Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” This quote rings true in the horse show world because, while we may not always be able to control the thousand pound animal beneath us, we can always control how prepared we are for the show pen. Here are some tips and tricks that will help to ensure that you have done everything possible to be perfectly prepped and ready for show time.
1. Know Your Patterns
Remember back in the old days where you would arrive at the horse show and get your horse and tack unloaded before running to draw copies of the patterns? Well, those days are over. Even weeks before some of the smaller shows, show management will upload patterns to their websites so you can download them to your phones. That way, you will always have them on hand. These days, there is no excuse not to know and practice your patterns before you get to the show. At every show, I always see competitors with crumpled up, printed patterns. Before they head into the arena, they stuff it down their chaps and inevitably, it ends up falling out in the middle of the show arena. That is not the last impression you want to leave the judges.
2. Tail Duty
If you’re lucky, you won’t know the terrible feeling of attempting to tie a dirty, unbrushed fake tail into a messy, tangled real tail. Washing your horse’s real tail the night before will not only look better, but it will make grooming so much easier, keeping it looking good and knot-free. If your tail requires braids, go ahead and do this step at night so you don’t have to spend time on it in the morning. Then, once you already have the braids in, you can just slip your fake tail on the next day, check the length and you are ready to go.
3. What’s Your Number?
We all have memorable stories of forgetting our numbers, the numbers were falling off, or even putting the wrong number on our jackets. One step in being more prepared is to cut the excess border off of your numbers and attach them to your show jacket or your saddle pad the night before. Also, when you are in a barn full of many clients with a variety of different numbers, find a place like a dry erase board where you can write the name of each exhibitor and the horse and their number next to it. This way, when everyone is rushing and trying to get ready, no one will need to question who’s number is whose. Pro tip – don’t forget to write your name on the back of your number so if you misplace it, you can easily find it.
4. Make Use of Your Spare Time
When everyone is sitting around the stalls hanging out at the end of the day, you can become more prepared by making use of your free time and cleaning your tack. Show halters, headstalls, and saddles all need to be cleaned now and then because of the amount of dirt that they accumulate over time. Being productive and multitasking by cleaning tack, brushing out your fake tail or even studying your patterns will ensure that you are ready to go when it’s time to show. Be sure to maximize your time at each horse show in the best way possible. Next time you are sitting around waiting for your class, get up and explore. Shopping, spectating or even visiting with friends are great ways to make use of spare time at shows and make every moment count.
5. Put Together an Emergency Horse Show Kit
Personally, I keep this kit of my must haves in the bottom of my bridle bag. My kit includes the following: hair ties, bobby pins, safety pins, extra earrings and red lipstick along with new hairnets and a travel size hairspray. All of these items can come in handy at one point or another, and putting another stash of them in your grooming bag also wouldn’t hurt. Other “emergency” proof tips are to practice your horse show hair and makeup at home. This way, you will be well versed and comfortable with your style before it counts. Practice and preparation are the best defenses in any situation.
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Though you can prepare all you want and some things still may not go your way, having the tools and tricks to be as ready as possible will help to ensure that you are ready to go. Even simple ideas like making a horse show checklist so that you never leave an item at home. No matter what the case may be, practicing preparedness will never let you down when the timing is right.
