I'm taking my horse to our only show of the season, and the show has patterns for trail, showmanship, equitation and hunter classes.  I've never done a pattern at a show and am not sure how my horse will do, especially if the canter spots are short since it takes him a few strides to get rolling.

Are there any good patterns judges like to use, especially for eq. and hunter.  Showmanship I just have to work on getting him to turn on his haunches and then trot, but any general suggestions for showmanship would be great as it is by far my least favorite class as he gets bored and starts trying to eat my coat, my reins, he refuses to stand and really doesn't see the point in trotting when I lead him (I've started him to think it's a game by taking him for jogs up the road with me.

Trail again, turning on the forehand and haunches are a problem for me, and I've only done a rope gate once, we were successful, but tips on how to do this better would be helpful and also tips for what to do if it's an actual gate and it's short (my horse is 16h and all leg) and when things are set low I cannot physically reach far enough without him thinking that I'm going to fall off and trying to move under and catch me.

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 http://www.showhorsepromotions.com/equitation.htm is a link to some general patterns (I have used these for shows I have put on and I have also seen similar patterns at shows I have competed in).

For patterns in general work on straight lines, sitting and posting trot (if your doing English)m, and circles. Also focusing on walk/trot, walk/canter, canter/trot, canter/walk transitions with emphasis on correct, accurate leads and diagonals, and clean transitions can help in your pattern and in the show ring in general.

Showmanship- if your horse is fairly polite about treats you can try brining in a cookie or a mint he can nibble on during the standing parts (I used a mint to get my mare to stretch her neck out during her conformation classes but she could get a little demanding during the lineup if she was expecting a treat every time we did halter practice). To help get him to trot in hand have someone help you the next few times you practice. The extra person should stand to where they can encourage them from behind when you cue him to trot. 

Trail- practice turning on the forehand and haunches while you are on the ground. Push him with your hand where your foot would be to 'cue' him for the turn (ex: to cue him for a turn on the forehand your hand would be a little behind the girth line...then for a turn on the haunches you would move your hand forward a little). Take it slow and don't let him rush...start by having him step over one step..praise him...then another step. focus on precision instead of speed until he gets the cues and footwork down.

For the gates practice side passes and also practice leaning to grab something so he learns that if you lean and tell him to stand...he needs to stand. Since he is on the taller side practice getting very close to rails, gates, and other objects and leaning down. Remember to take it slow and be patient with him.

 Hope this helps...good luck!

 

 If you know he takes a couple strides to get started, ask for the canter a couple strides before you are supposed to have it. Put some cones around your arena, and test yourself by changing gait only at the cone (whether it's in a corner or on a straight line). Or you can use dressage letters if your arena has them.

By equitation, do you mean equitation over fences? If not, it's just a rail class and the announcer will call out instructions ("trot your horses, please. All trot."). If it's over fences, it's the same as any jump course - the difference being that they judge your form more than the horse's. Many times that and the hunter "pattern" are the same, or nearly so.