Does winning the preliminaries at the AQHA World Show give you a better or worse chance of becoming a World Champion in that class? In the attempt to scientifically measure the odds of how winning the prelims effects results in the finals, we decided to take a random sampling of 10 amateur and open classes from the 2014 AQHA World Show. What we found from these 10 classes is that the horse that won the prelims placed, on average, in sixth place in the finals. This year, there was only one horse that won the prelims that also returned to win the finals (Amateur Showmanship). Conversely, the horse that won the finals, on average, placed fifth in the preliminaries.
GoHorseShow talked to several competitors about how they handle showing
in both the preliminaries and finals at the AQHA World Shows. Do they
play it safe in the preliminaries? Is winning the prelims a blessing or a curse? Do
they prefer to be in the top spot or would they rather not have the
pressure going into the finals? Lastly, how do they handle the pressure? Let’s hear what they have to say.
Miller Henard (pictured right)–You want to stand out and be impressive to make sure you
get back to the finals, however, if the round is going well, there is no
point in jeopardizing it to do something more difficult when you don’t
have to. I believe it’s all mental when it comes to pressure and it’s
different for each person. For me, I say a few things: first I have
ridden a thousand perfect goes before, this one is no different. And
secondly, I just want to perform at my best…show my horse off to the
best of my ability, accept that I make mistakes and even though it has
the potential of being disappointing, it’s impressive I made it this
far. I have a great support system. I heard at this AQHA World Show
someone say, ‘It’s just another horse show with bigger prizes.’ I
believe if you don’t psych yourself out, you ride more effectively.
Believe in yourself. Love the ride and just ride it.
Charlie Cole–I would say for the most part I just try to have clean solid runs in the prelims and go for broke in the finals. It’s not that’s easy to play it safe when you are competing against the very best. I have lost track how many times I’ve won the go rounds but I do know it’s probably double the actual amount of times I’ve won, but I have on several occasions won the prelims and the finals. Which do I prefer? Well, it all depends on the horse. On my junior horses, I want to have a solid go that gets me into the finals and save my best go for the finals. With my senior horses, I like to have a big score in the prelims but just getting into the finals is my goal. I think the hardest part is getting through the prelims and into the finals. I handle pressure but know that I’ve prepared my horses and myself to the best of my ability–the rest is up to the judges.
Darcy Reeve–I never think about playing it safe in the finals. I feel that at the world show, you lay it out in both rounds because it’s the same judges and they remember your goes whether they think about it or not. It’s a huge running joke in our barn how winning the prelims is a curse. I’ve won the prelims in both the trail and western riding. The only time I have ever won both the prelims and the finals is in the western pleasure where it’s not posted who won the prelims until after the finals are over. However, I will never go into the finals with the attitude that I’m not going to accomplish anything because I won the prelims. I treat finals and prelims as two completely different classes. Anything can happen between the two. I always rely on the fact that there’s another year ahead of me and no matter what happens, I will get another shot.
Jason Wanderer–I try and focus on the same principles equally in the prelims as in the final: how I will best present my horse, mentally walking through the pattern in my head and thinking about how to ride each maneuver utilizing the methods and skills we have practiced all year while not attempting to change anything drastically. When showing in the finals I try to integrate what was successful in my prelim pattern while not repeating but improving any challenges we may have had. I’m not a superstitious person and don’t believe there is a strong correlation between success in the prelims and the finals as anything can happen. I think it is easiest to think of the prelims and finals as two different unrelated classes at a big horse show so I enter the class with a blank slate and am not consumed with any expectations (positive or negative) from my last ride.
Peyton Bivins–I have developed the habit of separating the two entirely. When it comes to the prelims of any class I show, whether it be the Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, or Equitation, I am always nervous. I want to make it to the finals of course but, for me, the anxiety stems from my personal desire to not only perform to the best of my ability but to be able to reproduce everything I have perfected when practicing. I would not say that I “play it safe” in the prelims–I aim for accuracy. There are two things that my trainer, Leslie Lange, says to me before I enter the arena: 1. Be correct and 2. Have fun. These two things have great power over my mindset. They both relax me and give me a sense of confidence in that I have prepared to the best of my ability and whatever happens happens and then I focus on enjoying my horse and trying my best. When it comes to the idea of winning the prelims being a curse, I honestly would not know. I have never gone from winning the prelims to winning the class. However, when I won the trail last year I kind of snuck into the finals with little room to spare as I was sitting in either last or next to last out of the finalists, and I was absolutely thrilled to be there, just as I was this year. With this being said, the mindset I have when showing in the finals changes a bit. Making it to the finals is amazing to me every time. When I have made it to the finals I am honestly just so excited to be there. I feel as though I go for it a bit more in the finals because to me that is part of the fun. However, I decided to “go for it” this year in the trail finals and that did not work out very well for us! But the finals for me don’t bring much pressure, they often bring different challenges that push me a bit further and make me a better competitor. I have two amazing horses who I absolutely love to show, a trainer who, after our ritual of squeezing hands and her encouraging me to have fun, will be proud of me no matter what the outcome, and family and friends who support me every step of the way. I am of course nervous before the finals of an event but the anxiety is exhilarating to me and there is no feeling like having an amazing ride on one of my horses. But, no matter how things go, I always enjoy every second of every ride.
