At the start of the in hand show class the horses and ponies enter the ring and proceed to walk clockwise around the ring one after the other with the handler on the outer side (left side) of the horse or pony. The horse or pony is always nearest to the judge during in hand showing so that the judge always has a clear view of the horse or pony. Horses and ponies should be well spaced apart so as not to interfere with or unsettle each other should one misbehave. The judge will be looking for a long, free striding walk so if showing a horse avoid entering the ring behind a small pony that will be walking slower and restrict the pace of the horse. If the horse or pony begins to get closer to the horse or pony in front, then walk into the corners of the ring rather than cut the corners, to make the gap in front bigger.
After a while the steward or judge will then stop a horse or pony being walked around the ring and ask others to stop behind it. The first horse or pony is then trotted around the ring to the back of the other competitors. The trot should be active and free moving requiring the handler to run fast, particularly when showing large horses in hand. However the horse or pony should not break into canter. The next horse or pony will then be asked to trot around the ring until it reaches the back of the other competitors and this is done for all horses and ponies in the in hand class.
Once all horses and ponies have been trotted around the ring individually, the whole class is asked to continue to walk around the ring. It is best to wait until the horse in front has taken a few strides before proceeding to walk to ensure a space is left between each horse and pony. The steward or judge will then beckon individual horses or ponies, one by one, into a line up in the centre of the ring. Therefore it is important to keep one eye on the steward whilst walking around so as not to miss being called into the line up.
Each horse or pony is then individually called forward to stand before the judge so that the the judge can have a good look over horse or pony.
The horse or pony is then required to perform an individual show. The individual show consists of walking away from the judge in a straight line, turning around and then trotting back to and past the judge in a straight line. This should be achieved by walking a straight line with the handler on the left side of the horse or pony, veering off slightly towards the left before turning right with the handler on the outside so that the horse or pony is always closest to the judge, and then returning onto the straight line to the judge and asking for trot. The trot should then be maintained in a straight line heading straight towards the judge. The judge will step out of the way as the horse or pony approaches and the trot should be maintained on the straight line after passing the judge, as the judge will step back into place to watch from behind as the horse or pony is trotted away. The horse or pony should then continue to be trotted around to the back of the line up, brought back down to walk and return to its position in the line up.
The next horse or pony will then be called foward to be presented to the judge.
Once each horse or pony has performed its individual in hand show the class will be asked to walk clockwise around the ring again with the handler on the outside. The steward or judge will then beckon individual horses or ponies, one by one, into a line up in the centre of the ring for the final placings and award of rosettes.
