, has successfully competed and coached youth and amateur riders to many prestigious awards in all-around events. Bernhard stresses that exhibitors who use their eyes properly not only have cleaner patterns and more accurate jumping rounds, they also show confidence and let the judges know they are in control and are making active decisions throughout their ride.
In Over Fence classes, Bernhard emphasizes that exhibitors should use their eyes to help them be more accurate. “If you deviate from your intended plan, keeping your eyes up will allow you to fix a mistake that might get away from you,” she says. Bernhard suggests exhibitors look deep into the corners and complete each line. She says, “Using the corners properly will lead to a better-organized approach to the next line.” Since Over Fence classes require such a forward pace, it can be easy to look too late or too early when approaching a fence, which can lead to overshooting or undershooting the intended line. For this reason, it’s important for exhibitors to practice being able to rely on their eyes to help them make adjustments and see distances further back. “Learn to draw imaginary straight lines with your eyes from the corner straight through the middle of both jumps in the line until it hits the other corner. That’s your ideal line. As you’re approaching a line, remember to look at the middle of the first jump,” she says. Additionally, Bernhard acknowledges that it’s important for exhibitors to keep their head and neck slightly turned in their direction of travel in order to allow the eyes to see the bigger picture, especially when making turns. “If you turn your head too much, you’re going to cut your corners, but if you don’t turn your head at all, you will get left behind. No matter what, do not drop your chin, as this can result in loss of pace and a stronger likelihood of chipping the jump,” she says. “Each jump has a beginning and an end. Land the jump, look into the corner, and then regroup and plan for the next fence. Don’t not rush or look too early.”
In Hunter Under Saddle, Bernhard recommends exhibitors use their eyes to be aware of their surroundings. “You have to be aware of your traffic since everyone is vying for the open space. If you stare down at your horse’s neck, you risk getting in a wreck, being stuck in traffic, and/or not getting your horse shown successfully to the judges,” she says.
In Equitation, Bernhard considers the judge’s first impression of the exhibitor to be a crucial element of the pattern. “In the beginning of the pattern, you should have your horse in frame, appear polished, and have your eyes up waiting for the cue to begin your pattern,” she says. A nod to acknowledge the signal to begin the pattern is unnecessary. “A crisp start to your pattern is credit-earning. Know your pattern, know where you need to focus your eyes, and keep your eyes up,” she says. One of the most common mistakes Bernhard sees is a rider looking down during turns and when backing up. “Stay up and stay confident. Looking down not only sends mixed signals to your horse, it also shows a lack of confidence to the judges,” Bernhard says.
Tim Kimura: Trail
Professional Trail course designer and clinician, Tim Kimura, also known as “Man of Trail,” designs trail courses for the AQHA and AQHYA World Shows, the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, NSBA World Show, European Championships, and many other major circuits in the United States, Europe, and Canada. Kimura believes it’s a rider’s responsibility to set their horse up for success by distinguishing focal points during the pattern in order to pursue the most favorable lines of travel while negotiating the approach and completion of each individual obstacle. “When I’m teaching beginners, I always tell them to aim at the ground about 4-6 inches in front of the first pole, which is the area I call the take-off line. By drawing a line in the dirt, this becomes the target your eyes should be aiming for as you approach the first pole. The moment a rider looks over the first pole, that translates the signal to jump, leap, or launch over that pole. For that reason, you should always try to keep your eyes in front of the first pole in order to prevent an early take-off. The next step is to aim at the center of each subsequent gap between the poles where the horse should land,” he says. Kimura refers to this area between poles as the “bucket.” He recommends exhibitors spend a half-second looking at each bucket. “You must look and aim at each bucket for a half of a second. This allows the horse to land the leg in the gap long enough to compress and release into a jump that’s high enough to go over the next pole,” says Kimura.
Tim stresses that being organized and precise with your eyes is important in order to maintain the proper ca-dence and rhythm needed to ne-gotiate each obstacle. “Take each gap one at a time. If you land in the center of the poles, your horse should have am-ple time and rhythm to place their feet evenly in each gap. If you look too far ahead, you’re unaware of what’s going on underneath you. You should be in the moment and take the obstacle one pole at a time,” he says. Kimura also stresses the importance of finishing each obstacle with your eyes. He states, “If you look up and ahead too soon, you risk hitting the last pole in the obstacle. For this reason, I often elevate the last pole in a combination, because it’s very telling as to who is completing each obstacle and who has moved on too quickly and given up the accuracy over the last pole.” In order to ensure that the horse has cleared the obstacle, it takes three extra footfalls on a walk-over, two extra footfalls on a trot-over, and one extra landing stride past the last pole on a lope-over. “I am a big believer that when a rider looks down, the horse goes slow and when the rider looks up, the horse goes forward. However, there’s nothing worse than a rider just staring down at the horse’s neck, because, in that case, the horse has no idea or direction as to where he should put his feet,” he says.
