How do you prepare your horses for showing?

[Frances Tufts]

In light of the earlier posts, it occurs to me that there are many people on this chat who have a variety of ways to ensure they and their horses are ready for showing, both physically and experiencially.

I have shown at only 1 show this year for both financial and time reasons. The show I chose though was at a higher level than I had ever shown in the past, being an FEI sanctioned show. It was a wonderful learning experience.

In order to get Hailey ready for the show, ( I am not speaking about the basics of grooming, cleaning tack etc), I put miles of driving on her in a variety of settings, roads, highways, other people's farms. etc. She was already used to travelling on the trailer and had been to many other fairs and shows, so she was un-stressed by the travel and was realxed when she arrived at the grounds. She was accustomed to things like flags, mid-way noises, kids , people with strollers, and of course seeing other horses both under saddle and in harness. Her manners, of course have been expected at all times right from the beginning. I also need to be mindful however of how my actions and behaviour affect her ability to perform. I am fortunate to have a husband who, along with being a superb groom, is able to remind me to relax.

I would never have attempted to go to this show if I had not had the experience of breed shows, local fairs, and other horse events. These are important learning activities for both the horse and for myself. Would I have taken Junior to this show, definitely not as he has not had the experience and maturity to handle this type of show. He might have done OK, but I would have been setting him up for possible problems.

Moving up to a higher level where I was in the same classes with drivers and horses who compete internationally at the top level was a great experience. I did not come dead last ( thank goodness) but it really gave me some insight into the kind of competition, the expectations of the judges, the participants and the spectators. I believe it has made me a better driver and competitor and of course it has given Hailey another experience to build on.

Lets hear from others about strategies for preparing their horses for the show-ring.

[Susan]

Hi Frances, I agree very much with your reflection of the well thought out preparation it takes to show. My horse was trained to drive/CDE but when I purchased him, felt he was better suited as a dressage horse. Once he had a solid training foundation under him with professionals, we spent two years showing him at schooling dressage shows where it would allow him to get used to traveling, being around other horses in the warm up ring (some of which are not behaving) and showing in at a small venue. I would check the location out first to be sure it met safety standards and had some extra bonuses like fenced in showing areas or indoor for warmup. We also, as much as we could, keep up with lessons with his trainer -choosing to keep with the training style chosen and not confuse matters with working with other trainers and techniques. Its just been last year that we have been ready for recognized shows - United States Dressage Federation (USDF) approved shows where his test scores become part of his permanent horse record (eeek, no hiding a bad day). Our goal was for him to be the first Canadian to receive the medal for the national USDF All Breed award medal and in doing so promote the breed. That requires, in one year, (for us without owning a trailer and with a tight budget) getting to a minimum of four USDF shows and accomplishing eight usable test results with two at the highest test of the level you compete at, with an overall min. average. Both years at several shows, rainy weather made the footing challenging for a horse that grew up in the wild, knowing you don't run on slippery footing.... but in 2008 he was the first Canadian to receive the USDF dressage all breed medal. His rider, Jess, has presented him to over 24 national dressage judges from all over the country, most of whom have never seen a Canadian in the dressage ring and many ask questions (each show may have 3 different judges). Huge, huge thanks for the support of the Canadian Breeders Association who, at our request, last year joined USDF to support all of the US owners that show their horses in dressage. His photo was selected to be in the USDF 2008 yearbook and other equine publications. We do our best to present a polished top professional look everytime he is in the public eye - a fit muscled horse representative of the breed standards, shampooed, showsheened, mane braided, tail banked. Legs are trimmed during show season to present a longer cleaner leg visual to the judge, mane is pulled, full body clip or trace clip in the winter because he stays in regular work in the indoor. He has easier rides with me several times a week (I am not the talented one) with other days with Jess and usually one day off. Ring work is followed by cool out ride around the facility. This year, a Canadian named Artagon owned and shown by Laurel Minnick is receiving the national top scores for any Canadian in the dressage ring ( one test was a 69 - thats awesome!!!). The top USDF level test that any Canadian in the US was shown this year was at PSG (WOW!!!!!) - that horse is Moses owned by JoanMarie Evans and Tija Schmiesing! Those two horses are our top dressage horses and kutos to those owners and riders. We hope many others will compete for the all breed medal in the future.

[Susan]

Correction - Moses is listed as a horse approved by the Canadian Breeder's Association incorrectly in the USDF files. He is a Canadian warmblood and should not be double listed. Darn it!

[Debbie Ogden]

In reference to Susan's post about the incorrect listing of Moses I had that problem when I registered for a USDF show at GMHA. When I called the show secretary to correct another error that was made in my registration (they entered me in the wrong show!) I found out that he had been listed as a Canadian Warmblood I politely pointed out the error and explained that because of the rairity of the breed it was importand that he was listed correctly. I don't think that there is a Canadian Horse/Cheval Canadien in their software (I'm just guessing). I agree with both of your posts about show preparation. I always try to make sure that Milou makes a good impression as a representative of the breed. He is always clean, trimmed, braided etc. He loves to show and really turns it on in the ring and then falls asleep tied to the trailer afterward. Several judges have asked about his breed or have found me after to inquire about the breed. I have been showing mostly at schooling shows until I get comfortable with all that is entailed in preparing him and myself properly. Next year we hope to move up to more sanctioned shows but I love the learning atmosphere that is at my local schooling shows so I will always keep thaose as a part of my schedule.

[Susan]

Debbie, I think you did a great job at GMHA June Dressage, your scores were very good. Last year at GMHA we had the same issues about the breed, he ended up listed as a Canadian warmblood but I caught the error before the scores were sent into the USDF and this year I wrote a note on the entry form to be sure - do that with all the other shows. Deb, I think you will agree that its also really important no matter what show you are entering your horse in, not to use the correct name of our breed - the breed name is Canadian, not Cheval Canadian. Wish more people who own our breed would honor the breed name by avoiding that NE alteration. The registry uses Cheval only as an adjective to avoid confusion with the Canadian cattle registry.
Anyway something else we were not prepared for was when you are stepping up from schooling shows to a recognized show, a good rule of thumb to go by is to subtract at least five points from a schooling show to give you an idea of where you might score at a recognized show. Deb, I hope next year you will try to make 4 shows for the USDF all breed medal. There are two shows at UNH in Durham NH right near the facility I board at (might be an overnite stall available for less than show stalls) and you, or for that matter, any other Canadian riders are welcome to stay at my home.