What is the difference between "Fitting and Showing" and "Showmanship"

Question

I am attending my first horse show on Saturday and they don't have any showmanship classes. Instead, there are fitting and showing. They have halter classes before those, but my sister is doing that. I am familiar with showmanship but just wanted to make sure they were the same thing.

Answer 1

I think it is probably close to the same thing but maybe more of an emphasis on grooming?  I have never heard it called that before but I have been to fitting and showing clinics where they teach you what to do to get your horse groomed for show and how to show.  I would treat it like showmanship and just pay extra attention to grooming.  Make sure your horse is turned out to the nines!

Answer 2

Fitting and Showing is often found in 4H shows, where the horse/rider team is judged 50% on grooming and condition of the horse and 50% on your pattern and handling of the horse (the showmanship part!).

You can expect to do your usual showmanship pattern  - just know that your grooming/clipping/banding or braiding job may be inspected quite closely.

If you are showing showmanship with a clean, well-fitted horse - you should be all set.