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ENTERING YOUR FIRST HORSE SHOW…
The horseshow form that tells you all about the horse show is called a premium. You get these mailed to you or call a phone number asking them to send you one. Some you can fill out the day of the show and others need to be sent in ahead of time. It is important to fill it out correctly, as some shows will charge you extra for an incorrectly filled out entry form, so don’t be afraid to call and ask questions if you are in doubt as to what to fill out.
Arrive early at the show, there is nothing worse than to be late and end up hurrying around in a panic! After you unload your horse, go to the show office and check in & fill out your entry form, pay and get your number. It is so VERY helpful to take a friend to help you!!!!
Check the class order and always be prepared in plenty of time.
Warm up your horse before you ride!
Now you can HURRY UP AND WAIT!!!! Shows are famous for being off a time schedule… So you just hang around and watch the classes before you and get even more nervous!!!!
Most of the time your show number will be pinned on your back but ask to make sure that its not required to be on your pad instead.
There will be a judge and a ring steward (his helper) in the ring and a gate person to let you in the arena. There will be an announcer so listen for your class being called into the arena. They will give you a last minute gate call as the gates are closing, so you should be lined up to enter in the arena and not missing your class.
Say you ride in an English class and the Western class you also entered is very close… you can go to the office and ask for a ”tack change”. They most likely will hold the class for a few minutes while you change.
Ask your gate person any questions if needed. He will direct you into the arena, and always leave the distance of a horse (or two or even more) between you as you enter. Sometimes you will enter at a walk or sometimes at a trot. Try to make a nice entrance…. as this is the first time a judge will see you so its good to make a nice first impression. SMILE SMILE SMILE…. look like you are having fun and not scarred to death!!!!
Stay on the rail, there is nothing worse than to cut corners or cut right in front of the judge or worse yet - running him over! Also be aware that there may be a photographer in the arena…. try not to get them either!
Try not to get in a pack or bunch of horses where you cannot be seen by the judge, you want to stand out by yourself! If you see a group of horses in front of you, you can do a quiet tight circle, letting those in front of you get little farther ahead. Glance back before you do this as you do not intentionally want to cut the rider off who is behind you but it is his job to watch the horse in front of him.
If you do anything by accident (like cutting someone off) wait till the class is over and then apologize to that rider.
Ride defensively. Head up, looking straight ahead and always try to be aware of what’s going on IN FRONT of you. Don’t worry what’s behind you.
Occasionally peek at the judge to see if he is looking at you, if he’s not, it can be a good time to quickly adjust your horse or whatever needs a quick fix (say even an itchy nose.. yours – not the horse!)
If your horse is faster than the one in front of you, you can pass that slower horse but do so on the inside of the arena - which is to that rider's left. Try never to go on the rider’s right side as you may get squished next to the wall. When you are finished passing that horse get back on the rail.
Occasionally you may have to go in-between two riders, if you can, speak loud saying you are Coming Thru!!! You hardly ever talk to another rider while you are in the arena.
Try to listen to the announcer… sometimes its hard to hear what is being asked for. At this point you may have to glance around to see what everyone is doing…
If ever you feel afraid or your horse is acting up… you can ride up to the ring steward or the judge and asked to be dismissed from the class. In dangerous times just stop and get off!! If someone else has an accident, horse running away or throwing his rider you should stop immediately and stand your horse quietly on the rail and wait for directions.
When your judge asks for you to reverse and go the other way, you do this by turning towards the center of the arena to make your about turn. You don’t have to do this at the exact moment so maybe glance behind you and see if it is safe to turn, if not keep going a little farther ahead and then turn back. The reverse is usually done at a walk.
When asked to perform another gait, say a walk to a trot, you can take alittle time to do so, prepare and take off nicely, just don’t take toooo long doing this. Say your horse takes off on the wrong lead, slow him down or stop and try again. We all make mistakes!!!!
When the announcer calls you into the lineup follow the ring steward's directions. He will usually spread his arms out to make a make-believe line where you will line up in front of him, from left to right, side by side. It doesn’t matter how orwhat order you line up but remember to try not to crowd other horses.
At this point he may ask you to all back your horses up ( if he has not already done so while you were on the rail). It is customary to back 4-5 steps and then come forward again, back to your starting positions. Maybe the judge will ask you a question, check your horse's teeth or bit or tack This is where you should have done your home work = CLEANING YOUR TACK!!!! If the judge has a hard time deciding who gets placed first place (as in a tie)… it could come down to who’s saddle is the cleanest!!!! Picky picky picky!!!!
You should continue to stand quietly and wait for the judge to make his decisions by writing your number down. Then he will give it to the ring steward to take to the announcer (or the judge may have a walkie talkie giving the winning numbers directly to the announcer.)
You should never reward, praise, pet or stroke your horse in the show arena until the class is over. This goes for also giving Q’s to your horse… if you need to click or kiss to your horse try to do it quietly as to not disturb another rider’s horse.
You should not let your horse stop to go poo in the show arena!!!! Peeing is another matter……….sometimes you just gotta go!!!!
Sometimes you get a really great judge who will take the time to tell you some helpful or not so helpful hints for you and your horse ( as to why you placed or didn’t place in that class) I always appreciate anything said to me in order to help me in the future. We love this kind of judges!!!!
When the announcer announces the winning horse's number you will ride up to the person with the ribbons to get your prize!!! Sometimes they will pin it on your horse's bridle ( maybe practice this at home) just hand it to you or put it on your boot. You then leave the arena and can now BREATHE!!!! Isn’t it amazing how long one can hold his or her breath!!!!!
It is usually at the big shows that they have the Reserve Champion ( second place horse) take a victory lap and the Champion Horse takes the BIG VICTORY LAP!!
Most of all have fun! These show results are just one judge’s opinion for that class. Some judges you like, others you’ll hate! This is how life is… Remember he only has two eyes and in a large class of say 20 horses, he may not see everything( but you can bet your friends did!!) You may not do so hot one weekend and the next show you may find yourself taking all the BLUES home!!!! Remember to practice with your horse before a show. Beginning showing means taking the time to prepare, good with the bad, a learning experience but you need to practice! Staying at home in your own back yard arena or at your trainer's will not prepare you for the show circuit. You gotta get out there in the scarry world!!! If your horse has never been in a arena with others, hearing announcers or loud music, having large amounts of people on the sidelines talking and cheering, spooking at the blowing flags, baby strollers wheeling by, those huge draft horses with jingling bells and the occasional loud braying of a mule... just be prepared!! This is why you begin at these little shows. Your horse is just as afraid as you are… give yourselves both some time to learn and experience the horse show world!!! Sometimes (quite often) you may find yourself leaving the arena without receiving any ribbon, but having the greatest feeling that you knew you and your horse had a great ride!!!
SEE YOU AT THE HORSE SHOW!!!!!!
