An Open Letter to Riders Before the Upcoming Show Season

Dear Rider,

The show season is just about to begin, and I know you are jittery with anticipation.  The world seems to glitter before your eyes, and your dreams are grand and gorgeous.   Your clothes are neatly pressed, waiting for the first ride.   You’ve peeked at them at least a thousand times, and tried them on “just to see” a thousand times more.   

You expect success--that is what all of those winter rides were for.   Those winter rides when you couldn’t feel your fingers and your breath loomed over your head in puffy clouds of exhaustion.   You imagined the warm rays of summer.   You imagined the freshly bathed horses and shiny tack and polished boots.  They seemed so far away, then.  But now, they are just on the edge, like the dreams that hang on the tip of your tongue like sweet candies.  

And so, on this eve of a show season, you dream big, beautiful dreams.   You dream of victory passes and the traditional organ music.  You dream of funnel cakes and cotton candy fingers.   You dream of friendships.   You dream of your favorite horse and the perfect class.   You dream of a cheering section that erupts into thunderous applause whenever you pass.    You dream of all of these things, and much more.   

And you will have those moments.  You will bounce around the showgrounds sporting your newly-acquired ribbons.  You’ll huddle around the dark screens of the photographer’s booths, trying to catch a glimpse of that perfect ride.  You’ll think about these moments for hours, days, or even weeks after.  You will be elated to see the smiles in your instructors’ faces as they congratulate you afterwards.   You’ll swarm social media with positive, dreamy posts.  

But sometimes you will forget.  Not everything can glitter forever, and it sometimes needs polishing.   You will cry.  You will feel defeated.  You will make mistakes.   You will avoid eye contact as you leave the show ring with nothing but yourself and your horse.   

But you, rider, will not give in.  You will not give up.  You will work harder, stronger, smarter than ever before.  You will know that defeat is not temporary.   You will know that defeat will not define you.    And so you will continue on, despite your hardships... And you will rise again.   

So on this evening, rider, cherish this moment.  Sit in the silence and think about those big, beautiful dreams.    Let your mind have a chance to imagine these dreams rich in color because you have no room for doubt.   You have no room for fear.   You are capable of great, wonderful things.

Sincerely (and good luck),

An adult who has big, beautiful dreams, too.  

What's in My Caboodle- The ULTIMATE Summer Academy Horse Show Supply List

Makeup: If you are a guy, you might ignore this section!     Just bring everything.  Even if you do your makeup before you get to the show, no one can guarantee that there won't be a sudden downpour, or a horse that wants to use you as his personal towel.   It is also a good idea to buy a make-up sealer (it is a spray) that will protect your make-up from smudges and humidity.  

Click here for the product: ELF make-up setting spray

Gear: 

Whip: You can purchase them from a ton of places, but a good starter whip that looks nice and is cost effective is this whip from Hartmeyer Saddlery: Saddle Seat Show Whip

Helmet: Many instructors do not like colorful or really bulky helmets in the ring.   Choose a helmet that fits close to your head, and stays in place when you move your head from side to side.   Don't order these online!   Go to a tack store and try them on- even with a fitting chart, it is difficult to anticipate whether a helmet will fit or not.  Do not buy used!  Try this helmet (available in most tack stores):  Ovation Deluxe Schooler Helmet

Stirrups/Saddle : for stirrups, choose the shortest length (even if you are an adult).   I purchased mine from Amazon.  Make sure when purchasing stirrups, you are buying a PAIR.  Some sellers offer them individually (yeah, I don't understand it either).   For leathers, get REAL LEATHER, or else they will stretch and be unusable.   You can google how to measure for stirrup iron size.  

             Stirrup leathers: Gatsby Stirrup Leathers

             Stirrup Irons: Coronet Premium Fillis Stirrup Irons

Clothes

Show Shirt and Vest: Talk to your instructor.   Do not buy anything online without careful consideration!   It is so hard to guarantee fit when you purchase online.  some places, like Commotion Consignment Riding Apparel  will ship items to you to try on.  That way, you can get your instructor's permission before purchasing the items.  