Some of the most common obstacles in which Kimura sees exhibitors misuse their eyes are the gate and the box. “As you’re working the gate and there’s a walk pole to negotiate, don’t stare at the pole while you’re backing. That will signal your horse to go forward and over the pole. Instead, finish backing up away from the gate by first saying ‘whoa’ and then look above your horse’s head to stop the forward motion. As you approach the pole, find the location on the ground where you want your horse’s front legs to step before going over the pole. If you look at the pole too early, you’re telling your horse to step over prematurely. It’s crucial not to initiate the turn over the pole until both front feet have cleared the pole. It’s important to keep aiming and motivating the front legs to continue forward so the back legs have a place to land. Make sure you to continue looking where you want your horse’s front legs to go or you risk hitting the pole or your horse’s legs getting tangled up,” says Kimura.
When turning in a box, vision placement is crucial. “If you’re looking down in the box, your horse will stay in the box. If you look at your horse’s head or outside the box, you’re signaling your horse to step out of the box. Your eyes control your body language,” he says. Kimura stresses that developing “trail eyes” takes a lot of practice. “Even if you don’t have a hundred poles to set up at home, just put one pole in the arena every day. Rating to one pole and taking different approaches to that one pole will teach you to find the take-off point and help to refine your eyes.”
Mike Hachtel: Western Pleasure
Mike Hachtel, APHA judge, APHA and AjPha Western Pleasure World Champion trainer, and APHA and NSBA Western Pleasure World Champion exhibitor, recognizes the need for exhibitors to use their eyes while competing in Western Pleasure. He says, “In Western Pleasure, it shows a high degree of difficulty to look straight ahead and show your horse. By looking ahead with confidence, you’re showing your horse to the judges and giving them a clear view to evaluate your performance.”
From a judge’s perspective, Hachtel doesn’t encourage heavy eye contact with the judges. However, he is quick to point out that there are different types of eye contact and some are more acceptable than others. “Making quick eye contact with a judge is acceptable when you’re subliminally tel-ling the judge ‘here is my horse and I’m ready,” but don’t stare. There’s a big difference between a secure and confident glance into the middle that says, ‘I’m knocking it out,’ and a glance that says, ‘I’m in trouble and things aren’t going well.’ Regardless of the situation, it’s never acceptable to stare. When I’m judging, if you stare at me the whole time, I feel like you are asking me if I know what I am doing and it makes me uncomfortable,” Hachtel says. Many exhibitors question if it’s acceptable to wear sunglasses during Western Pleasure. According to Hachtel, this practice doesn’t offend him.
Robert Dehn: Trail
Robert Dehn, APHA judge, international clinician, and trail course designer for the APHA World Show, AjPHA World Show, Appaloosa World and Nationals, and many major AQHA circuits believes the use of an exhibitor’s eyes starts long before they enter the show arena. “Before you even get on your horse, it’s your job as an exhibitor to use your eyes to fully study the pattern. When warming up, use your eyes to take in the pattern. What are the possible hazards? How can you best showcase your horse’s strengths? Make sure you make a detailed game plan,” he says.
Dehn compares an exhibitor riding a Trail course to a surfer catching a wave. “If you get too far ahead, the wave will crash over the top of you. If you plan too late, you will miss the wave. If you catch the wave, you need to be making minor adjustments to stay on the wave as you ride it to shore,” he says. In riding terms, this means it’s important for exhibitors to stay with the horse and make minor adjustments as they work through the course without getting too far ahead or too far behind the current obstacle.
It’s important for exhibitors to work to refine their eyes and aim to see their spots a stride or two out, so the approach to each obstacle can be controlled. A few common mistakes Dehn sees exhibitors make happen in chutes, boxes, and during transitions. “Follow your eyes to the place you want to stop. Don’t look down too soon or you will stop too early, and that often results in a penalty. The approach to each obstacle is just as important as the obstacle itself, and the two are ultimately connected. If an exhibitor has a poor transition, chances are the following obstacle won’t be credit-earning,” he says. Additionally, Dehn emphasizes the importance of “space and pace” while on course. “Using your eyes will help you gauge how fast or slow your pace is and how quickly the obstacles are approaching. Check in with yourself, and use your eyes to adjust accordingly. Since we use our body, seat, and eyes collectively to cue our horses, it’s important to use these aids in unison,” he says.
The experts agree, the way riders use their eyes can make or break the ride. With ample preparation, a game plan, many hours in the saddle, and proper utilization of their eyes, exhibitors will increase their chances of excelling in the show arena.
