Horse showing itself may be a subjective business, but in actuality the rules are pretty straightforward. In the performance, pleasure and equitation divisions, rules come from a national governing body and remain the same across the country. Then there is the academy division, a relatively new addition to the horse show scene, which has been governed differently since its first day – on purpose.
Most exhibitors probably walk into their barn’s aisle at a show, hang their suit in the dressing room, see the pictures and display racks on the curtained walls and simply don’t realize how much work has gone into creating a comfortable and inviting home-away-from-home for the barn and its clients.
As anyone who has helped to set up before a show knows, there is no magic elf that comes in and does the work. Everything – from the dressing room to the tack room and hospitality area – was created with a lot of sweat, elbow grease, some screws and maybe a few tears from dedicated staff and helpers. This creative and precise process is all about the details.
From trimming whiskers to painting hooves, many details go into preparing a horse for the show ring, but preparing a rider requires an equal amount of skill. Lapels must be pinned, boots and sometimes gloves must be taped and makeup must be flawless. And then there is always the challenge of the horse show bun.
A group of equitation horses patiently awaiting the results of the NEHC Saddle Seat Medal Finals. Photo by Dallys Malenfant.
Choosing the “perfect" equitation horse can be a tall order. Whether you’re looking at a seasoned veteran or a new face in the division, the choice you make can have significant consequences for the equation rider. Finding the correct combination of riding style, size, and attitude is essential when you’re looking to pair your equitation rider with a new partner.
Photo by Julia Shelburne-Hitti.Each day you arrive at the barn your horse allows you to stick your foot in the stirrup and swing up onto its back. At a horse show, your mount trots proudly into the show ring, often down an enclosed chute into bright lights and the sound of hundreds or even thousands of cheering people. To lifelong equestrians these events probably seem commonplace, but in truth they shouldn’t seem anything less than astounding, because both these examples portray an animal that is doing what its human asks, and actually dismissing some of its own instincts to do it.