Jods and Underpasses: Your instructor can help you find jods (pants) if you need them, but make sure you get underpasses as well.  These hold your pants down and keep them from riding up as you show.  Buy an extra pair!  These do not last forever and will break at some point-it is better to be prepared.  

             Underpasses: Single Button Underpasses from Hartmeyer

           

Change of Clothes: This is pretty self explanatory.  You could be rained on, slobbered on, or even covered in sweat or funnel cake crumbs-- bring extra clothes just in case.   

Rain Riding Gear: It's going to rain at some point in your show season.   Just accept your fate. Bring rain riding gear!

            Rain riding jacket:  Schneider's Clear Rain Coat

Gloves: My favorite are the SSG pro show gloves.  They look nice, they are breathable, and they are easy to wear.   

            Gloves: SSG Leather Pro Show Gloves (Amazon)

Jod Savers: These are inexpensive but SUPER important!  They are what keep your jods from being dragged through the dirt.   They come in cute or plain styles. 

              Jod Savers: Colorful Cuff Straps from Hartmeyer

Tie:find them at any clothing store, or specially made with bling from etsy or any show consignment store. 

Boots:most instructors prefer the pull-on style.   You can get either patent leather (which is TOUGH to keep in great shape) or normal jod paddock boots.   

              here are some affordable boots that I love: Ovation Finalist Elastic Side Jodphur Boots

Accessories

Earrings: The bigger the better.  Hey, you do what you can to distract the judge from your horrible legs. 

Tie Bar: It is also called a "collar bar".   This is what makes your tie look nice and neat with your show shirt.  

              Collar bar: show Ring Outfitters Collar Bar Collection

Bun Bows : you can make them or buy them.   There are so many styles out there!   

              Bun Bows: Bun Bows on Etsy

              Want to make your own? Purchase this PDF from etsy: Bun Bow Tutorial

Lapel Pin: This makes you look more put together as a rider.  Get the magnetic ones so it won't ruin your vest. 

               Lapel pin: Double row Magnetic Horsehoe Lapel Pin

Number Pins/Magnets: You don't want to damage your nice show clothes, so number magnets keep you from having to put a pin through your vest.   Some places, like Show Ring Outfitters, sell sets that include earrings, a collar bar, number magnets, and a bun bow in matching styles and colors.

              Bow, collar bar, magnet, earring, and lapel pin set: "Lucky" show set, 5 colors  

Hair

Hair Nets: I get mine at Sally's Beauty Supply and always have at least two on hand in case one gets torn.  

           Hair Net:  Ultra Invisible Hair Net

Flat Bobby Pins:These are your regular, run-of-the-mill bobby pins.   Buy a few packs and stash them in your caboodle.  

           You can buy an ENTIRE POUND of these for around $8:  Mairanna Bobby Pins, 1lb.

V-Shaped bobby pins: These bobby pins are a little harder to find (I get mine at Sally's).  They are v-shaped, and these are what give your bun its shape.  It is almost impossible to make your bun appear seamless and polished without these things.  Get the smaller sized ones, though--the large ones are HUGE.  

           V-shaped bobby pins: Sta-Rite Assorted Hair Pins

Hair Brush: I think it is nice to have a brush only for horse shows.   Nothing is worse than handing someone a crusty three year old hairbrush and expecting them to do your hair with it.  

hair Spray:Think "how they hold their hair together in the 80s".   Get the strongest stuff you can find. 

            Hairspray that holds: Aqua Net Super Hold Unscented Hair Spray

Hair Ties: Bring extra!   It really sucks to have one break and to have to search around for a replacement. 

Other

Electrical Tape: We use this to tape gloves and boots to make them appear seamless under your riding clothes.  Bring lots of tape!

             Electrical tape: Industrial Grade Electrical Tape, 10pk.

Clothes Pins: Just in case you forgot your magnets and need to pin a number, or for those unexpected wardrobe malfunctions. 

Sewing Kit: To repair minor tears and holes in your clothing.  

Snacks: I like to stash CLIF bars in my bag; they are easy to eat, full of carbs (for energy) and lots of protein.  Plus, they're super tasty.  

Lysol Wipes: Use these or the "wet ones" wipes.   It's great for getting dirt off your hands (if you decide to pet your horse and then get slobber on you) or to freshen up before you change into your "go home" clothes. 

              Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes Singles

Money/Cash: Many of us use mostly card, instead of cash.  But many shows charge for parking, or offer really tasty fair food that you just can't resist and you will need cash in order to purchase these things. 

Lint Roller: this is one of my most important items!   Do you know how much hair can get on jods when you are around a horse?   It is enough to make papyrus, I am sure.  

Shoe Polish: There are lots of mini size shoe polishes that come with the applicator sponge already attached.   It is nice to have on hand in case you accidentally scuff your boots and need a quick fix. 

Riding to Achieve VS. Riding to Beat Others

I never really realized the difference between "achieving" versus "beating others" until I returned to school and one of my students asked me how I did at the horse show this past weekend.

I laughed, and told him that I didn't place in the first two classes and that I got 7th out of 13 in the third class.   He looked down and said "I'm sorry".  I wish I would have had twenty more minutes to explain to him that even though I hadn't beaten many people, I still achieved a lot that day.   

I think we measure our successes and failures based on a ribbon.  and while they are great (and I am staring at a ton of them on my wall right now), it doesn't necessarily show exactly what we accomplished.  It is only a placement from a judge.  A judge that is different every time, or one that prefers taller people, or higher-stepping horses, or even certain barns.  

While it is okay to have healthy competition, your main goal shouldn't be "beating others".   Because when you have that mindset, you are putting your attention, communication, and effort on something other than you and your horse.   You should ride to "achieve" instead.   

As I look back at my ribbons, I am reminded of all of the things that I have achieved this year:

I survived my first ever saddle seat show.

I won my first blue ribbon on a horse I had only ridden a couple of times.

I got to take my first victory lap.

I anticipated a "spook" and stopped it from happening.

I rode in another class, despite getting last place in the first class.

And then I won that second class.

I was able to quickly recover a wrong lead before the judge saw me.

I competed for the first time at walk, trot, and canter. 

I showed one of the most challenging horses in the barn.

I didn't win.

But I showed him again, and won. 

I kept on, despite a break in gait, or losing a stirrup going into the lineup.

I learned how to cheer on a teammate, even the ones that are my toughest competition.

I learned how to trust my instructor, even when I was afraid.

I competed against a group of some of the 13 most talented riders in the barn.

I survived my first workout/pattern class.

I rode in the mud.

I rode in the scorching sun.

I learned how to google my competition.

I rode, despite being sick.  

I didn't win, but I learned how to push through and do my best.

I learned how to be humble.

I learned how to accept defeat. 

And now, as I look again at the ribbons and ask myself, who did I beat in each class? I can only remember a few.   In fact, on the back of each ribbon I always write what horse I rode and how many people were in each class.  I struggle to recall the names, the different barns, the different horses and trainers. 

Be competitive.   Go for the blue.   

But remember, your biggest competition is YOU.

Adult Riding Weekend 2016: Push Yourself to COMMUNICATE

As many of you who follow my page on facebook already know, I spent this past weekend at our barn.  Every year, we have an adult riding weekend where we focus on theory, skill-mastery, and new learning.

This year’s theme was “Push Yourself”, but I feel like there was an even more important theme present.   Every time we did an exercise or listened to lecture, there was always a common theme:

Communication.

Communication with the horse

Probably the most common type of communication we think of when it comes to riding is the communication with the horse.  We do this through aids, like our voice and seat.   I think sometimes, we see this as a one-way street; we think that if we tell the horse to do something in just the right way we can get whatever we want.  

This is partially true.   

Just like my instructor told us, “if you do not get the correct lead it is your fault”.  And it is.  Horses do not know that you’re about to attempt a figure eight, or straight-line lead changes.   They just know how to “horse”.   

However, communication is more than that.  One of the greatest learning experiences was when we practiced the straight-line lead changes, and I stood between the cones, ready to go.   I began to give the signals, and at first I didn’t quite get the response I wanted.  I thought I was giving the right signal, but I realized that the horse was trying to tell me that he wasn’t quite ready to go yet.  Sometimes, he was trying to tell me that I should have let him canter earlier, or that I was sitting unbalanced and he couldn’t pick up the right lead.   We are constantly giving signals to our horses, but we are also listening at the same time.  It is a conversation between rider and horse.  It is not, and never will be an order.  

