Why you should KEEP SHOWING after your mistake....

Ok, ok, I know it's be FOR.EVER since I've posted...consider that my business has been, well, busy... it's a good thing for me...but maybe not for my followers... anyway....
One of my students was showing this weekend, standing up at the first cone WAITING on the judge, but this pattern had her start by standing on the right side of her horse, what my student DIDN'T see was the HUGE HORSEFLY land on her horse's muzzle. She could tell the moment she started her pattern that her horse was not acting right (at this point she had no idea why he was acting weird), shaking his head, he was trying to swipe at the fly with his legs as he pivoted (though he never moved his pivot foot) and was shaking his head the entire way to the judge. The judge even commented she thought he might have a fly...my student...never losing her cool...just smiled and said "I have NO IDEA what came over him"...and continued on with her cross overs and never let her horse's action deter her from showing him... she finished the pattern and came out and saw a POOL OF BLOOD by his chin... OUCH! Poor Fellow! Her placing out of 12...2nd.... she kept her cool and earned herself a point. She told me afterwards that she kept hearing my voice "keep showing!"...and it paid off!
***ALWAYS KEEP SHOWING!*** let it be your new mantra!

Patterns to Practice

Looking for something to practice? Mark Harrell Horse Shows puts their patterns up BEFORE the show...it's an excellent place to get some patterns... here's the links.
The Show with a View Pattern Book
The Tri-State Pattern Book
These pattern books also have horsemanship and equitation...lots of fun stuff..

Happy Practicing!

Pre-Season Show Prep

So you've started on YOUR cardio...right? That's what I thought...LOL...really get out there. I personally HATE to exercise, I'm doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and I can't tell you the HUGE difference I've seen in MY cardio...and I HAVE a PHYSICAL job! LOL It will make showing so much easier for you...and boost your confindence!

Let's discuss things you can do while we're waiting for our arena's to dry and our horses to shed.
GO THROUGH your show clothing and TRY ON...

• Make sure you don't need to take in or let out.
• Take stock of what you have and what you need to replace.
• Polish your boots.
• Do you have high water pants? Get those to a seamstress!
• Are your clothes CLEAN? If not, take care of that too.
• How's your hat? Creased, cleaned, ready to go?
• What about your crystals? Are they all on? If not, order some for repairs, and order some extra's for future repairs.
• Do you have extra safety pins for numbers (or maybe you make your own numbers)
• How about bobby pins and hair spray, are those packed for those windy days?
• All your hair accessories? Extra bands, hair nets, etc...
• Be sure to have an emergency sewing kit for those oopsies that happen.

NOW is the time to get your clothing in order, NOT the day of your show.

Now for your horse...

• Is the vet scheduled for spring shots and coggins tests?
• Worm your horse, it will help not only with it's health, but promote shedding as well.

How about your show supplies
Did anything freezer over the winter? You may have to pitch that fly spray or anything aerosol.
Do you have enough:

• Face Grease
• Bands for Manes
• Black/White Chalk/Spray for legs
• Disposable Razors
• Fly Spray
• Electric Tape for Tails
• Brushes? Tail, Body, etc...
• Show Sheen/Pepi

Feel free to add anything I've missed...but start organizing now...you'll be glad you did when you're dashing off to your class later....

Preparing for show season....

The snow is melting where I'm at, and after dealing with waaaay below normal temps, melting snow gives me a little spring fever! The horses are feeling it also, now I know many of you still have hairy horses, your pastures are mucky and everyone is feeling a little..umm...soft.... So how can YOU prepare for show season since you've pretty much been a couch potato? Get up and get your cardio going, one thing is for sure, showmanship can definately get your cardio going and YOU don't want to be the one wheezing after the long sprint to the judge, now do you? So it's time to get FIT!!! I don't mean lose weight, go on some crazy diet...I mean get FIT!!! Start walking, take a look at your local video store's exercise dvd's and start one, try the WII fit, use your treadmill or whatever you have at home, pull out your bicycle...well you get the idea, get up and get that heart pumping!...and if you're fortunate enough to have a "dry" arena, walk and/or jog while you lunge your horse...as well as work on your showmanship. NOW is the time to get YOURSELF fit while waiting for the weather to change...don't delay, work on that cardio TODAY!

Pattern 49: Breed Show Amateur/Youth

I had heard "rumors" this year about how "hot" the coneless patterns were going to be. This is the first time our barn has run into them. My clients enjoyed them, but found them quite challenging. So here's my take and the difficulties we encountered.

Findings:

• A few of my students had a difficult time figuring out where to break to the walk from the trot, most were about 2 steps too far (you should be even with the judge). Also make sure you are transitioning that trot to walk and NOT trot stop walk...
• Make sure you walk far enough "north" before you start turning on your circle, if not, you'll encounter backing problems later in your pattern.
• You should begin your trot as you cross your walk path.
• Stop with your hip at the judge and pivot 1 3/4's.
• Now depending on how close you are to the judge you'll need to back...but save yourself some room to perform the 180 and the set up... which proved to be problematic in the class too many...

Have fun practicing...

This years show findings...

...Ok, so you're missing the patterns and I just quite frankly, am out of time to computer draw them...sorry... busy barn, busy judging schedule...and I haven't had a day off in a least 3 + Weeks...LOL...so...no pattern THIS time, BUT since we're on the road I'll give you a taste in what we are finding...

Lots of Trot to Walk transitions this year...so start practicing those.
Spins and lots of them...more than 360's...last weeks pattern required 3 spins.

These are the "in" things apparently this year...

Ok, back to business...happy practicing!

Basics: YOUR Body Positioning for Walk/Trot

Unsure where your body needs to be when walking/trotting your horse? Answer your shoulder should be even with your horse's throat latch.

Below the exhibitor is too far behind her horse...
Below the exhibitor is too far in front of her horse...

Below the exhibitor is just right (sounds like the 3 bears doesn't it? LOL). Although I can tell her horse is starting to lag behind because she's using the pull/release method of getting her horse to speed up just a bit by where her hand is next to his nose (waaay in front).

Thank you to the 2 Janet's and Elaine for being our demo's!