Finally, the day has come and you arrive at the gates of the Ohio State Fairgrounds. If you hauled your horse and are responsible for unloading, make sure that you know ahead of time where your stalls are. Have bedding delivered ahead of time – it will save much time and energy. The bedding office is open and ready for business. Anything that can be done ahead of time to ease the work once you get there is optimal.
Get settled
Once you are unloaded, get your bearings. Hang buckets, hook up the water hose, find the closest restrooms and where you can legally park – nothing is worse than finishing a long day to find your truck or car has been towed and impounded. I speak from experience.
Check in
After you and your horse have settled in march yourself to the show office to pick up your numbers. Gather any paperwork and pick up any supplies you need so you can get to the business at hand – preparing to show! This is also a good errand to send a nervous Nelly on…
Go to www.oqha.com to see draw orders and nighttime riding schedules. Download a pdf of the schedule and store it on your phone where it can be viewed without data reception or a WiFi connection. Do the same with patterns available at horseshowpatterns.com. Take pictures of anything you will need to have immediately at your fingertips. Don’t forget to sign up information for practice sessions.
The Congress will be using the gate keeper app again this year at Celeste to help manage the classes by showing scratches. Stay on top of things while staying off your feet by downloading then saving the web addresses you will need to your smart phone. But remember, you are ultimately responsible for making it to your class on time.
Schedule braiding and banding early
The same goes for any vet, chiropractic or therapeutic work you know in advance you need to have done. If you are shopping for horses, set up appointments early. Between your schedule, the seller’s schedule, weather and the pace of the horse show, it may take a few attempts to get together. Enter cell numbers you will need into the contacts on your phone. Having these numbers at your fingertips can save your feet or eliminate a panicked chase for the braider.
Speaking of smart phones
Make sure that you have a proper case for your phone with a secure clip. Employ the “find my phone” services and be sure to put a lock on your phone in case it finds its way into the wrong hands. There are apps for both IPhones and Androids that allow you to call or send a code to retrieve a lost Phone yet prevent unwanted users from gaining access.
New this year
Due to high demand for the hot walker by the Gilligan barn, an additional walker will be available between the Buckeye riding arena and the Buckeye building. Owners drop horses off and are free to leave while their horses work at a brisk trot on the comfortable footing made from recycled tires.
Don’t worry if your horse has never been on a hot walker. According to Mo West, “most new horses learn how to use it within 30 seconds.” Time on the walker sells by the hour but sponsorships are available for barns who want to book the entire walker. Horses are worked at a brisk trot for an hour for a fee of $45.00. Mo West runs the Buckey walker and can be reached at 843-655-7676 or emailed at mowest0@gmail.com. Carole Mini runs the Gilligan walker taking appointments at 586-405-8258 or email her at Ac_mini@comcast.net.
Beating the crowds
The best time to ride during the show is during a major event at Celeste. The first go of the Two-Year Olds or the Non-Pro Three Year Old Futurity classes always draw a crowd. Riding during the dinner hour can also be a quiet time to ride although your partner may be cranky if he is taken away from his stall without being fed.
The Buckeye once again will be used for hunter schooling until the last hunter hack class is complete. It is a longer walk from some stabling areas, but later in the show, the walk can be worthwhile as the Buckeye often has fewer horses traipsing around. Be sure to check the lunging hours at both Buckeye and Scottsdale arenas. Best to be early to the lunging pen!
Don’t get star struck
Stick to your plan. The Congress is an awesome place to watch talented horses and riders prepare for the big event. Every year I am amazed at what I see. Do not be tempted to try some technique or piece of equipment you have no understanding of and have not used at home. This is NOT the place to experiment.
Remember it does not matter what someone has won in the past. And while a certain horse and rider combination may be very familiar to you, the judges are marking their cards based on that day’s performance. No one, no matter who they are, gets a pass – everyone will have to perform well to move on. Focus on your game, on your horse and on your performance.
Control your nerves
Dr Karen Waite, a horse show judge and blogger with a PhD in sports psychology, advises riders that “nerves are actually a very normal part of any competitive experience. When you’ve worked so hard, and invested so much, it only stands to reason that you want to do well, and sometimes that desire to do well results in an extreme case of nervousness. The very best competitors spend time learning how to manage and control their nerves to the point where they can achieve the optimum balance of just enough to sharpen their focus, but not so much that they can’t perform at their best. Developing these mental skills is an ongoing process, that requires practice just like any other skill, but once you learn to control your emotions, you can address all of the things that often come up at a major horse show that you might not have as much control over.”
Repeat behavioral routines that have been successful in the past. Remember a winning ride and envision yourself repeating that performance. Practice and develop a comfort level with expected Congress show ring procedures. We are most nervous about things that we do not understand.
Once you step into the practice pen and as you enter the show arena, remember to breathe. The most common mistake is to forget to exhale. Practice outside the show pen by slowly breathing in through your nose for the count of four. Slowly exhale through your mouth for the count of four. Repeat this six to ten times. Try saying power words or phrases to help you focus and relax. And if waiting around is making you anxious, perform some menial task such as cleaning a stall to distract your mind.
Enjoy the show
After all, that is what this is all about. The Congress is a three ring circus with things going on everywhere. There are demonstrations, clinics, shopping and classes to be watched. You can visit puppy alley, taste every delicacy you can imaging or just hang out and watch people ride. Catch up with friends you only see once a year or friends you only see at horse shows. The Congress is a great place to make connections, meet new people and see great horses and riders come together for winning rides. Take it all in. Before we know it, we will be heading home planning for next year.
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.
