It is a quick turn around from Congress to the World Show and GoHorseShow wanted to how trainers and exhibitors keep their horses and themselves fresh and peaked for both shows. Is having them so close together make it easier or harder? Any advice you have for anyone trying to keep their horse fresh for the World Show? We asked trainers from several disciplines including halter, all-around, hunter under saddle, hunter events, and western pleasure.
Ross Roark (pictured right)–It is really hard on the younger halter horses that are weanlings to two year-olds. They have a tendency to get sick and lose weight the younger they are due to changing weather, hauling long distances, and their immune system not being as built up at a young age. We give them Equistem and Zylexis and make sure they are all vaccinated. I would rather not attend the Congress because it is 1400 miles to get there from my place and it is really hard on the horses, but some of my customers want to attend so I will bring their horses. I think it would help if the halter was held around the beginning of the show with the reining and cutting so we would have about a month in between the Congress and the World Show. Also, after the Congress, we had the vet draw blood and make sure the horses are doing okay because if we head out with a horse that is sore or sick we will be doomed to get them shown due to the stress. We give them hot baths after the Congress and let them rest a few days and they bounce back pretty fast. At the shows, we also constantly monitor their temperatures and check on them constantly to make sure they are handling everything well.
Leonard Berryhill–I like having the Congress and World Show close together. After we get home, we take a day off, start back light, then it’s business as usual. I like coming off the Congress to the World Show because I have had a lot of time there with my World Show horses and I feel my preparation is actually better. But believe me, when the World Show is over, there will be some “me” time taken!
Leslie Lange--It is really hard to keep a horse peaked and in top performance for both shows. Since they are so close together, you try to give them some down time in between. We had to go home to swap out horses and the ones that did both shows had some free time and turnout–that I feel is so important for their mental health. I almost think that it is harder on the people than the horses. The horses are probably still physically tired but a mental break is very important I feel.
Darcy Reeve–I think there is good and bad to having the Congress and the World Show so close together. It’s easy to get back into “show mode” after such a short time, and I feel my horses are still pretty prepared from the Congress going into Oklahoma City. However, there are definitely negatives too. Congress is so stressful, on both yourself and your horse. The little amount of sleep you get during amateur week at the Congress is hard to gain back in less than a week. To keep my horses fresh and able to keep going through the World Show, this year we limited the classes we showed in at the Congress. We showed Vino in two classes rather than the six he usually does. For myself, I had no opportunity to recover from the crazy Congress, as I was back at school making up tests and getting ready for more missed classes, but I find myself able to thrive on the competition, and its easy for me to push through until the end of it all.
Cheryl Hawkins–It was hard this year having the Congress and World Show so close together and plus having the Novice World Championship just prior to the Congress–that makes six weeks of showing. If you have a different group of horse doing the different shows, you have to plan ahead with lay over stalls and hotels. Most of my horses had to come back to Ocala after Congress and I spent three days at home then had to drive to OKC. If you have two rigs and two drivers, it would make a lot easier, as one person and one rig is hard. Keeping your horses fresh is hard coming off the Congress, I actually turned mine out and gave them a day off. Then they have to get back in the trailer for another 24 hour trip.
Dave Miller/Scott Jones–It is way harder to keep the horses fresh physically but sometimes easier to keep ourselves mentally in the game because we have no time to relax. We try and find a facility between the two events where our horses can be turned out and have time to relax. We continue to ride and school our fence horses but choose to do so very quietly with the least amount of stress possible. Lastly we choose to keep our horses that travel that extensively on top notch stomach medicine such as Ulcerguard or Succeed in order to prevent colic and weight loss.
Arianne Pait–Everyone coming home from Congress knows that your body needs to catch up on missed sleep. My advice is to let it. Schedule some extra sleep so that your body can get back to functioning in a normal way. The horses need that too. Now is not the time to lose focus though. The AQHA World Championship Show is such a prestigious event and now is really the time to stay tough mentally. Work on your weaknesses and really improve so that you can have the best world show possible. Good luck everyone!
Charlie Cole–Well, we definitely gave ourselves and our horses a few days off. The horses are very tuned from the Congress, so even with the World Show less than a week away, it will only take a couple of days to be prepared to show at the World. Most of our horses got turned out for a couple hours each day when they got home from Congress. Jason locked himself in his room for a day and I went to the Four Seasons resort Spa for half a day of relaxation and no cell phone!
Joni Nelson–I think, if you can, time off for the horse is great between shows. They peak at the Congress and we ask them for their best, then ask them again to perform at the same high level. We can only expect them to be at their best when they are physically rested and mentally sound. We all take time off, even if it is just for a few days after the Congress, and I think the horses need the same. Time turned out is a must for our horses doing shows. Having the two shows close together brings a different strategy of readiness to our horses and us but we can achieve it if you think and plan out both shows. Most of us all are on the same boat. Don’t peek too early and leave it at home.
Karen Graham-Every year we haul our horses all the way back to Arizona from Congress and turn them out in the warm sunshine before the World Show. May not help them but it definitely helps me! (laughs)
Lainie DeBoer–Coming off Congress after a few days off, I just flat them lightly each day in a snaffle for 15-20 minutes and just leave them alone and let them play. I try to trail ride around the farm and make sure they get plenty of turn out. For myself, I try to submerge myself in being a mother, sleepovers, cooking dinners, movies, and Halloween activities.
Charlene Carter–Congress gives you a good feel for where you stand. The keys is to not over do your horse there. The clients sometimes want their horses over prepared for the early classes and don’t realize that as trainers we are looking at the entire schedule.
Maggie Bellville–It’s tough especially on the young babies. Invariable they catch viruses and colds. Keeping them on immune boosters is essential. Getting them home ASAP to recoup is important. Turn out and rest is great- they will get plenty of work at the show!
Keith Miller–We come up with a plan. Sometimes we may opt out of classes at the Congress in preparation of the World Show. I think people really need to listen to their horses and slow down when they are getting too tired. Most injuries occur when horses are tired and fatigued. We leave from the Congress and lay over with friends in Arkansas. This way we are able to break the trip up in a couple of days. There, we are able to turn out and allow the horses a cool down period and regroup, and we make sure to rest in order to stay healthy!
