| Have you discovered that the price of getting to a | | | | This gives the exhibitor a feeling that his horse is worth |
| horse show plus the expenses of being there is on par | | | | something even if it is not one of the bloodlines |
| with the national debt? And the reward is a few points | | | | currently in vogue. |
| or no points for a class win. | | | | Because of the shorter distance to these shows, one |
| Jill Bradley, Las Vegas, NV brought it to my attention | | | | can get up in the morning and trailer his horse to a |
| that there is more to showing than chasing points at | | | | show, show all day and then go home. The horse is |
| the breed level. She took a year off from traveling to | | | | more comfortable in his own bed and so is the |
| show in her backyard, her state's horseman's | | | | exhibitor. |
| association, had fun, won prizes instead of points and | | | | Another plus is that the youth exhibitors have a place |
| ribbons, and met interesting people that she may not | | | | to hone their skills. As their skills and confidence |
| of otherwise. | | | | improves, they can move up to better and more |
| There is a lot to be said positively about competing in | | | | competitive horses. They and their parents will buy and |
| your local area or region. Let us delve into the | | | | have the horse trained by people in the business |
| advantages of doing that. | | | | locally. A win-win situation for everyone involved. I have |
| One of the advantages is that it does not cost as | | | | seen this in my own barn and so have many others. |
| much to show at the local or regional level. We can | | | | Short war story. Back in the middle 80's, a young girl, |
| use less fuel to trailer our horse and there is less wear | | | | her sister and her father showed up at one of my |
| and tear on the horse, truck and trailer. | | | | open houses. Tiffany was a little bashful but she |
| Fuel is a cost that we have in showing at any level but | | | | wanted to be with horses. Her sister was interested in |
| it is huge when we travel 40,000 to 60,000 miles a | | | | learning how to ride and show. But when I approached |
| year or more chasing a national title. At the present | | | | Tiffany, she wanted to just clean the stalls. So I let her |
| price of $2 + per gallon and a MPG of 10 to 14 miles | | | | clean stalls. As she became familiar with the barn |
| or less, we can expect fuel to be a major cost in our | | | | routine, she decided she wanted to learn to drive |
| showing budget. We also have upkeep and | | | | ponies. We bought her a pony and cart and she |
| maintenance on the vehicle and trailer plus stall fees, | | | | learned to drive. Then she went on to bigger horses |
| motel, meals and entry fees. A LQ trailer may reduce | | | | and learning how to ride and show. And then her |
| motel fees but in the long run it probably costs about | | | | parents bought a world class gelding and she went on |
| the same. | | | | to jumper and hunter classes and competed on the |
| If we were to show at some of the local regional | | | | national level. She did quite well, earning year-end |
| events, we would reduce those costs significantly. Plus | | | | awards and national high point titles. And it all went |
| our spouse or significant others and children would get | | | | back to starting out with something that she was |
| to go with us more frequently and get to make friends | | | | comfortable with. |
| and see the country. | | | | If you are a trainer or breeder that has various levels |
| Entry fees are more affordable, sometimes less than | | | | of horses in your barn, you can create a market for |
| half of what it costs to enter a large breed or circuit | | | | that animal in your area. Most of the competitors in |
| show. We can show in more classes, do halter, English | | | | your area want horses that can place well in that area. |
| and Western and in the process have a better trained | | | | If yours does, then you are going to sell or train more |
| horse. | | | | horses. The potential customer wants to see and ride |
| The prizes are often more than just ribbons or points. | | | | the horse before he purchases it. He can't do that if |
| In my area, the local saddle clubs have a small circuit | | | | the horse is thousands of miles distance unless he has |
| of shows where first, second and third actually get | | | | very deep pockets. |
| monetary prizes plus points for year end awards, | | | | Most of all, whether you are an adult or a youth |
| where they get even more than a plaque, usually | | | | exhibitor, the idea is to have fun with your friends. |
| saddles, use of a trailer for a year and other items of | | | | Enjoy the camaraderie that surrounds you, learn from |
| value. | | | | your peers and don't be afraid if you or the horse |
| The competition may be as great but the judge is | | | | screws up, there is always another class or another |
| usually from within the area and does not have an | | | | horse show nearby to go to. In my opinion, that is what |
| agenda. I have seen horses that placed well down the | | | | is important about supporting your local or regional |
| line in some classes place really high in other classes. | | | | horse shows. |