Horse Show Program
Your Show Basics To Getting Started
What's your "horse show program?" From the moment you pull your horse in from pasture or out of the stall, to the moment you enter the ring.
Your horse show program includes everything you encounter along the way. Anyone who has experience getting a horse ready for the show ring will tell you that it is more difficult than it appears.
Getting ready for a horse show can be overwhelming, even for the experienced exhibitor. There are so many things to remember, and so many things you are likely to forget. Getting to the show is only half the battle, maybe even less. Once you arrive there is an endless amount of unloading, setting up, and organizing that has to happen before even getting your horse ready.
Below we will be discussing a few things you can expect at a typical horse show along with some helpful hints for your preparation.
Your Personal Checklist
What could be more frustrating than arriving at a horse show and realizing you are missing an important piece of equipment or attire? It happens to the best of us. Imagine this, your horse is saddled and waiting to show. You run to quickly change into your english show clothes, only to discover you are missing your breeches (and you swear they were in that garment bag when you left)! How much would you panic? True story, this happened to me when I was 2 hours from home and 15 minutes from my hunter under saddle class!
Did I panic? You better believe it. Luckily, I was able to borrow a pair from a friend. A horse show checklist not only saves you time before a show, it can also prevent some heart-stopping moments due to forgetting something important.
Add a check list to your horse show program.
The Show Bill
There is generally one sheet of information that dictates how the show will run. It includes pretty much everything you need to know about the particular show you are at. From horse show classes and rules, to start times, fees, and even information on how to enter horse shows.
The horse show bill can also be considered a stand alone horse show program.
It is a valuable piece of paper that you should plan on keeping in your back pocket. Every show is run differently. The rules and entry information vary widely depending on whether you are showing with an association or at an open show.
If you have access to a copy of the show bill before leaving home, it would be helpful to your planning if you mapped out which classes you may be entering in. It will also help your personal horse show program in figuring out what supplies, tack, and clothing you will need to bring.
Show Facilities
Show grounds also vary how they are put together. Horse show facilities typically consist of: a riding arena, barns/stalls (for overnight shows), camping, parking, and a clubhouse
If you are showing at a day show, I would
expect to find a riding ring and large area to park your truck and
trailer. Some grounds will even have a separate warm-up ring. If you
are showing for a weekend or several days, your set up will be a little
different. Here I would expect to find a riding arena (hopefully more
than one, but not always), and overnight accommodations for my horse.
Usually a barn or two near the ring provides stalls for horses.
The horse show arena can either be indoors or outdoors. Most horses are pretty flexible; however there are some that prefer one or the other.
It pays to add preparation for the horse show facilities into your horse show program.
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Grooming For The Ring
Aside from general horse grooming, getting a horse ready for the show ring is a large part of your preparation the day before a show. A necessary aspect to any horse show program.
Horse show grooming also varies depending on the discipline you will be competing in. Some classes require higher levels of grooming than others.
In-hand classes require a higher degree of polishing and clipping since the judge will be inspecting you and your horse up close. Under saddle classes vary between pleasure and performance standards. In the pleasure classes (i.e. western or english) mane is typically banded or braided with closely clipped ears and muzzles.
There are also a variety of grooming and clipping tools and techniques. The clipping and banding/braiding you will be performing the night before is is also only part of what needs to be done before turning your horse out in the ring.
The morning of the horse show is a blur of hurried last minute touch-ups and polishing. You see barn aisle's littered with various grooming products, stools, and tied horses.
Exhibitors rushing to put finishing touches on their horses before the show starts. The morning of the show can be the most stressful time. It sets the pace for the rest of your day. If you have been through this with your horse you know what I am talking about. If not, then you will quickly understand when you are getting ready for your first presentation in the ring.
Riding Style
Whether you are riding in english or western events, your riding style or position will vary with the class. Each class at a horse show is judged on different sets of criteria. For example, a pleasure class focuses on the horse and quality of movement at each of the three gaits. An equitation class puts the focus on the rider and rider position during both the pattern or rail work.
When preparing your horse for an under saddle class, it may be beneficial to get some horse riding tips. After all, you can't see yourself on the horse, and a new set of eyes may pick up on a subtle riding habit that you may not have been aware of.
When in the saddle, your riding position and balance has a huge impact on the overall balance of your horse. Adding some helpful tips to your horse show program is highly recommended. Your seat can help or hinder you at the show.
Judging
If you remember nothing else, try and remember this the next time you are in front of the judge: you are only paying this person for his or her opinion. You just may decide you don't agree with a particular judging style. Never take anything personal when coming out of the show ring. In the end it has nothing to do with whether or not you won. It has everything to do with how well you performed.
I have been working with a wonderful trainer for the past four years. At shows when I come out of the ring the first thing he asks me is "how was your ride?" Leaving me to evaluate how I did and how I can continue to improve.
In my personal horse show program, I make a point to self evaluate my performance. You are your own worst critic and if you were to ask yourself this question the next time you exit a class, I promise you will find things in your performance that most people missed.
The horse show judge places exhibitors based on a set of criteria for the class, along with some personal preferences. I have had really good days at shows, and really bad days. Take each day with a handful of oats, and move on in preparation for your next class.
Awards
Ok, Ok I know that I stated above that awards shouldn't matter when you are at a show. However, they are a part of every horse show. After the placings are announced, most shows hand out some form of ribbon, money, or trophy. Horse show ribbons seem to be the most popular form of award distribution. To the younger exhibitors, those ribbons hanging on the stall or trailer mean the world. I personally choose to take the money, but I do still have boxes full of the ribbons I won from when I was 12.
After all, you did come to compete against your peers in hopes of bringing home nothing but the blue right? Ribbons aside, other items handed out for placings include belt buckles, chairs, grooming supplies, and even saddles. You will usually see saddles and belt buckles given out at larger shows and for year end awards.
Most shows keep track of a tally of points throughout the show. The person with the points from that show is usually awarded a more prestigious high point award. This can range from smaller horse tack items to things as large as horse trailers (usually at national or world level shows).
Having goals to win such awards are the foundation of the typical horse show program. Setting a goal adds a purpose to covering the expenses of horse showing.
