At the halfway point of the show, everyone has started to settle into a rhythm. Exhibitors have become accustomed to the routine of schooling horses, cheering for friends, competing in classes, and riding the emotional highs and lows of horse showing. Trainers are fine-tuning their coaching, subtly adjusting cues or comments to result in peak performance from horse and rider alike. The full panoply of emotions can be observed by watching the show from a unique perspective - the vantage point of the "equine expression specialist."

The main goal of the "equine expression specialist" is to interest the horse sufficiently in some cue, whether a reflective screen or a box of grain, that it will put its ears forward long enough for pictures to be taken. This can be quite a challenge when horses and riders are "amped" from an exciting class or when a horse is unsure about a particular tool. Then the specialist must determine which tool to use and what angle to approach the horse to result in forward ears without scaring the horse. When the photographer is snapping multiple shots of different horses in victory passes, there is the balancing act of knowing when to switch cueing of horses so that they use their ears at the appropriate moment without spooking the other horses. In the process of working in the ring, the intricacies of showing become apparent.

In an amateur park class, the animated and high-trotting horses snorted and pranced their way to the winner's circle. One received her ribbons quietly, eyes rolling but accepting of her award, whereas another snorted and backed to the rail, ears pinned despite the rider's efforts to redirect the horse's attention. Instead of fussing with the horse, she patted its neck and returned to the line-up to wait for her victory pass. In a Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure JTR class, the reserve champion and champion were from the same barn; the rider who would be named champion dismounted and ran to be in the reserve champion's picture. When the champion was announced, he was asked to remount his horse and take him to the winner's circle for the rose garland. All smiles, the young man remounted and jogged to receive his award - without picking up his stirrups until reaching the end of the arena. He and the reserve champion completed a lovely victory pass together in celebration.

A similar expression of joy was seen on the champion's face in purebred Western Pleasure JOTR 14-17. She dropped her reins and hugged her horse's neck, walking to her roses with alternating smiles and hugs for her horse. Then there were the riders full of quiet appreciation for a class well-ridden and progress made toward goals, regardless of class placing. They chatted briefly with their friends and trainers on the rail, praising progress made while identifying goals to be obtained. One rider in the Half-Arabian Country English Pleasure AATR 40 and Over class stated that she was grateful to have ridden a quieter class with smoother transitions than before to advance her goal of competing successfully at the national level. It is snippets of stories such as these that are heard and seen in the show ring by an equine expression specialist. With only brief moments to assess and interact with a horse to produce the desired ear aesthetic for creation of immortalized memories, such stories help the specialist fine-tune his or her cueing. They also reflect the rhythms of a show, one which is hitting its stride and ready to crown additional champions.