Horse Showing As A Spectator
This is my most favorite time of year because for these 7 weeks of summer there is an A Rated horse show series that is close enough for me to go and watch. Yes, I said watch. You see, I am a professional spectator at this horse show every year.
And one day I really do hope to be a competitor at said horse show, but for now there is so much that can be learned as a spectator. That may sound strange, and you might be thinking there really isn’t a lot to learn by merely watching a horse show. But let me share with you some of the things I have learned as a horse show spectator.
Around The Show Grounds
The show grounds are big. There are a lot of barns to see. Some are traditional permanent barns.
Some are temporary Tent style barns. And some are sort of in between.
Depending on how much you are willing to spend on your horse’s accommodations will determine which barn you end up in. Oh, and if you have a trainer you are stabling with as well. And if you want a paddock, you can have one for a fee.
And if you look down the aisle ways of the barns, you will see a lot. The horses in their stalls, who is with the horses, and how they are cared for. Many stalls have fans for the horses, and some of the stalls double as make shift tack rooms. You can get a lot of good ideas for setting up your own tack room efficiently by looking into one of these tack rooms (with permission of course).
And if you are a hunter or a jumper, pay attention to the courses. You can emulate the courses at home while you are working on your goal of getting to that horse show. Not sure you can remember the course? Take a picture of it with your phone, or camera. That way when you go home, you will have a new course to practice over.
And don’t forget to look at the jumps! If you are a jumper, practicing over jumps at home that you would find in the show arena is an important thing to keep in mind. You don’t have to have the full size jump at home, but if you can add fillers, flags, and anything that might be found at a show to your own jump course at home, you will be better prepared for when you do get to a show.
The Vendor Area
And there are lots of vendors selling lots of the latest and greatest items. This is one of my favorite places to visit. Sometimes you can find some really great deals, especially at the end of the shows.
And you can also pay attention to what people are talking about around these little shops. What they are buying for their horses, and what the grooms favorite secret recipes for getting a show ring shine.
The Competitors
I also like to pay attention to what the riders are wearing. You can see a lot of the latest trends. And it seems most jumpers have some sort of fancy memory foam half pad. But if you are looking for a new saddle, and aren’t sure which way to start, pay attention to the saddles people are using. This is especially helpful if they are riding in classes you hope to compete in one day. If you ride jumpers, you will see a lot of French saddles, and for a good reason, they are fantastic. But whatever discipline you ride, by paying attention to the tack, you might get some ideas.
I also pay attention to their boots, helmets and breeches, for the same reasons I look at the tack.
The Warm Up Ring
This is by far the most valuable place to pay attention. The warm up area is filled with riders, and on the sidelines are those riders’ trainers. If you park yourself on the sidelines, you can get some very valuable information simply by watching and listening.
Have you ever ridden with a top trainer? No? Well, then just stick around the warm up area and listen to the best as they give their tips!
The Competition Arena
I like to find a spot that I can watch the riders as they walk the course. And then I pay attention to how they walk it, and what they are looking at. Do you know how to count strides between jumps? If not, or if you are just learning, watch the riders before a big class. They will walk the course, and you will see them counting the strides between the jumps. They will also be concentrating on tricky parts of the course, and you can see how they will ride that course.
It is fascinating to watch the before, and then watch the riders in the arena during the class.
By going to a horse show with the perspective of a spectator, you can learn so much. So I challenge you to find a horse show to go watch, no matter what discipline you ride. Bring your camera and put on your thinking cap. Be a good observer, and I know you will learn at least a few things you can take home and apply to your own riding. That way when you are competing in a show yourself, you will be better prepared, and enjoy your showing experience even more!