We have all done it…complained at one time or another about something at the horse shows that we don’t like. At any given show anywhere in the country, you can hear complaints about the footing, schedule, stalls, judges, food…the list is potentially endless. But for many of us, we keep coming back. So we asked a cross section of trainers and exhibitors, if they could change just one thing about shows, what would it be?
What would YOU like to see changed? We want to know what our readers think! Write your comment below (you must be a registered reader and logged in – a very easy process if you haven’t done it before). Let us know your thoughts.
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Julia Taylor
Amateur Exhibitor
Dallas, Texas
I
would like to change it so that the judge’s score cards from all events
are published and released to the competitors. Today, you can see trail
and western riding score cards and I think they should publish the
showmanship, horsemanship and pleasure as well as the English classes
like hunter under saddle and equitation. It would require there to be a
scoring system in those classes which we currently do not have. Now
there is a loose system of pluses and minuses but if there were a
standardized way for judges to score people then I think people would
learn from that scoring system.
Gerri Leigh Pratt
Amateur Exhibitor
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
When you win with your halter horse, they give you the first Grand Championship trophy for free but after that you have to purchase all the Grands from then on. I’m pretty sure it’s the same with the All-Around trophies. I feel like that if you spend this kind of money and invest this kind of time and you’re fortunate enough to win, they should give you the trophy. I realize I’ve been doing this a long time and fortunately when I was doing the all-around, every show gave you a trophy. I think everyone would appreciate getting these trophies because it’s not that easy to get one! And if you do win one, I don’t think it’s fair to have to pay an additional $100 to get it. You have to buy the horse, hire the trainer, get the horse to the show, pay the entry fees, stalling, bedding, office charges, drug fees…and then you have to pay for your trophy? I just find that unfair.
Tammy Dyer
Amateur Exhibitor
Cornelius, North Carolina
I would like the Amateur Select age lowered to 45 years old. There are a lot of us, me included (I’ll be 46 this year) that this would positively effect. Sure, it’s a personal thing but the Paints are broken down to 45 and older and that seems to work for them. I need a class for my age bracket because I can’t compete with the Sharnai’s out there. I need a class that I can be competitive in and there’s just not one for me so I tend to sit out.
Ted Turner
Halter Trainer
Thackerville, Oklahoma
My answer would be that we need to consolidate the horse shows so that we don’t have to be somewhere for so long. Make the shows shorter and show to more judges at once. We will be at this horse show for almost a week. That’s too long. A great example is the Texas Classic this year. They are trying a real good deal, three halter judges in the morning, three halter judges in the evening. It would be nice if we could do that at more places. I know that it is not always possible but it would be more inexpensive and a lot better for the horses and exhibitors and everybody else.
Courtney Jetelina
Amateur Exhibitor
Wharton, Texas
Honestly, I don’t think I would change anything. Of course I want to go in there and have the perfect pattern and win every class without making mistakes. I’m not saying that horse shows are perfect but what is there that’s ever really perfect? Nothing.
Darcy Reeve
Youth Exhibitor
Garden City, Kansas
In a perfect world, it would be nice that if they were running two or more arenas at the horse show that there wouldn’t be scheduling conflicts. We run into conflicts where you have two classes going on at the same time. I don’t know if they can avoid it any better, and I know they think about it when they’re making the schedule, but it’s hard on the trainers and it’s hard on the contestants. We rush from one arena to the other and hope that they will hold the class. It’s also a tough position for the judges. It’s also not fair on the horse to have to go from one class to the other but it’s the same for everyone so you just try to prepare yourself the best you can. Most of the time the shows are good about trying to accommodate people but it just sort of frazzles the contestants when you’re trying to prepare for one class and then another. To avoid it, sometimes you have to choose which class you’re going to show in.
Jason Smith
Halter Trainer
Gainesville, Texas
We need better atmosphere at the shows. Doug Landon’s horse show, the March To The Arch, is a great example. There were parties, it was family friendly and promotes a good cause. We need to put the fun back in the horse show. Everyone loves parties – have a party in front of your stalls. It would make things more fun. We need to have more fun.
Mark Dunham
All-Around Trainer
Jonesboro, Arkansas
It would be really nice to not have to be a sponsor to get good stalls at a horse show. I understand that the shows are trying to raise more money but the fact that we have to pay a lot of money for the stalls anyway, and then you have to do sponsorships just to get a good stall, it would just be nice to have a flat fee and know that you’re going to have a decent stall and not have to be a sponsor. It should be first come, first served and you can just go by when the check comes in to determine where your stall location is.
Ryan Painter
All-Around Trainer
Sun City, California
I don’t know what I would change but I will tell you that my favorite horse shows, and the ones we keep coming back to year after year, always seem to be the ones where the staff is the friendliest. If we run into an unfriendly staff we are much less likely to come back. Whether it’s in the office or the ring steward, if they’re friendly, we’re probably coming back. Friendliness makes a big difference.
Julia Dreyer
Amateur Exhibitor
Merritt Island, Florida
I would change myself. It’s just a constant work in progress. It’s not the horse, it’s always me. I just need to take responsibility for myself. I would be making constant improvement to improve myself.
Tim Kimura
The Trail Man
Reedley, California
When you’re at a show and they are running multiple arenas, I suggest they start the trail pen an hour later than the showmanship pen. Nobody will show up to the trail pen when there’s showmanship going on in another arena. The trainers don’t come show the trail and neither does anyone else because they’re doing the showmanship.
Tom Clopp
Amateur Exhibitor
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
I think AQHA should have a Western All-Around and an English All-Around. It is very hard to win an all around because I don’t ride in the English events. Some shows offer it. It’s very hard to win an all-around when there are girls who show in all the rail classes but also can go in the hack and some of those other classes. I just can’t do that!
Nancy Wilkerson
Amateur Exhibitor
Ocala, Florida
If it’s a pretty day, I think we should all show outside, not in an indoor coliseum. I’m from Florida where we love to show outside. It’s soothing to show outside, I like the fresh air and the sunshine. The whole ambiance is better for the horses and the riders.
