If the American Saddlebred is the “peacock” of the horse world, then the rider is its plumes. The elegant picture of a beautifully appointed horse and rider are what make saddle seat horse shows mesmerizing. When a horse and rider are well turned out for the show ring the focus is clearly on their performance, but if the rider is dressed badly or inappropriately for the class or division, this can be distracting for the judge and audience. To make sure the focus is always where it should be, there are a few common errors that exhibitors should take care to avoid.

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As the late winter months drag on, those in the show horse community have a light at the end of the tunnel: the upcoming show season. Looking forward to weekends filled with friendly competition with fellow horse loving friends and families can brighten even the dreariest of winter days. However, planning a successful and stress-free show season takes some work, travel experience and research, and late winter is the perfect time to start.

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Peter Fenton never intended to be an announcer. While today he is perhaps the iconic voice of the modern show horse industry, he entered into the profession purely by chance.

Born into the show horse world, his father was a professional horse trainer and his mother, Helen Fenton, was a popular horse show manager. When an announcer she had hired got into a serious accident just days before the show, Peter was tasked with filling the open spot.

“I called like thirty announcers, and it was a busy time of year and everybody was somewhere,” Peter said. “I went to her the day before and she just sort of looked at me and said, ‘Good luck.’ She said, ‘You were raised in the horse business; you’ve been to a million horse shows. You’re relatively quick witted; you’ll figure it out.’”

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For years my daughter Kari had been stuck wearing ties with my limited tie tying abilities, until Frierson from Frierson's Custom Riding Apparel, took the time to explain the Shelby knot to me. I think I had always been going with one simple loop over and under, and it always looked about half right.

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The flat walk is an often challenging and sometimes hated part of horse showing. For horses as energetic and eager as American Saddlebreds, this leisurely gait can seem painfully slow and intensely boring, yet it remains a vital part of the class specifications for the pleasure division.

From horses that jig instead of walking, to riders that employ evasive techniques, everyone seems to be trying to avoid it. But the flat walk should not be dreaded but celebrated – and its importance recognized, but not exaggerated.

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