Let’s Discuss: Your First Show

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Britt

With Smitty’s competition debut looming in the oh-so near future, I’m trying to get together a mental game plan. But the first time out, it’s hard to make a plan at all, since pretty much everything is going to be a gamble as to how he will take it in. I do know a couple things that I hope will help though- he doesn’t seem to get attached to other horses, and based on our one off-property adventure so far, I think he will take in a new venue fairly well.

But how will he handle masses of horses? Loud speaker systems? Horses galloping cross country, bikes, scooters, cars, dogs, etc? All of this is a total unknown. But the only way to find out is to try!

Foster’s first show was a smaller occasion, a local dressage show with a distinctly casual air. He handled it beautifully, winning first and second in his Intro tests (video below). It was a rousing success, and I can only hope for the same with Smitty, even if our goal is just to stay in the tack.

I chose the Carolina Horse Park because I’m very familiar with it, and because it allows us the get there the day before and expose him to the grounds, the arenas, etc all while slowly increasing the number of people around (rather than arriving at a show in full swing). Hopefully by introducing these elements the day before, riding the day of the show will be less of an ordeal. We’ll find out when we get there if a bigger venue for his first show was a big mistake, but I’m hoping the both of us will put on our game faces and get it done.

What was your horse’s first show? Was it a success, a disaster, or somewhere in the middle? Why did you choose that particular competition as a debut? If you have a baby horse, what is your plan for introducing them to the show scene?

2016 Season Plan

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Britt

I hope I’m not speaking too soon (side note to universe: please, cut me a break on this one?). But being officially 2/3 of the way through our recovery from surgery feels pretty darn good, and both Foster and I are relieved that it comes with the perks of getting to stay outside for prolonged amounts of time and I get to swing up into that saddle pretty soon.

So I can’t help but start thinking about what’s next. All of our goals this year were obviously trashed, since between the ulcers in the spring and the surgery in the fall, we really only had about 2 months of being in full work. So, time to reassess and set different goals for next year.

Because this makes me happy, I will reuse it for eternity

While in January of this year we did a combined test clinic at Training level, for 2016 I am thinking of debuting him at Beginner Novice. I have a few reasons for pushing him back a level.

Beginner Novice Flashbacks, The Fork, Nov 2012, PC: High Time Photos

First, we got to cross country school once in all of 2015. And it wasn’t that stellar of a schooling. Hindsight being 20/20, that’s probably because he was both sore and a little ouchy thanks to those negative angles and of course the bum fetlock. So taking it easy to regain confidence over solid obstacles seems like the way to go.

Secondly, I don’t know how his fetlock is going to handle jumping. I’ve already heard an array of medical opinions on this, ranging from him topping out at Novice all the way to saying that full Training Horse Trials and Prelim CT’s are in his future. As none of these come with a guarantee, I’m just going to let Foster tell me. But since the assumption is that it will continue to improve (to a certain degree) with time, it seems best to start small. And personally, I’d rather find out he’s uncomfortable facing a BN or N fence, and not learn the hard way facing some meter tall, meter wide behemoth on cross country.

More BN memories, CHP, Oct 2012, PC: High Time Photos

And lastly… if this winter is anything like last winter (second side note to universe: please, please don’t be like last winter), then riding is going to be somewhat limited depending on whether I can actually drive to the barn safely. Less riding = less fitness. And knowing how much work it will take to get back to full work after all the muscle atrophy of stall rest.. well let’s just say I’m not expecting us to pop out this spring looking like this:

Or, ya know, the female equivalent of this.

So, thus the plan. We’ll see how Beginner Novice goes, if he’s comfortable, bring him back to Novice, and then if all the stars align, maybe next fall we’ll finally get that Training horse trials crossed off the list.

And if it doesn’t go well, then I guess we’ll just commit to dressage world domination.

Here’s to 2016.

Let’s Discuss: What’s your Horse Show Style?

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Britt

New hat, same old natty sweatpants and ‘Ugly Boots’

Over the years, I have started being a little more aware of what my appearance is in between rides. Not like I dress up by any means, but at least now I don’t wear sweatpants with holes in them anymore. Also, I have more-or-less retired my Camoflauge Cookout hat. (go ahead, judge me!)

One of my main take-aways from our trip to Hunterland last year was just how ‘done’-up’ everyone looked, even when relaxing ring-side. I saw trainers (owners? riders?) in pearls, elegant visor-wearers, and more collared shirts than a frat house could hold. The fashion on display was pretty impressive, and definitely made an impression on me. Fashion sense and horse sense were quite the combination!

Everyone dresses like a SmartPak model

On the other end of the spectrum, I can remember one rather eventful season in Intercollegiate dressage when we as a team decided we were going to up our standards with one simple rule: Thou shall not wear pajamas to shows.

Not that the No Pajamas rule would stop me from looking like a hobo (I don’t dress like this anymore, by the way, at least most of the time..)

These days, in between classes/events my typical horse show outfit is as follows: jeans, my Mango Bay belt, the waterproof shoes I fondly call my “Ugly Boots”, ideally a collared sun shirt and some sort of small stud earrings. I may not quite fit in with the fashion pros, but I’m not entirely embarrassing (I don’t think?). One of these days I would love to upgrade my Ugly Boots to Dublin or Dubarry River Boots, but for now, they’ll have to do.

We is goobers.

What do you guys wear to hang out in at horse shows? Are you of the all-breeches-all-the-time club? Diamonds and pearls? Or are you a horse show trend-setter?