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Horse Show Etiquette

Categories: Uncategorized | March 29th, 2012 | by admin | no comments

I recently had my television set up through http://www.direct.tv/direct-tv/Massachusetts/ just so I would have the chance to catch the horse shows. You can laugh all you want, but there is actually quite a bit of pomp that goes into these affairs, and they are much, much more than some mamby pamby display of ponies. There is a lot of work that goes into making these strong and impressive creatures presentable and there is a whole system of etiquette that goes into each and every horse show.

1. The Spectators Have the Right of Way – Even though there are people showing up at this show to get up close and personal with the horses, not all of them understand how horses work and riders often have to be careful when walking their horses through a show.

2. Don’t Cross-Up The Other Riders – There is usually a warm-up arena at these shows but you must be mindful of the other riders. No sense in getting someone else injured before the show even starts, and besides, such conduct would look poor on your record.

3. Mark A Horse That Might Kick – Judges are coming to see your splendid steed, but they do not know the temperament like you. Some advanced warning with a red ribbon will let them know to respect your horse’s space.

What is the attire requirement for the western horse classes?

Categories: Uncategorized | October 1st, 2011 | by admin | no comments

Intercollegiate Western horse show classes are lenient when it comes to rules about attire and footwear. Each college or university participating in intercollegiate shows decides its own team uniform or dress code. Each rider in that team has to dress according to team rules.

For example, the Ohio State Equestrian Team wear Western-style hats, jeans or jodhpurs approved for Western classes, western style boots with a heel and, depending on the class, riding gloves. All clothes Continue Reading »

Can the same person ride two different horses?

Categories: Uncategorized | September 29th, 2011 | by admin | no comments

The same rider can ride more than one horse in a show event depending on the rules of that particular event. For example, horses that are shown individually to the judges such as dressage, hunting or jumping can use a rider that is showing in the same class on another horse. Ultimately, the owners of the horses in the class decide who will ride their horses.

But this does not work for classes such as equitation or confirmation classes where all of the horses Continue Reading »

Can two different people enter the same horse?

Categories: Uncategorized | September 26th, 2011 | by admin | no comments

If you are thinking about entering a show but do not have a horse of your own you may need to borrow or lease another rider’s horse. Most competitions allow two different riders to enter the same horse in different competitions. You will want to review the rules before entering but this is a pretty common practice. Some shows even allow you to enter the same horse with two different riders in the same class. Obviously if you are in a beginners class which all the riders enter the ring Continue Reading »

What are the age requirements for youth classes?

Categories: Uncategorized | September 23rd, 2011 | by admin | no comments

If your child is interested in equestrian classes, or you wish to enroll a child in these classes, depending on which school is chosen, the age limits and restrictions will vary. For the most part, most schools are around the same age limits, but some will allow younger students to enter, while others will require a child to be a bit older before they are able to enroll in the course. For the most part, students will have to be at least ten years old, but in some schools it may be a little less ( Continue Reading »