Any tips for horse showing ??

Pretty obvious, but remember to breathe! People don’t realise they are holding their breath until it is pointed out to them- I have suffered with this one myself. Take a few deep, slow breaths before mounting, and before entering the show ring, trying to calm yourself down.

Also have your clothes set out the night before the show, so you know what you will take with you, and this way you won’t forget something important in the mad scramble of show morning. I also suggest you make sure to have your horse’s gear ready too- I accidentally rode my horse in a show in his bright blue, plastic work bridle, as I just grabbed his everyday bridle in my rush out the door, not realising that I should have grabbed his black leather one.

Oh, and don’t let your little brother feed your horse hot chips before the event- my brother did and I couldn’t understand why the judge was giving me strange looks. Turned out every time she looked our way, my horse was watching her, and licking the salt from the hot chips off his lips!

Get to the show early so you have some time just to wander in the practice ring some. Be sure your horse is settled before your actual class. Avoid riding near any horse that seems to be acting up or is “hot”.

Hi, Matthew- Here are some tips that might help you.
1. A week before the show, contact the show secretary and find out the following:
-where to park your trailer/van
-in which ring your class will be held, and the starting time
-what the jumping order or order of go will be
-whether or not there will be food or other amenities on the grounds, including restrooms
-the policy concerning dogs and other pets ( are they allowed or not, leash rules)
-whether or not the jumping course you’ll be riding over will be open for walking and inspection at any point prior to your class
-If you are renting a stall for the day or overnight,your stall number and location, and whether or not the stall has a door or screen ( not all rental stalls do, so be aware of this)
– if the show provides bedding for stalls, and whether or not there will be water available on the grounds
-where the warmup area is, and if there will be a diagram of the course you’ll be riding posted anywhere ( online, in the barn or stable area, or in the show office)
-the show’s cancellation/scratch policy
Once you know all these things, then you can plan your schedule for show day.

2. A week before show day, thoroughly bathe and groom your horse, and do any necessary clipping. When you bathe, make sure you use a shampoo that has coat conditioners in it, such as Absorbine’s SuperPoo. Horses competing in hunter/jumper disciplines need to have their ears, faces, bridle paths, and legs clipped up, and they should also have the ends of their tails “banged” off squarely. If your horse has white legs, first thoroughly bathe the legs, and then brush cornstarch into the hair and skin to remove any remaining stains. Leave the starch in place for 30 minutes or so, and then brush it out. It will carry the dirt and stains with it, leaving the legs clean and stain free. Pull your horse’s mane to the correct length for braiding. Thoroughly clean your tack, and make sure your show clothes are clean and pressed. Items like bits, spurs, bridle buckles, and so forth need to be polished, as do your boots. Wash and dry the saddle pad(s) you will use. If any of your show clothes need to be dry cleaned, NOW is the time to send them to the cleaners. Once your show tack is clean, you should load it into your trailer. Cover it up so that it doesn’t get dusty. Likewise, items like your coat and boots should be kept in garment and boot bags until you’re ready to wear them; that will keep them clean and free of dust. Clean out your horse trailer, and rebed the stalls with shavings. Make sure that you have your first aid kit, basic stall cleaning tools ( fork, broom, rake, and a muck bucket) and that any hay nets are filled with hay.

Unhook your tow vehicle and take it to the gas station for a fillup the day before the show. Do a basic safety check of it while you’re there- check the oil, transmission fluid, washer fluid, and so forth. Have someone stand behind or to the side of the vehicle so you can check the lights and turn signals. Check the tires on both your truck and trailer for correct pressure. When you get your truck home, hook it back up to the trailer and repeat the safety check before you start packing for the show. If you are stabling your horse overnight at the show grounds, plan on taking your own feed and hay with you, because feed and hay may not be available.Most shows will usually provide the first bedding of a stall, but it’s always a smart idea to take an extra bale or two of shavings along. Plus, it’s never smart to spring a sudden change of diet on a horse that is already under stress from competition and being in a strange place. That can lead to colic and serious health problems. You need to take along a card that has your horse’s name, your vet’s name and phone number, and the contact information for the place where you’ll be staying during the show, and post it on your horse’s stall door. If this is a recognized ( as in USEF sanctioned) show you’re going to, braiding is mandatory and should be done the night before the show, NOT the morning of it. If you don’t know how to braid, ask your trainer to help you find someone who does. Helmet use is also mandatory for all riders under age 18, regardless of discipline, so plan on bringing and wearing an approved helmet. If you have long hair, bring a package of hair nets so that you can contain it under your helmet.Make sure you shave on the morning of the show- no judge wants to see competitors who have a 5 o’clock shadow. Pack a cooler with your lunch and some bottles of water and gatorade the night before the show- you can leave your lunch in the fridge until morning, and then put it in with a couple of frozen reuseable ice packs before you leave. Make sure you LEAVE EARLY enough to allow for traffic. Program your GPS unit the night before, not right as you’re trying to leave.

Source(s):
I’m a horse owner and professional and a dressage enthusiast. These tips are based on my years of experience with showing.