Real Life Horse Shows!

[Cecelia]

Hey I was just wondering if anybody shows horses in real life. I show with this organization for my state. My riding instructor lets some of her students use the school horses to show. I ride Two Steps High or Penny for short. She is a 9 year old quarter horse mare. She is the prettiest red dun and is great on the lead and to ride western.She has had three colts and throws great foals. I don't know if she is gonna be bred again but I kinda hope so. I show Penny in Western Pleasure, Team Cow Cutting, Steer Daubing, Trail,and Trail in hand. I would like to start Reining with her but I don't know if I could remember the pattern. Does anybody else show horses?

[Queso]

I used to show in three day eventing, but then I moved and there's none near me so now I'm showing jumpers and equitation. Not quite as fun as eventing, but it will do. I show in my mare Winnie, a 16 hh TB/hanoverian cross. She is perfect for when we have to switch horses in eq, becuase every one who rides her gets thrown up onto her neck the first time she jumps and she likes to buck if you don't ride her just how she likes lol. She's a blast, I've owned her exactly a year and 1 day.

[Cowgirls Rule]

I showed in trail(beginer) on my horse, it was fairly easy, I got first place even though my horse was being a but. I've never shown after that though.

[Cecelia]

ooh! Three day eventing sounds so exciting. If I rode english it would probably something that I would work towards. Trail classes are actually pretty exciting. I like to try to anticipate what the pattern is gonna be next time.

[Queso]

yah, I'm a cross country fool Winn loves it too, we both like to jump and gallop so its like perfect. I love jumping at speed and still having that feel and rate-ability (sp?) the dressage gives you and well as the prescision from show jumping. If you ever get a chance to do english, eventing is the best, it's a real test of horse and rider.

I've never really watched a trail class, do you just walk over and through obsticles?

[Cecelia]

the trail classes sound a lot easier than they really are. Here I will show you what an average pattern is like. You enter the arena at a trot and do a figure eight through some cones. Then you walk to the gate sidepass up to it and open the gate. You have to keep your hand on the gate at all times. Walk your horse through it and then turn her sideways and latch the gate back.Then you trot up to the poles that are laid out in a L shape. You walk through the poles and back out through them without stepping outside of the poles. Then you pick up a canter or lope and turn a tight circle to jump over a cavaletti. Do a sliding stop at the flag and stand there for 30 seconds. Walk over the bridge and then step in a box of poles. Do a 180 degree haunch turn in the box and then step out, and walk up to the judges.Then you dismount take off your horse's bridle and hand it to the judge for inspection then you put it back on your horse, mount up again and exit the arena.

One time I didn't memorize the pattern because I was really busy during the day and I had to go first.I was cramming to memorize the pattern like 5 minutes before I went in the ring. lol

[LouLou07]

That sounds hard lol. I don't own a horse so I have only been to one show at a riding school. The instructors were allowed to take part and ended up winning almost everything so it wasn't fair. I was riding a pony that I used to ride for someone ages ago, but we managed to get second in the pony the judge would like to take home lol. Because she was a gorgeous bay dartmoor pony and was so cute.

[Cecelia]

yeah the dartmoors are adorable. I compete against my instructor frequently. We are in two seperate divisions normally though. I know it doesn't seem fair but sometimes you may even manage to beat your instructor if you and your horse are a better team. I have been working with Penny for two riding seasons now and I plan on working with her for a long time.

[Cowgirls Rule]

[Queso]

That sounds like fun Cecelia! I know how it goes memorising courses in like 5 min, I have to do it all of the time. I've gotten pretty good at it now lol.

I compete against my trainer and barn owner every once and a while if they are riding a training horse. Usually if I end up beating them its because their horses were naughty

[Cecelia]

lol about the bucket. One time I brought Penny up to this cow that was sitting on a hay bale and I was so afraid that she would eat the hay!
And yes the only time I will beat my instructor is if her horse is having a bad day.

[White Frost]

I show I do western Games and I am starting to do halter. I have a mare that I am leasing and I need to get her weight down before I can show her. I used to show my morgan gelding Alyssas Lil Angel but he coliced and had to be put to sleep. I am thinking about getting a 2 year old gelding to train for 4-h and use him for games and other stuff.

[Cecelia]

Didn't you just get a new horse White Frost? btw I am going to try to put a 4 year old chestnut mare named Sheena under saddle.

[Kholran]

I used to show a lot with my old trainer. I haven't done much of it since she moved and I went to a new barn. I've been trying to get my mare Bara ready to show again, but between pet care and work, I don't have a whole lot of time to train. If we do get there this spring/summer, we'll be showing in Saddleseat classes.

[Cecelia]

Yeah I understand what you mean about not having much time. Is Bara an Arabian?