Communication with others

It is also important to communicate with others.  We cannot go this road alone, as much as some of us introverts (like myself) would like to believe.  One of our first tasks for the weekend was to see who could name the most horses at the LEC.  Since I have worked quite a bit at the barn, I was confident in my ability to name all 51 horses.  However, there is something to be learned from this experience.  Sure, I could name all of the horses and be the “winner”, but I could also help others and they could leave learning even more.  Sometimes, we do not need to  make something a competition when it doesn’t need to be.  On the second day, we briefly got to ride in pairs through the arena.  Since most of us had never participated in drill team-style riding, this was a new experience and definitely a learning curve.  We had to communicate with our partner in order to stay together, or else we would break the formation and fail at the task.   

Communication with yourself.

On the very first day, my instructor told us that “knowledge ends where frustration begins”.  I had never considered this until now, but communication with yourself is extremely important.  We constantly tell ourselves that we are not good enough, we question if we are in the right division, riding the right horse, or even if we should be in this sport at all.   We are frustrated when we fail.   We let our victories blind us.   

We have to learn to communicate with ourselves.  I remember criticising myself after trying (and failing to complete) the two straight-line lead changes.   But I also remembered that I would get nowhere and accomplish nothing if I let my frustrations take over.   I took a deep breath, told myself I could do it this time.

And I tried one more time.

And I succeeded.  

And I think that this is what communication is all about.  It is about giving the horse, yourself, and others permission to try one more time.   We do this despite frustration, pride, and fear.  

So, push yourself to be a better communicator.  Because no one else is going to do it for you.

Young Voices (guest post): The Cost of Riding

One of my goals when I first created this blog was to showcase how much of a family and close community our barn actually is.   I don't think I ever had the intention of the posts on this blog being solely about me, or even authored by me.   So I've decided to do monthly guest posts, from some of our younger riders.   I'll call this "Young Voices", and I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy riding and working and interacting with these people.    We can learn so much from these people, and great care must be taken because they really are the future of this industry.

Today's post comes to you from a very talented Emily Brown, a fourteen-year-old Academy rider.  I love this post, most importantly because it shows how important learning is in our barn.  The instructors here truly do work within your budget and take every opportunity to teach you.

The True Cost of Riding

by Emily Brown

Equestrianism is not a cheap sport. It’s not a flat, one-time fee sort of deal that pays for your uniform and for you to be bused around for games. This is pretty much fact to anyone who has heard of horseback riding at all.

Now, for those of us who actually participate in this hobby (I use the term hobby lightly), we have all heard at one point, “I hate how riding uses so much money, you can’t get anywhere without money or connections!” This is partially true in my opinion.

The factor they forget is arguably the most important and organic factor of this lifestyle: Hard Work. I am proud to have paid for a good portion of events I attended in 2015, and plan to continue paying for as much as I can. The problem I have with the statement ‘you can’t get anywhere without money’, is that it implies the instructors and trainers are just in it for the money, and that’s all they want from you. That not only is an insult to trainers and instructors, but it’s highly unlikely if someone wanted to make a quick buck they’d enter the horse industry. It also implicates that hard work just isn’t effective anymore, which is just plain false.

I believe part of this is the extreme competitiveness of equestrianism… especially in the Juvenile divisions. Another more humorous root to this line, in my opinion, is the unrealistic expectations we get from horse movies.  Unfortunately, not everyone gets to buy an unrideable barrel prospect for $4 and then suddenly ride it in the 1D with no riding experience at all.

It’s a lot easier to complain about how you’re not getting there than thinking about what you could be doing to get there. A couple of years ago, I was honored with an invitation to the National Academy Finals. I couldn’t go due to lack of money. I pouted. I got upset, more than a few times. Now I can see why that didn’t happen for me, because in my opinion, had I gone that year, I probably wouldn’t have made it past Friday. Sometimes it’s just a matter of you’re not there yet.

So sure, riding can cost a lot, but realizing you can decide how you pay for it can be one of the most rewarding perspective changes you have in your riding career. I know I show a lot harder when I am working or paying for it than when someone else is, and part of that is just learning the power of the ‘almighty dollar’. I can’t speak for your barn, but at my barn, we have people who work full time at the barn because they have to pay board. We have people who work two or three shifts a week so they can lease a show horse and be ready for college.