Morgan Parisek–I would say I try to give every ride the same amount of effort whether the prelims or finals. I want to give it my all because there is no guarantee you will make it into the finals if you don’t give it all you have in the first trip. I led the prelims in the hunter hack this year at the world show and went on to win the finals. To me, it doesn’t make a difference whether I’m going in at the top spot or not because there is still a chance of a comeback and I will be nervous either way! I normal deal with the pressure by giving my horse, Murray, a pat on the neck and taking a deep breath before I go in the ring and remembering what a great horse I have and that he always takes care of me.
Jeff Johns–I would have to say that with today’s quality of horses at the world show it’s hard to play it safe and conservative in the prelims and still make the finals in the events that I compete in. The trail seems to get tougher and tougher every year and you almost need to be clean to even make the finals. The western riding is getting to be the same way where one bad lead change or bad log can keep you from making the finals. However, I do feel I don’t “go for it” in the prelims. In the prelims, I might have my horse on a slightly shorter rein– A) because it’s the first time showing my horse in that event at the show and I don’t know what they’ll give me and B) the finals is where it’s time to “Go big or go home” as we always joke so that is where we strive to be our utmost best. It’s also nearly impossible to have two world champion quality rides back to back so I definitely want to peak in the finals and not in the prelims. Last year, I tied to win the western riding prelims and walked out of the arena a finalist. While I was very happy with my top 15 finalist, I would have rather had my prelims ride. This year, I went into the finals 6th and ended up winning it so you never know what the cards will bring. If you are winning the prelims, you know the judges really like you but also that you probably can’t improve much on the ride you had so you have to be perfect again. If you go into the finals down the line a little bit you probably had a tiny bobble or mistake that you know you can improve on in the finals and hope to better your placing.
Jason Martin–I think it one hundred percent depends on your personality. Some people win the go around and that puts too much pressure on them to be able to ride at their potential. For me, if I win the go around, it gives me confidence. I know the judges already like what they saw and I don’t need to change my game plan. Now if I get my butt handed to me in the go round then I will watch my video and see where I can improve and probably put in a few extra rides.
Hillary Roberts–I would say that it depends on the class. As far as trail goes, being that the lower tier of scores go into a shootout to compete for a position in the finals, I try to go into the trail and produce a big score in order to skip the shootout altogether. For the horsemanship and pleasure, I wouldn’t say I play it safe, but I just try to go into the prelims and be soft and correct. I try to make use of all my horse’s potential, but I try not to really push for 110% until the finals. I don’t think winning the prelims is a curse, because though the scores are wiped before the finals, I think the judges still remember their first impression of you and your horse they got in the prelims. Last year, at the youth world in the trail, I was one of the top scores and went on to win. I’ve led the prelims in the pleasure and gone on to win that as well. There definitely is pressure that comes with leading the prelims, for me, it almost pushes me to try to beat myself. That’s how I try to show, I’m not so much worried about beating someone else but about beating my own personal best.
Carey Nowacek–For me, I always showed the prelims like any other horse show. I wouldn’t necessarily call it “safe” but I want a clean, correct go for the prelims. Once in the finals I think that’s the time to lay it all out in the arena and have fun. Getting to the finals is the hardest part. Once you’re there everything else is just icing on the cake so why not give it everything you got and show the judges you’re there to win. Being in the top spot in the prelims is a feeling of relief. You know the judges liked you and your horse and you have a great shot. But I don’t think that means you should take the finals lightly. I think in taking that top spot and being confident when you come back for the finals will help you show that much better. Not cocky, but confident.
Shannon Brown Korkowski–When I am going into a prelim that is all I think about. I have making the finals on my mind and I want to give it my all. If there is a part to the pattern that is difficult for my horse, I might play that part safe and really try to plus all of the other maneuvers. I don’t think winning the prelim is a curse, even though I have not had the best luck when winning a prelim. I think it is a confidence booster to know the judges already like you and your horse. Although, in the pattern events, we usually do not know where we placed in the prelim until the finals are over. If I do know the prelim results, I like to be near the top. I think there are places to improve with every go even if you place well. I like knowing I am already near the top and that I can still improve. I love the pressure of being in a final. I get the most nervous waiting in the barn but once I walk down the shoot I feel calm. I only think about going for gold and not the things that might go wrong. If it goes wrong I have time to be disappointed after I show. I don’t want to waste my time dwelling on the bad if it has not happened yet.
Kathy Tobin–I used to “play it safe” going into the finals but today with the level and quality competition, I have to “go for it” in the prelims too. I do feel winning the prelims is a jinx, but I did win once after leading in the prelims so now I don’t feel quite such negative pressure. I do feel more comfortable not leading the prelims so that there isn’t as much pressure going into the finals. Over the years, I’ve managed to get my nerves under control, nowadays, I have to be careful not to get too flat or relaxed because then I get sloppy and create more mistakes for myself. It’s a fine line between being too nervous and having problems and getting too complacent and having sloppy mistakes. It is always a constant struggle.
