The Leadline class is a great place for young riders to start their show career. Learning how to win and lose at a young age is so important. I find it really helps young students, especially the competitive ones, handle subjective judging with grace when they don’t always place like they wanted to. Some open shows will give out first place to all competitors, but I personally feel it’s okay for them to learn how to win and lose at a young age. And let’s be honest, we face subjective judging our whole lives if we even try to put our foot in the world. It also helps them to learn the value of hard work when they get older, and how good it can feel to be rewarded for that hard work.
I noticed a few horse forums online asking, what exactly are they looking for in Leadline? So I thought I would answer that question. It depends on what breed of horse you’re competing in, but the Leadline classes usually contain kids between the ages of 3 – 8 years old. For POA they must be 6 years old or younger. The biggest thing the judge is looking for is how well the rider would do if they were riding on their own. If you are leading a very young rider who can’t quite help steer or kick the horse into a jog yet, it helps if the handler has a good feel of the horse so the cues are quiet. If the young rider is more experienced, they should be doing most of the work; cueing the horse for a jog, steering him around his reverse and especially backing up on their own if the judge asks each rider individually. The more control and composure the rider has, the better the placing will be.
Of course, while cueing the horse the rider must also maintain correct posture throughout the class. Attitude also goes a long way in a class full of adorable little people dressed like little cowpokes. Have your child smile at the judge when they approach, and have a friendly, upbeat attitude. A lot of times it’s the sassy cowgirls that place high because they make an impression with the judge. It helps to have the handler and rider dressed similarly to have a pleasing presentation to the judge, but not necessary at a smaller level show.
Leadline is a fun way to get your child started on showing horses with minimal pressure. You’ll find out if they really like the horse show environment enough to invest in more as they move to riding on their own. Enjoy being a team with them while you can!