Hi everyone, I just wanted to know if any of you have ever been to any "big time" horse shows, like breed shows or what not. At my barn everyone does AQHA shows and they place constantly, but they all have their own horses and I only half lease mine. The shows are very expensive and sometimes out of state. However, there is a novice show coming in July according to my instructor that has clinics and stuff. I think it would be a good show to go to. Have you guys been to any big shows and how did you like it? Did you have fun? Was it worth the money?
Hi there, it depends on what state you live, some states are harder to get points at the AQHA shows, where do you live. My daughter and I did this for several years, you need to get a good instructor who has much QH experience showing, you need to know how to ride your horse, there is no such thing as a push button horse, if you have a trainer, ask them to teach you how to do it, I did and I broke out my last 2 year old. We went to many QH shows, you have to have a decent horse, of course, and you have to know how to present yourself as sometimes big things come in little packages, we had a 15.2 horse, she was really nice western pleasure and people laughed at us when we wanted to show her in the English division, well we showed them, we even got some hunter under saddle points on her, she could more and use herself. You will never know until you try, yes it can be kind of pricy, but you dont have to go to every show. Another big thing is that if more than one of you are using this horse for showing you both need to know how to ride the same so the horse is not confused, if you do something one way and the other person riding asks for the same thing in a different way, the horse just gets confused and messed up and doesnt know what is expected of it. Get on the same page as the other person leasing your horse and this may help you a lot, dont be intimated by people who say they are always placing that does not always mean they are getting points, there has to be so many in a class for the people to get points if there are only 5 horse and they get a 4th that is not necessarily great, so just keep that in mind and dont be intimated by anyone, even if they do have their own horse. Almost all the QH shows have a novice division with many classes, that is how we started, so check on those shows that may be close to you and go and have fun that is the main thing, remember winning is not everything. Bluetwinki
Hello,jdbc4! This question of yours is sort-of relevant to the string I raised last week: how to pay for our horses (and associated activities) in these financially difficult times? I have been in the Equine profession many years,done many shows and offer some training--online--courses, Private Coach to Student, 1-1, please go to the store and check these out! Also, please write more about the cost thingy, I am interested. THANKS...happy trails today, wfh
Thanks everyone. I am located in Washington state. As far as I have researched, stalls are about $200 for the duration of the show, and you have to buy your own shavings which are about $10 a bag. Class prices depend on how many judges you have, and can be anywhere from $20 and up I believe. Hauling would be $35 from our barn to the local fairgrounds (which is the only shows I would go to I think), but for farther away it would be more. My instructor has shown quarter horses for many years and her daughter who is eleven is already winning classes of 90 kids and more at the Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio. The horse I ride is a very experienced 18 year old mare who knows her stuff but is stubborn. I lease her with a girl two years younger than myself and we both take lessons from the same instructor. I only ride English, so blingy clothes are not a problem thankfully! I believe we could financially afford maybe two or three big shows a year if I wanted to get into it. I'm planning on having a sit down conversation between my instructor and my parents about the novice show to learn more about it and how it works.
We do APHA shows and you should check if you can enter novice classes with your 1/2 leased horse. In the Paint Assoc you must either ride a horse you or a family member owns or have a lease agreement sent to the APHA in your name. I would advise checking that out before you spend any money. Your trainer should know or be able to find out for you. Surprised she didn't already.
Hi, my son used to enter AQHA shows on a regular basis, as well as open shows. He did prefer the breed shows for the following reasons:
We live in Georgia, and it was his experience, and mine, at least in our area, that:
People on the whole were friendlier and more supportive to newcomers at the AQHA shows as opposed to open shows.
There was zero animal abuse at the breed shows (abuse, meaning, hitting, spurring, administering drugs, etc) .
He rode in barrel racing and pole bending, so even tho his clothing and tack was nice and of good quality, did not have to be as expensive as judged classes.
My eBay listings specialize in economical show clothing, mainly Western. I would be happy to be on your Favorite Seller;'s list, and I try to list new stuff 3 or 4 days out of the week.
I'm back! Ok, so I did talk to my instructor and she said that AQHA has this thing called a contract or something that the owner of the horse signs saying you can show their horse. She said it used to be that you had to own a horse to show it, but now you don't have to. I will be talking to her more about it soon, and there's another girl now interested too, so I'm excited. I'll let you know how it turns out if I ever get to go to one!
Hello there. We started showing at some local clubs several years ago. It was about 2 years after we had bought a few horses. I had never had lessons or any professional training. Myself & daughters just loved horses and had the general basics of riding. Unfamiliar with ANYTHING pertaining to showing, we started trying to get more info. We found from some of our area tack shop bulletin boards and local horse publications, that we had several local saddle clubs that did all different types of stuff, from english jumping to barrels and poles. But, we didn't know the first thing about SHOWING OR COMPETING!! So, we just started going and watching. We met and talked to people and bought MANY books! Therefore, I think it is a good idea to consider where you are now & also where you plan to go. You have to start somewhere. Also, I think that no matter how much you practice and how GOOD you and / or your horse is, you will always have those 1st time jitters. So, it's probably a good idea to consider starting somewhere on a smaller level. That will give you time to grow in the show arena, without the tension of competing against others that already have some experience. I don't know if it's good advise. But, what I told my daughters when we first got started was, "Don't EXPECT to WIN! You have to start somewhere and if that's 1st place, what do you have to look forward to?" BEST OF LUCK and I'm sure everyone replying would like for you to keep posting your progress!!
Sorry, forgot to tell everyone that I do 4H shows right now and so I have been to shows before, just not breed or open ones. I'm doing really well in 4H so far and am a regular level rider now. The levels go (if you don't count greenhorse) walk-trot, novice, regular, then medals, bronze, silver, gold, platinum. Most people are in regular, but I'm hoping to get the medals soon!! In fact, I got third for high point (out of like, sixty or seventy people!) at my last show in April!! Yay me!! Hee hee hee.
Anyway, yeah, I wasn't looking to go to the AQHA shows to win, just to try it out and have fun. I probably would only go to like, one or two breed shows a year, I wouldn't get hardcore into it or anything, because I would have to miss school to go some shows because they last longer than 4H ones of course. My trainer has lots of experience with quarter horse shows and has showed in them herself, and now her daughter's into it. The other trainer at my barn still shows sometimes, and the barn owner shows too. It's just a show atmosphere a lot!!!!
That's GREAT!! Congrats!! We haven't gotten to go to 4-H horse shows. We have participated in other 4-H activities and I think it's a great program. I certainly did not intend to discourage you from competing at whatever level you want to go. Whether it's 1 or 2 shows a year, to setting your goals for the "big times." I think it's good that you're asking in this forum because it looks like you can get alot of additional advise from fellow ebayers that have lots of experiences. I still think it's good to go and watch some of the competitions if you can. That way you can get a good idea of lots of things about it before you are there with your horse. Keep posting THE PROGRESS!
Hello again! So, I went and watched part of a quarter horse show on Memorial Day Weekend cause it was nearby and people from my barn were there. It's definitely a different atmosphere than a 4H show, and they had two judges who placed you seperately. You also don't win ribbons, you win "showbucks" which you can then spend on vendors at the show. I guess this helps the associations save money cause they would have to buy a LOT of ribbons! My next 4H show is June 20, and after that I have another 4H one July 18, and then it's the Evergreen State Fair, the biggest show of the year for us!
Thanks to my new summer job, I'm possibly looking at going to the Emerald Quarter horse show which is the next one here at the fairgrounds by my barn. All the others are in eastern Washington just about or Oregon or Idaho. It's in September, so I'll have lots of time to prepare and save money!
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