Feeling horse show burnout creeping in? Read the best preventative measures for avoiding a mental slump .
You know the horse… the one that stops at the in gate, ears pinned and requires an extra nudge to enter the show pen. Or the one whose rider enters him in so many classes throughout the weekend, you’re pretty sure Energizer batteries power him. Both of these horses are either burnt out or well on their way.
And, though it may not be as obvious, their riders might be, too. After endless – usually long, tiring and hot – weekends at horse shows, burnout can creep in, even to the best-minded horses and to top-notch competitors who say showing horses is their passion.
So how can a positive attitude (in both horse and rider) be achieved and maintained throughout the season and the years? Three of the industry’s finest – and busiest – exhibitors offer up their do’s and don’ts when it comes to staying fresh.
Do think big picture
Think of a show season, or a show career, like a series of stepping stones on a journey toward a grander destination. One misstep does not throw off the entire trip; similarly, one bad day in the show pen is not the end-all be-all.
“What I try to remember is that today’s performance does not dictate who I am as a rider, but rather the journey provides the lessons we need,” multiple World and Congress Champion Nicole Barnes says. “Take the good with the bad. Be disappointed but don’t let it define you. Be happy but stay humble. And keep working at it, no matter what.”
Barnes began showing as a youth and now continues to challenge herself by working with young and green horses with a goal of making them World Show quality horses with the help of trainer Brad Kearns. Barnes and her horse, Zippos Ace of Spades, were two-time Amateur All-Around Champions at the AQHA World Show.
Do set goals
Horse showing isn’t easy. It’s long days. It’s nerve-wracking. It’s expensive. So without an articulated purpose, it’s difficult to find the motivation to keep up such efforts. Perhaps no one could tell you that better than youth exhibitor, Ellexxah Maxwell (pictured left). The daughter of trainers Brent and Melissa Maxwell and the winner of 18 AQHA national titles and 30 Congress Championships among many other accomplishments, Maxwell estimates she spends 85 percent of her time at horse shows. But before setting foot in the show pen, Maxwell and Barnes both advise setting a goal that can keep you focused throughout any up’s and down’s the season may throw at you.
“There are days that you feel like giving up – that everything you try isn’t working, that you never get over a roadblock. But, if you stick with it, the rewards are so much more than you can dream of,” Maxwell says. “Focus on you and your horse alone. Then suddenly you find you’re happy with any outcome in the show pen.”
Barnes agrees, explaining, “We always set goals at the beginning of each show season and hone in on that. So while right now working the lead change on my green horse may seem daunting, it’s what we want to try to master by the end of the year. Being able to ride out the highs and lows of a show season while maintaining a goal in mind keeps me going.”
Already surpassed this season’s goal? Great, they say. But don’t just set the cruise control for the rest of the season. Set a new goal, maybe a series of short-term goals to help you finish your season. Take a lesson from youth exhibitor, Mackenzie Preston, who has shown APHA gelding Brokers Lucky Kid (pictured right) for the past decade to multiple AjPHA World Championships. She sets a goal for each class she enters.
“I challenge myself to…execute certain aspects of my patterns better than last time,” Preston says. Additionally, she says challenging herself by showing in multiple disciplines helps keep her fresh and excited to show. Five-year-old AQHA gelding Where Do I Sign and four-year-old AQHA gelding Skeets Steppin Out (who she shows in reining) complete Preston’s show string trio.
Don’t run your horse into the ground
Falling into a routine in your riding habits is easy. And, of course, a method is often necessary to achieve those goals above. But rather than asking your horse to walk, trot and lope circles every day – a sure way to bore your horse and yourself – pay attention to when you and your horse are both ready for new challenges or just an opportunity to kick back a bit.
“Have those needed rides that are just for fun or a light exercise. These rides can still be productive, of course, but you don’t always have to be at the same intensity level as at a show. Being able to come ‘down’ every so often helps keep it light,” Barnes says.
Additionally, consider cutting down the number of classes you enter. Many all-around riders expect their horses to keep going and going and going – Energizer bunny style – all day, every show day, and often for years. It’s a recipe for mental or physical burnout – or both.
“To keep my horses from getting mentally burnt out, we only do certain classes and only go to about one show a month,” Preston explains. “I never ask for my horse’s life.”
Do do your homework at home
Showtime is not the time to school your horse; it’s time to show your horse. Know what your horse will be successful at by show day, but don’t use that time as a cram session to try to force something that you or your horse aren’t prepared for. When added to show stress, it will weigh heavily on your horse mentally and physically.
“I give my horses breaks. When I’m at a horse show, my horses know what they’re doing. There’s no need for me to ride three and four times a day. I trust them to do their job, and they trust me to do mine,” Maxwell says.
Don’t expect the best ride of your life every time
We all have good days and bad days; days where we wish we could have caught our entire weekend on film because every moment was just that good, and days where we curse whoever dreamed up that silly idea of a record button. Just as an athlete prepares for a championship, exhibitors need to work toward a season high, too and remember that every day won’t be that great.
“Much like the way in which I work to keep myself fresh, we treat the horses the same. They are not expected to perform at their peak except at peak times. We spend a lot of time on the basics throughout the year but also work to keep incorporating new elements in their training… It’s important to keep them happy and healthy throughout the year, not just at show time,” Barnes explains.
Don’t take your horse’s body for granted
To build on Barnes’ wisdom, remember that your horse works hard for you. Like you, they endure the hot temperatures, sore muscles, misaligned vertebrae, and everything else that comes with competing. Whatever your body needs to prepare for and recover from shows and show seasons, your horse likely needs, too.
Preston lists massage, salt water therapy and Theraplate sessions as key ways she helps keep her horses feeling their best and, thus, competing their best. Additionally, she notes turn-out time, plenty of green grass and good brushings, and weekly baths are simpler, more affordable ways to help keep your horse in a positive mental state. “And many, many treats,” she says.
Additionally, Maxwell notes the importance of icing and wrapping your horse’s legs as needed. Her mare, Zips Bossy Chip who is known as Annie around the barn, suffered blown front suspensories in 2012, so Maxwell outfits her in a compression suit for training sessions. She recognizes there is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to your horse’s health.
Do remind yourself of why you compete
Perhaps the most important factor in avoiding burnout is to remember why you compete. Is it because you love your horse? Because you have a passion for competition? Because you want to strut all of what you’ve accomplished with your horse as your teammate?
All three exhibitors could pinpoint their reasons without batting an eye. Preston says, “I actually enjoy riding and showing, so there’s never been any thought of how to keep going… it’s just my passion.” (pictured right)
Barnes explains, “Working with and showing horses is my most favorite thing. My love for the horse runs deep.”
And for Maxwell, “My inspiration is that showing horses allows me to be myself. It is a way I can express myself and share a bond with an amazing creature.”
So the next time you stand at a horse show tired to the bone, wiping sweat from your brow and wondering why you put yourself through another long, hot and perhaps emotional weekend, remind yourself of your reason. And give that amazing creature turned teammate of yours some extra love.
About the author: When she isn’t wrangling 12 and 13 year-olds in her middle school English classroom, Megan Ulrich enjoys riding, showing and judging horses. She lives in Holmen, Wisc., with her husband, daughter, two dogs and two horses. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
