Showmanship: Having the Right Posture

Posture is an extremely important part of showmanship and can really level up your performance in the ring. Having the right posture creates the uniform, professional look that the judges want to see.

The correct posture is straight and structured, but still relaxed. Your legs should be straight, without locking the knees. You want to make your stance somewhat narrow, so you may position your feet closer together than normal.

Remember to keep your head up and your shoulders back. You want to create a straight line from the top of your head to your feet. The arm holding your show stick should also be in line with your upper body as much as possible—this allows you to create more space between you and your calf.

If you have trouble correcting your posture, Jon recommends finding another showman who has good posture and mimicking them. Eventually, you’ll build your muscle memory and good posture will come naturally to you when showing.