The moral of the story is- you can get to where you need to be with a little less complaining and a little more work.

Ten Things I Wish My Instructor Knew

This is my all-time favorite picture, mostly because it includes my really rad instructor.

1. I see you give "congratulations" to the winning riders. But most importantly, I also see you address those riders who did not win, and the riders who are sometimes crying.  The riders who don't quite understand yet.   You tell them they are going to work harder, you tell them they will get better, even though all you want to do is give them a huge hug and wipe away their tears.

2. Your face/voice  is the last thing I remember before I enter the show ring.   Everything after that is a crazy, stressful blur.   It is the only thing that gives me something familiar and calm to focus on.  Even if you're not talking to me inside the ring, your voice helps me know that I am okay and will definitely survive this class.

3. I am scared, sometimes.  Like that time a year ago when you made me ride Trix for the first time... outside.   I had only been at the LEC for a little over a year, and had only competed at a handful of shows, and I was scared to death.  I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you putting me on a different horse...  Which leads me to #4.

4. I believe I can do something just because you tell me I can.  Like when you made me ride Trix. Or when you told me I would be moving up into the canter division.   I questioned myself every day, but I trust you to make decisions that not only challenge us but keep us safe.  So I agreed to these things and never turned back.

5. I know you all sacrifice a lot to make sure we succeed.  Whether that involves money, health, family, or personal lives.   I appreciate it, even though I don't always say it.

6.  I like to give you nicknames like "B-Dub" and "B-Wizzle".   It makes it much more hilarious when I've made a mistake 1000 times and you are frustrated.  also it makes me feel extra cool. No if I could only get that new snapchat thing the kids are on, then I would be extra cool.

7.  Sometimes, I work really hard but it doesn't look like it.   We all know I am notorious for water-skiing in the saddle, and I swear I am working on it.   Sometimes I am trying really hard but I can't get my body to do what it needs to do.  Sometimes my head says "go" but my butt says "no".   I swear I am trying, mostly because I really wanna ride that new 5-gaited lesson horse... just sayin'.   But I also wanna not die, so there's that.

8. You don't always have to tell me I am doing well.   It's cool every once in a while, but I show up at the barn to learn.   You don't have to feel like you have to give praise just because or to feed the ego.  I've got thick skin and a desire to learn, and that's more than enough.  also, it makes me appreciate those times when I do get praise.

9.  When I say I really don't like certain horses, I mean it.   But thanks for still making me ride them anyway.  It makes me a better rider and I feel like a boss when I have a good ride on a horse I don't like.

10. Thank you for all that you do.  Thanks for making the barn one of the safest, most accepting places I have in my life.   thank you for all of the friendships you helped me form-with both horses and people.   Thanks for not giving up on any of us, even when we fail HARD.   Thanks for treating us all with the same level of respect and attention.

You're FREAKIN' GREAT.
That is all.

Today I Had the Most Horrible Ride... It's a Matter of PERSPECTIVE

This isn't a long post, but it was something I was thinking about yesterday after my lesson.  I had already scheduled a post for yesterday, so I left this one in the back of my brain for a bit.   I loved it so much, I thought I would share.

This "poem" is very indicative of our minds as riders.  Sometimes (like my ride on Thursday) we are blessed to have amazing rides on amazing horses who give their hearts one thousand percent.  Those are the rides where we feel strong, confident, and untouched.

But it isn't always perfect.

Sometimes, a horse spooks.  Sometimes, we are "off" our game.  Sometimes, we are sick, tired, worried about other things.  Sometimes, we try our hardest and still come up short.  Sometimes we spend countless dollars getting to a show only to get last place.

But a moment is never wasted.   If you learned a lesson, even if it is a small one, you have not wasted a moment of time or a single dollar.   Ribbons cost $2, but the lessons you learn are worth so much more and you will carry them with you for the rest of your life.

So, it is a matter of perspective.  Are you going to see a bad ride as just that, or are you going to dust off your shoes, get back on, and look back at that ride from a new perspective?