Part I: Before You Leave Home
Fall is in the air – it is Congress time again. Much goes into making the Congress a success. On every level it is the efforts unseen by the public that dictate the outcome of the event. The Ohio Quarter Horse Association has teams that work behind the scenes to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. They prepare for next year’s event before this year’s event begins. Much like great riders, the quality of preparation done backstage is the difference between a hit and a flop.
The following is a short list of things you can do before you leave that can make this year’s Congress the best yet. The list is not complete, feel free to add comments and suggestions to help others enjoy the show. Preparation is the key to having a good show. You may think that only you know how much effort you put into preparing before you leave home, but lack of preparation has a habit of showing up when it is least desired. Print off this to-do list and make the 2014 All-American Quarter Horse Congress a year to remember!
1. Get your paperwork in order.
Begin by getting a Congress notebook started. Create a list on the front page of the notebook and list everything you have to do before leaving. Take the notebook everywhere so you can write down items as you think of them. Make sure you have completely read and reread the requirements for every state you will pass through, every class you have entered and every reservation you have made. Gather, print and store the paperwork needed in one place and put it in your vehicle or luggage now. This will ensure that you pay attention to deadlines, such as health certificates that may expire before or during the Congress.
2. Check your farrier and vaccination schedule.
Make sure that your horse is up to date on all vaccinations necessary. Do not deworm or vaccinate your horse too close to the event or you may prompt unintended and unwanted consequences. Check with your vet before completing any care, which brings us to the next point.
3. Pack a medical bag.
Talk with your vet and have a bag or kit packed with basic supplies. If your horse needs medication, understand the medication rules for your event. Talk over the procedures with your licensed veterinarian and make sure they understand AQHA, NRHA, and OQHA rules for medications. If in doubt, ask further. Pack basic wound and wrapping for minor injuries that might occur. It might behoove you to pack a little first aid kit for yourself too. Late nights and miles walking on concrete sometimes create a need for anti-inflammatory meds for people too. Staying healthy is the subject of Part II.
4. Get clothes ready.
Try on your outfits at home, sit on the chair or take them to the barn and get in the saddle on your horse to make sure everything fits. Clean, press and pack all of your clothes well ahead of time. Pack all of your hunt clothes in one bag, your Showmanship in another and so on. Put a note on any bag that lacks some additional piece to be complete, like collars, gloves or earrings.
Do the same for your horse. Many come from southern climates that are still enjoying temperatures in the 80’s. Ohio has already seen temperatures dropping into the thirties at night. Prepare all of your horse’s clothing, coolers and slinkies before you leave home. Your horse will be happy when you get there and so will your pocketbook when you do not have to buy another cooler (or polos, bridle reins or hoods) because you forgot yours at home.
5. Clean and pack your tack.
Determine ahead of time exactly what tack you need to take – need being the operative word here. You do not need to take equipment that is a.) Illegal b.) You have not used all year or c.) Broken. Bring everything you think you might need but avoid clutter. You will be better organized and avoid the temptation of using a piece of equipment you have little experience with. Check cleaning tack off the to-do list at home. Do not count on having spare time once there. You will want to spend spare time cheering for a friend, shopping or munching on delicacies from junk food alley while watching a favorite class – not back at the stalls cleaning your saddle. Make sure each saddle has the pad that goes with it – one for work and one for show if you have them. Pack an extra set of reins or make sure you have at least two good pairs with you.
6. Practice riding at home at your scheduled show time.
This is often overlooked but an important part of preparation. Recreate the horse show setting as much as possible. This includes practicing at night if your class is at night, practicing patterns with multiple horses or standing still for five minutes before marching on course. The more show like conditions you can create at home, the fewer surprises you and your horse will encounter at the show. If possible, practice patterns in their entirety at home where you have large spaces without the conflict of a hundred other horses and cramped arenas. Decide which parts of any class or pattern you will need to dedicate the most practice time to prior to the event.
7. Clip and bathe at home.
Yes, you will most likely have to repeat the procedure once in Ohio, but getting the bulk of the hair off at home makes touching up at the horse show a breeze. The same holds true for bathing. Wash fake tails at home too. Anything you can do to eliminate tedious work at the show will make your experience better. Besides, you know that sometimes it takes two washings to really get that mane or tail clean. Get to it in the comfort of your barn at home. You will be glad you did.
8. Ride
It goes without saying that you should have been riding all year in preparation for this show. No great athlete shows up at the top of their game without having shown up at practice. I will not dwell on that here.
9. Check & pack your rig.
If you are responsible for getting your horse to the horse show, make sure all of your equipment is in good working order. If you do not have to haul your own horse, help with the packing. DO NOT leave it to your trainer to pack your items. It is your responsibility to get the right pair of boots in the trailer. I remember cleaning my trailer once and finding 6 pairs of black ropers between the sizes of 6 and 6.5. NONE of them had names in them. None of them were paired correctly. Nobody could tell one pair from another’s. It only happened one time! Put your name on all your items and pack them in the appropriate trailer, suitcase or camper. Check and done!
You can bet the Ohio Tri-Chairmen have already begun making notes for the 2015 Congress and this year’s Congress has not yet begun! You do not need to go to that extreme but the more you prepare at home the easier it will be for the pieces to fall into place for you at the show.
About Stephanie Lynn: Professional Horseman Stephanie Lynn coached her first AQHA World Champion in 1988. She has since coached, trained and shown World, Congress and Honor Roll horses across disciplines. She is a judge for AQHA, NSBA and APHA and has judged World Championship shows for each association. Most recently, Stephanie is the author of The Good Rider Series and A Lifetime Affair: Lessons Learned Living My Passion. The Good Rider Series is a library of resource material that is both practical and applicable in the barn and show ring for riders. Stephanie can always be reached through her website: http://www.stephanielynn.net to answer your questions, schedule a clinic or lesson.
