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Spotless Showmanship
Blog: 12/4/2020 For my last blog I get to talk about my favorite class to compete in the show pen, showmanship. For this class the competitor remains on the ground and you lead your horse through a pattern using distinct maneuvers selected by a judge on a pattern sheet. Some of those maneuvers may include an inspection, pivots, trotting and walking segments, and backing. When getting into higher level classes there may be more maneuvers or they will become more complex. This is a class where you must be precise while showing off your horse to the best of your abilities through trust and a flowing way of travel. Today…
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Cowabunga!
Blog: 11/26/2020 Let’s take a trip out west with the side of the American cowboy. In the show pen or on the open plains, cowboys are more often, than not, working vastly with their herds of cattle. In my blog for today I will talk about a few tips and important aspects for bringing up a great cow horse. Western Horseman dives head first into their article with professional horseman and trainer Kory Pounds on the topic of training your horse for the cow classes. He believes in natural horsemanship, meaning that the horse should love his/her job and not jump the gun when the rider is asking the horse…
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Four Legged Furies
Blog: 11/20/20 Are you struggling with shedding season? Wondering when you’ll stop brushing hair out? Look no further because I have some tips to solve your furry-est problem. Let’s start with the basics on what can seem very common, blanketing. Most frequently people who blanket their horses often take them to shows all year round or earlier in the Spring when un-blanketed horses typically haven’t shedded out yet. Another reason could be that the horse is too young or old and has a hard time keeping weight on because of shivering during low temperatures. Older and younger horses also may not grow in or have a full winter coat like…
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Safe Travels!
Trailering your horse is a big deal no matter if it is to a show that’s close by or half way across the country. It should be your number one priority, when traveling, that your horse is safe and comfortable. To start out, if you only have one horse they may get a little more skid-dish because horses are herd animals and rely on each other for relief or protection. So it could be in your best interest to ride along with another friend or vise versa. If your horse won’t load the horse may need a friend to encourage them. By getting another horse to go first, that is…
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Shoo Fly!
Blog: 11/06/20 If you ask any rider what one of the most irritating things there is out at the barn it has to be flies. Horses can develop hives or become ornery which can lead to other health concerns. Managing flies on the property is crucial to any kind of equine facility. I’ve put together a few handy tips to restrict areas that flies may produce. First let’s start off with the number one affect, which is the manure pile. We all know that every facility has one and it is important to keep it away from the stable or areas where the horses may be housed or pastured. I…
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Save n’ Show
We all know that showing horses or just even having horses can sometimes be very pricey. But to save your wallet I have found an article by the American Quarter Horse Association to help you show n’ save. “AQHA Professional Horsewoman Nancy Cahill” recommends showing with a group. If you don’t have sleeping quarters in your trailer she recommends booking a hotel room together and sharing rooms. She mentions, “very little time is spent in the hotel room, so bunking together is a painless way to save money.” While going in a group or by yourselves, you can plan your meals out to your budget length. Snacks can be a…
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Cone Curiosity
For this week’s blog post I will take you through an article from IVC Carriage. Myrna Rhinehart guides us in her advice for the ultimate cones course tactics. If you’re just a beginner Myrna recommends going through the cones course without your cart 1st and using “cotton long lines with rolled ends.” Also, I find it important that when you are long-lining, through a course on just in a 20 meter circle, you should never leave slack of the long-lines behind you. This can be an accident waiting to happen if your horse takes off or it can become a tripping hazard for you. Be sure to only let the…
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Stride for Perfection
Week 10/16/2020 For today’s post we will talk about the Hunter Under Saddle class and some small tips you may not notice that could help you remain consistently successful or become higher noted on the judges card. We will look at the article by Julie Winkel from equestriancoach.com. Her first comment regards your first impression. Don’t be afraid to be the first one in the class. This will show the judge(s) that you are on time and fully prepared. Julie’s second piece of advice is “know where the judge is.” If the judge is in the ring no matter what, do not try to get close to them. They will…
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Equitation Evaluation
Blog Post #3 If Saddle Seat is your passion then you know that having the correct equitation is everything. By having the proper manners, you and your horse will be able to maneuver better and have more success on the judges card. In Horse Illustrated, Leslie Potter talks with champion and trainer, Ellen Beard, about proper positioning and why it will stand out better in the show pen. Ellen starts off by commenting on the correctness of your legs and feet. An easy way to remember your place is to pretend there is a string connected from your foot to your hip and then to your shoulder. Another notable statement…
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Stride for Perfection
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Trail-Just the Beginning.
Trail can arguably be the hardest class among a show-bill. There are numerous obstacles that a horse and rider must overcome at distinct gates and balance. There needs to be a very strong sense of discipline and cadence throughout each pattern to make it seem as smooth as possible. In order to do so Liz Arnold wrote in her 2017 article “Out of the Box: Tips for Entering the Trail Arena” about what every competitor should know when trying their turn in the trail class. Liz spoke with other trail veterans and pointed out the fact that when beginning it can be beneficial to start off with a good trainer…
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Spotless Showmanship
