This book of patterns, provided by the Montana State 4-H Horse Committee, has been made possible through the generous support of HorseShowPatterns.com, a company that has designed and customized over 1,000 patterns for judges, show managers and contestants worldwide. All patterns herein have been selected and customized by the State 4-H Horse Committee to comply with Montana 4-H assessment level requirements. 

The patterns in this book are to be used solely and exclusively for Montana 4-H horse shows and for clinics sponsored by Montana 4-H. Patterns for uses other than Montana 4-H are available by subscription through HorseShowPatterns.com. 

Tips for pattern users:

  • These patterns are presented as ideas and options to consider for county and state 4-H horse shows in Montana. Use of these patterns is not required. 
  • Always check the pattern against the project assessment checklist found in horse project books to make sure it meets your expectations. The State 4-H Horse committee’s goal was to develop patterns that meet and do not exceed assessment requirements for individual levels. 
  • Some of the 90 degree, 180 degree, 360 degree, etc. turns are not designated as hindquarter or forehand turns, so show management can designate what kind of turn they would like to be executed in the pattern or use the patterns as is and leave the decision up to the contestant or judge to choose. 
  • Unless otherwise indicated, lead changes are simple lead changes.  Horsemanship Level 6, Colt to Maturity 5-Year-Olds, and Green Horse Level 4 can do flying lead changes. 
  • English Horsemanship riders Level 3 and up should ride the trot on the correct diagonal. 
  • In Hunter Hack patterns, only senior level exhibitors should hand gallop. 
  • There are pattern options for Colt to Maturity 2-Year-Olds and Green Horse Level 1, but show management may opt to just do rail work for this level. 
  • There are not specific patterns for English Colt to Maturity and Green Horse, but the existing Western patterns may be adapted to become English patterns with a change in terminology (change jog to trot, stop to halt, lope to canter, etc.).  
  • Ranch Horse patterns can be found in the Ranch Horse curriculum.
Thank you to the State 4-H Horse Committee for reviewing patterns and to Dr. David Denniston of HorseShowPatterns.com and his support of Montana 4-H that allows the Horse Committee to create a reference with his patterns for our state program! 

 

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack

Show Date:

This image is a diagram showing a riding course for a Hunter Hack event, featuring a sequence of fences set 48 feet apart. Riders are instructed to canter over the fences, then hand gallop to a marker, stop and back their horse about one horse length, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of a Z.

[HH/48-18]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack

Show Date:

This image is a diagram showing a riding course for a Hunter Hack event, featuring a sequence of fences set 48 feet apart. Riders are instructed to canter over the fences, then hand gallop to a marker, stop and back their horse about one horse length, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of an oval.

[HH/48-4]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack

Show Date:

This image is a diagram showing a riding course for a Hunter Hack event, featuring a sequence of fences set 48 feet apart. Riders are instructed to canter over the fences, then hand gallop to a marker, stop and back their horse about one horse length, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of an offset oval.

[HH/48-6]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack

Show Date:

This image is a diagram showing a riding course for a Hunter Hack event, featuring a sequence of fences set 48 feet apart. Riders are instructed to canter over the fences, then hand gallop to a marker, stop and back their horse about one horse length, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of a Z.

[HH/48-12]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack

Show Date:

This image is a diagram showing a riding course for a Hunter Hack event, featuring a sequence of fences set 48 feet apart. Riders are instructed to canter over the fences, then hand gallop to a marker, stop and back their horse about one horse length, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of a cone.

[HH/48-10]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack

Show Date:

This image is a diagram showing a riding course for a Hunter Hack event, featuring a sequence of fences set 48 feet apart. Riders are instructed to canter over the fences, then hand gallop to a marker, stop and back their horse about one horse length, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of a Z.

[HH/48-14]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack Junior

Show Date:

This image is a diagram for a Hunter Hack course where riders must canter over two fences spaced 48 feet apart. After the second fence, they are instructed to trot or canter to a marker, halt, back four steps, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of a triangle.

[HH/F%2048%20feet]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee

Montana State 4-H Horse Patterns

Hunter Hack

Show Date:

This image is a diagram for a Hunter Hack course where riders must canter over two fences spaced 48 feet apart. After the second fence, they are instructed to canter to a marker, halt, back one horses length, and drop the reins to signal completion. In the shape of a Z.

[HH/C%2048%20feet]

Pattern Provided by:

Montana 4-H State Horse Committee