let’s get show ready!
Show season is stressful enough, without having to get out the door and go back because you forgot something 5 times! I made this show checklist with my show experience in mind and hope that it can help your’s go more smoothly! With everything you might need for a show in one handy ist, your show prep is certainly to go smoothly, and maybe the day of the show will too!
Tip #1 : Get there early, the earlier the better, the night before if that is an option! The more time you have to get ready and get used to the environment, the better. I’ve been rushed at horse show’s and it never goes well! The more time you have, the less stress you have and the more relaxed you and your horse will be. A relaxed horse is going to listen better and perform more attune to how they would at home; normally that is. Besides, something will always go awry at horse shows so give yourself the time to deal with any mishaps that happen.
the basics.
Tip #2 : Whatever you’ve got planned for warm up, double it! Warm up helps to ease your stress and your horses, and you want to be as relaxed as possible when you enter the ring! Even if it is just walking around in the warm up ring, get in the saddle as early as possible so that you give yourself all the time to relax, because we all know that once you sit in the saddle, stress tends to disappear!
getting ready.
Tip #3 : Remember 3 things in the ring. Smile, breath and thank your horse at the end. Breathing will keep you relaxed at keep your rhythm, helping to soothe you and your horse. Smiling will exemplify the power of powerful thinking and help all your show photos look better, and impress the judges if you’re being judged. Thanking your horse is important for more than a cute picture at the end of the ride, it is important to recognize gratitude for these amazing animals and to thank them for the opportunities they present to us and for the fact that you just came out of the ring alive, whether the ride went good or bad.
easy to forget essentials.
Tip #4 : Thank your friends, family and trainers at the end of the day! Shows could not go off without a hitch without the people in our lives who help us out and they deserve our gratitude at the end of the very long hot, rainy, cold, days that we make them sit through!