Parris Rice–I don’t necessarily try to play it safe in the prelims, but I have never walked in with the plan to win the prelims. For me the goal has always been to lay down a respectable pattern that will bring me back to the finals. I like being able to step it up another couple notches in the finals. It’s hard to win the prelims and the finals, which isn’t to say it can’t be done. I like being able to feel like I can perform better in the finals, because that’s when it really counts. I would rather go into the finals in the top 5. You have the confidence and the momentum to keel rolling, you didn’t just barely squeak in nor are you trying to beat yourself. I handle the pressure through confidence. I know what my capabilities are and I know my horse’s. My goal is to not have any regrets walking out of the arena. No matter what you do there will be pressure though. Sometimes it’s best to remind yourself that we wear these glitzy outfits, bright lipstick, and perfectly shaped hats for fun. While showing may be our lives, and I love that it’s mine, at the end of the day we do it because we love it. So if you’ve made the finals and the pressure is getting to you no matter what you will still be among the top fifteen riders and horses in the world.
Livvie Van Lanen–Whenever I’m in the show pen, I go for it. I’ve learned that playing it safe doesn’t do you any favors. This past summer I went into the trail finals with the leading prelim score, and went into the western riding with the second highest prelim score. In both finals I made some mistakes. It can be very difficult to handle the pressure, but I’ve learned to just look at each class as just another ride.
Shelby Ratliff–During the preliminary round of a major horse show such as the World Show or Congress, there is a fine line between playing it safe and making sure you do not make any crucial mistakes, and displaying to the judges the confidence you have in yourself and your horse’s ability, therefore allowing yourself to be seen and remembered. In my personal opinion, winning the prelims is not a curse unless you let it get to your head where it then becomes a mental game. Knowing what your horse and yourself are capable of, whether it be ability or scoring, definitely plays a major role in how I approach the finals. In the long run, you are your biggest competition. Everyone wants to win, make their family and trainers proud and be remembered as having a stand-out ride. Ultimately, pressure can be the driving force behind a win that leaves you as the last one standing in the arena.
Kamiah McGrath–I think metal toughness is critical to showing horses. I try to perform my best in both the prelims and the finals. Actually, I think winning the prelims is a confidence builder and it gives me hope for the finals. I don’t get nervous and I don’t feel pressure when I am showing. I always have personal goals for me and my horses (Jake and Stevie) and I just try to focus and accomplish them each time I show.
Ty Paris–I don’t think you can play it safe in the prelims. Our classes are way too tough not to try to shine in the first go. If you play it safe, you might not get to the finals. I have seen people that have won the class the whole way through, but I have never placed higher in the prelims than the finals. I find those that have won all the way through to be extremely impressive because consistency is hard to master. I do not like to know where I am sitting in the prelims. I definitely feel the pressure and I find it hard to focus on just having a great go in the finals. Stay focused! Letting the placing get into your head too much distracts you from what is really important, which is just preparing and showing the best you can on that given day.
Joanne Garnett–I don’t think you can play it safe in the preliminaries and make it back. The competition today is too good for that. You need to be good no matter where you go in the draw so it doesn’t bother me where I go. I prefer an earlier draw myself and don’t mind if I am first to go. I feel if you go early and you are good you can put the pressure on the people who follow you. I would prefer not to win the prelims but I don’t really think about it. I have won the prelims before but I did not win the finals. I don’t mind being draw one in the finals. I don’t watch anyone else show ever. I have my plan and know what I am going to do and I don’t want to watch other people and then second guess myself. I really don’t feel much pressure when I show. I feel more pressure in the preparation. I have great faith in my horse and my trainer so if the preparation is there the pressure is off. It doesn’t always work but I find it works more often then not for me.
Lindsay LaPlante–I don’t try and play it safe in the prelims. I think that it is the course that matters. Once you’ve made it past that, you’re golden. I’ve never won the prelims, only been top ten, and placed higher in the finals. I think that is because I put more pressure on myself in the prelims, then after I’ve made it, I don’t worry about what happens. My goal is just to make the cut… that might be what happens when someone wins the prelims, they put the pressure on to outperform their previous performance in the finals, which is near impossible.
Lainie DeBoer–I don’t change my ride or play it safe in the preliminaries. I am more aware of my mental strategy. I think I put more pressure on myself because I want to make it into the finals. Whenever there is a lot of pressure, I have to make sure I put myself into a bubble and remove myself from the environment so I can stay focused. I just keep going over my plan and I don’t let any other thoughts enter in. I don’t watch anybody else because it distracts me from my job. The minute you feel like somebody has had a good round you think you need to be perfect and that is rarely possible. That is when problems occur. So I only concentrate on myself and my horse. I have had both situations where I have been leading and made a mistake and also leading and won. Every time I go in the ring, I just try to have no regrets. Have the best ride I can with my horse and minimize any foreseeable problems. I think if you think about the situation too much it will consume you and you will not be as effective of a rider for the win.
