GoHorseShow’s recent article about judges’ pet peeves caused a great deal of discussion among our readers. It prompted us to ask what advice the judges have for novice exhibitors who may be showing at their first breed show. Many newcomers may be intimidated about attending an AQHA or APHA show for the first time. We have provided some great tips that hopefully will help a rookie prepare for their first major show. Let’s find out what the judges had to say!
Kelly Boles Chapman–#1 is to watch. Go to a few breed shows or events, and watch in the warm up pen, and in the show ring. Watch those that are successful with their horses and students, and are kind to their horses. What are they doing? How are their horses and riders presented? Don’t get caught up focusing on the bling and the silver. Look beyond that. I’m pretty sure you’ll see horses that aren’t standing out and ready for over an hour waiting at the in gate, or in the warm up pen. I’m pretty sure you’ll see riders with hair neatly pulled in place, with clean, well-fitting attire. And I’m pretty sure you’ll see the successful ones out working their horses early in the morning, or late at night, with their students practicing. Then their horses will be nicely tucked in, fed and watered on schedule, with legs wrapped and prepped. #2 is ask. Ask these people who you have identified as successful a question. Don’t ask when they are right in the middle of watching their student’s pattern, or right in the middle of a lesson, but ask some specific questions, such as “How do I get my hair in a bun like that?” or “If you have a minute, could you watch me or give me a few pointers?”
Stephanie Lynn–Read the appropriate rule book; find out as much as you can about the show from show management and fellow exhibitors; be on time and prepared; read my 10 Steps to the Show Ring. I would also like to see all riders pay more attention to the fundamentals of their riding skills and less attention to what they are wearing. It takes more than a pretty outfit to be a horseman. Practice fundamentals and show me as an exhibitor that you enjoy the privilege of being on horse back and being at the horse show. After learning the written rules, find out from a knowledgeable source if there are any unwritten rules you should know about. For instance, at an Arabian show they show halter in street clothes with few requirements to attire. At an AQHA show, you will be required to wear certain attire but beyond that, cowboy hats are shaped with squared front brims and straw is not worn in the northern climates until after Memorial Day. You will need a good source for this, so make sure whoever you ask legitimately cares about your success. Make sure all of your tack and clothes are clean and prepared and legal. You do not want any more surprises than necessary when you get to the horse show. Make friends with the show secretary. Your contentedness is their direct concern and they are a font of knowledge and can possibly hook you up with someone who will help you wind your way through your first show.
Daren Wright–Do NOT get discouraged. Showing horses is more than just showing up to the horse show. There is a learning process in which you get to know your horse, learn how to prepare yourself and your horse both mentally and physically. You must learn how to run the patterns in your head and figure out how to think the patterns through. Within this process you also will realize the strengths and weaknesses of both you and your horse. Learning those intricacies not only improves your show ring performance but gives you things to work on at home and a foundation to build upon. An exhibitor needs to realize there will good days, bad days and everything in between. There are many very successful exhibitors who have all been in your shoes. Those exhibitors had the determination, dedication and tenacity to master their sport. A positive attitude will be the key to success.
Jennifer Lynn Thompson–I think for the novice people, please know that in the pattern classes, we look for the good riders. We’re not looking for the prettiest (although, pretty helps). The best thing you can do is to continue to function during a pattern. If your horse begins to not perform correctly, we want to see you fix it BEFORE it gets started. If he comes out of frame, fix it before it gets bad. If he wants to speed up or slow down, catch it before it gets out of hand. I always tell my students, “Would you rather be a pilot, or just a passenger?” In all pattern classes, we look for the pilots. As far as rail classes, what catches my eye is a brave showman. I really give credit to the person that doesn’t show “in fear”. I can tell a person that doesn’t trust their horse. There are ways to fake that if needed. When a gait is called for and the judge is watching, step up and go. If you don’t, we know there is trouble. Chances are, once we see you take the gait, we’re going to start looking for the next person. You can fix then if needed. I LOVE a brave showman. There are several trainers that show that way. They’re not afraid to go, and they’re not afraid to go off the rail. It makes it a lot of fun to judge!
Clint Fullerton–My advice to novice exhibitors just beginning to show, is to first and foremost relax–you are here for fun and the competition of sport and never lose sight of that. Be aware of the progression of the show and make sure you are to your classes on time and enter the arena promptly and show your horse to how the class is called. Remember, no performance is perfect so if something goes a little wrong help your horse through it, don’t over correct and continue to show confidently.
Brad Jewett–As for novice exhibitors, I want to encourage you to keep it simple and be correct. Correct wins a lot! Don’t get discouraged and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you don’t understand something. When I show or when I judge, I love to see new exhibitors working hard and trying. Lastly, one word. Confidence! No matter whether you have the best horse or not, own what you have and show it to the fullest. Confidence sells!
Christa Baldwin–My advice for novices is watch the regular amateur and youth classes as much as possible and watch how they are showing and how they are riding. Visualizing is the best form of getting better and improving. The other thing that I feel is very important is to video yourself and also others that you know do well, so you can see how you look and then how they look doing the same pattern or class. I have the parent or someone else to video my students. Then the following week, we sit down, have a dinner together and critique, then do a lesson and work on what we just went over. That works really well.
Michael Damianos–Novice riders need to understand that
showing horses is an art mastered only through education and experience.
Do not base your success on the ribbon you won. Base your success on
what you have learned and how you improve. If you determine the quality
of your time only by your placings you are setting yourself up for
disappointment. Measure your success on confidence built, relationships
nurtured, lessons learned, wisdom attained and added appreciation of
your horse. As these things grow, so will your prizes.
Ruth Ellen–The best advice I can give to ‘new’ novice
exhibitors is to go for the ride, not for the ribbons. Don’t worry about
how you place (or don’t). Concentrate on perfecting your ride and
the ribbons will come to you. Second best advice: keep breathing!
Michelle Tidwell–I
encourage all novice exhibitors to ask questions. Whether it is a
trainer they approach or another exhibitor, ask questions. Also, go look
at the score sheets in the office. They can be a source of things that
you do good and places you can practice more.
Sid Griffith–For new novices, I would always suggest
that riders give extra attention to proper grooming of their horse and
showing up in neat, properly fitted attire. Flashy show equipment and
clothing does not impress me, but respect for your horse and your
equipment shows that the rider is interested in looking their best.
Sherrye Johnson-Trafton–My
advice–be more concerned with your performance and less with bling and
sparkle. No where in the rules does it say the most crystals and silver
wins.
Nancy Swarm–My advice to the novice
competitor is to do your homework at home! Be organized and prepared
when it is “SHOW TIME”. Present yourself and your horse with confidence,
be poised and precise while maintaining a pleasant and natural picture.
Impress the judge that you are competent and enjoy your job! Convince
the judge that you and your horse are the very best in the class!
Determination, practice and tenacity prevail!
Karen Banister–I think early preparedness is the best advice. I like to encourage novices to do a dry run to the local riding area or to a lesson if they haul into someone else’s facility. If they set themselves up as if they were going to have to show, they would know how long it would take to load their equipment and their horse. If they pretended they were going to need to show, they could also have a dry run on how long it would take to prepare whether it was by lunging or warming up. Taking them to a location they had never been is the best test because you don’t know what they’re anxiety level will be at a horse show they have never been to.
