How to Succeed at Your First Horse Show

Getting into the Right Headspace

Envision your ideal show and set goals for yourself. Before you even start practicing and planning, think about what you’d like to be true of your first horse show. Perhaps you’d like to place in the competition, or maybe you just want to meet other horse enthusiasts and learn from the experience. Try to think of 3 goals for your first show, and then write them down somewhere you’ll see often. For example, you could write down that you’d like to successfully show in a particular riding style, meet a new friend, and expose your horse to the showing environment so you can continue attending shows in the future. Maybe you’ll win the showing, but keep in mind that you’re getting your first arena-experience, and that is worth more than trophies and ribbons.

Be patient with yourself and your horse. Remember, you and your horse are both going to be experiencing a lot of new things. Chances are, something will go wrong and you’ll have to adapt, or maybe a particular skill will be harder than you anticipated. That is okay! Start practicing once you decide to enter a show, and work diligently to prepare yourself and your horse. When you find yourself getting frustrated during the preparations and showing process, remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can, and so is your horse.

Decide to focus on yourself rather than your competitors. Horse shows are busy places. There will be a lot happening and there will be other people around who have a lot more experience than you. If you can, try to remember that even those really experienced people were once beginners, just like you. Instead of viewing them as competition, try to see them as people you can learn from and try to not compare yourself to them. Remember, everyone is on their own journey and has different experience levels and skill sets. Before you know it, you’ll be one of those experienced riders, too!

Be ready for the unexpected. How can you prepare for the unexpected? Resolve to do as much as you can to prepare yourself and trust in your own abilities. Understand that not everything will go as planned, and things will come up that you couldn’t have anticipated. Decide beforehand to be flexible and open to changing situations. With preparation and a good attitude, you’re ready to start practicing and prepping for your first show!

Practicing and Preparing

Look for a green horse show for your first competition. Depending on where you live, you may need to travel a little distance to get to a horse show. When researching options, look for beginner shows. This will give you an opportunity to show along with other riders and horses who may not have much experience, and the atmosphere is usually a little more relaxed. “Green” means inexperienced or new. These shows will help you learn the building blocks of showmanship. You’ll get to expose yourself and your horse to the atmosphere without all the pressure of an expert show.

Study English or western riding to learn what’s expected of you. If you’ve been taking riding lessons, chances are you’ve already been training in either English or western style. There should be competition guidelines available online or in person for you to reference. Study them and make a plan to practice the necessary skills. The two main horseback-riding styles are: English style: the saddle is narrower, and you use the reins a lot more to control the horse. More coordination is generally required for English-style riders. Western style: the saddle is larger and distributes your weight over more of the horse. You generally use your weight and legs to guide the horse.

Make a list of all the various items you and horse need for the show. Visit or call the arena beforehand to see what is provided and what you’ll need to bring with you. Do this at least two weeks before the show so you have time to gather everything together. Among other things, you’ll need: Tack Grooming kit Clothing for yourself Feed and water buckets Paperwork Transportation First aid kits for both you and your horse Folding chairs Snacks or meals for yourself Sunscreen

Train with your horse to prepare them for the show’s routine. The more you can subject your horse to the rhythm of the show, the more comfortable both you and your horse will be the day of the competition. After you get the guidelines, start training your horse for those specific skills. For example, if there is an obstacle course followed by a jumping course, always practice those tasks in that order. Even things like getting your horse used to a loudspeaker can be really helpful. If your horse isn’t used to other horses and riders, you may want to find a way to expose them to more people so they aren’t overwhelmed by all the hustle and bustle of a show.

Create an itinerary for the day before and of the show. Several weeks before the show, sit down and make an extensive plan. Include travel and rest time, grooming time, and show time. Having a plan before you leave will help relieve anxiety and help you focus on the present moment. Things to include in your schedule are: Time to get your and your horse’s things packed Travel time with a buffer in case you get delayed Grooming time before the show Time for meals for you and your horse Itinerary for the day of the show Breakdown time before you head home after the show

Groom your horse and take care of cosmetic issues before the show. One to two days before the show you should give your horse a bath and do any necessary grooming. Consider braiding their mane even if it’ll be down for the show, because that will keep it from getting tangled while you’re traveling. You’ll do more last-minute grooming when you’re at the arena, but this will help you prepare.

Showing Successfully

Show up early so you’re not rushing around the day of the show. If you’re traveling from out of town, you may even want to make arrangements to arrive the night before. Chances are, you can stable your horse at the arena and stay at a hotel nearby. If you’re competing in town, plan to arrive several hours before your start time so you can settle in and get ready without feeling rushed. Slow and steady is a better mindset for your horse, too. They might not react well to being rushed or they might just refuse to pick up the pace, which could make your experience more harried than you’d like.

Introduce your horse to the arena and walk it around before the show. After you’ve arrived and unpacked, take your horse out of the stable and walk them around. Take them down the path to enter the arena. Let them meet other horses and riders. This will help them be more comfortable and less anxious about the new surroundings. This is also a great time for you to meet new people. Don’t be afraid to talk to others, introduce yourself, and ask questions. You never know when you might meet a new friend or learn something helpful!

Feed and do last-minute grooming an hour or two before the show. It’s a myth that you shouldn’t feed your horse before a show. Keeping your horse on a regular feeding schedule as much as you can and not depriving them will make them more comfortable. Feed your horse two hours before they’re set to enter the arena so the food has some time to settle, and start the finishing touches of the grooming regimen after they’ve eaten. Don’t forget to eat something yourself! If you feel nervous and don’t have much of an appetite, try to make yourself eat something with some protein in it. The last thing you want is to get light-headed while you’re out in the arena.

Get rid of distractions and focus your attention on the task at hand. Once you’re actually headed for the arena, focus on your horse and the event before you. Try to ignore the other riders and horses, and keep your goals in mind. If you have trouble concentrating, try mentally narrating what you’re experiencing. This is a great way to focus your mind on what you’re doing at any given moment.

Remember to breathe and enjoy yourself! Don’t forget—this is just one competition! There will be many others to come, and you’ll learn something new at each one. Your horse will pick up on your energy, so try to be calm and remind yourself what you’re there for. After you get home from the show, take a few minutes to write down the highlights of your experience and how you did with your goals. The next time you do a show, you can refer back to this list and add to it as you gain more experience. This is a great way to see how you’ve grown.