Shows - What's your routine?

[StarGirl]

I was at a show yesterday, and I realize I have a very different routine from most people, so I was wondering what America's Finest (I'm talking about those here on CC :) ) routines are like at a show.

The night before, me and my husband get everything together so that in the morning, we can just go and get the horse and head to the show.

Once at the show, here is where my routine starts...

I unload Star and tie her out at the trailer (unless we have a stall) and get her settled with hay and water. Take off her sheet, pick her hooves, check her over for any scratches or injuries she might have received in the trailer, and give her a quick grooming, taking extra care that her tail is soft and shiny (and her mane, because unlike more western pleasure people, I like my horses mane long....)

So then, I usually have at least an hour before the show starts, and yesterday I realized I do the same thing every show after I have gotten Star settled...I sit and watch people warm their horses up. I don't ride before Halter...ever...it's just not something I do... but it seems everyone at these shows I have gone to recently does ride before the in hand classes...

Instead, I watch the riders and pay attention to every detail. I've discovered this helps me in the classes when it comes to anything from recognizing inexperienced competition that may accidentally cut me off or get on my tail and irritate my mare...I'm also starting to recognize the behavior of the competitors that show up only to win, and will do anything for first place.They tend to have an attitude toward the horse, (I'm talking angry, yelling, snatching, etc...) and don't pay attention to those in the ring practicing with them. I've discovered to keep an eye out for these folks, and it's kept me out of trouble in my classes several times...

Anyways, I also go around and usually end up talking to other people (I stay away from the busy ones.lol.) And in turn, this has caused me to make friends at all the local shows, which is always nice. I've discovered people who you've talked to once will come over to help if something is wrong.

Some people think I'm crazy for not working my mare before Halter, but at the rate I'm going, why should I? My routine is working out fine for me, and my mare. We placed very well at our show yesterday. We got 2nd out of a large class (more than 12) in Walk/Trot. So my routine works for me, but I'm curious what everyone else's routine is?

:)

[Skip_n_Hide]

If it works for you, I wouldn't worry!

And what about us bunch on this side of the pond, eh!

Although I think it's only me these days, meh!

[StarGirl]

Well Skip, what's your routine like at a show on the other side of the pond? :D

[Skip_n_Hide]

You've just commented on my myspace pic, haven't you! Lol. Thanks for that by the way :D

Well...

Days before- If he needs a bath (body not legs) it is done then plus tack, numnah, my boots and so on are cleaned. As well as this, all stuff to be taken on the day is stashed in the garage so it's all there and ready to go :)

Morning before show- Wash legs and tail as these are white and a pain in the ass! Prep him for transport and load the car, etc. oh and groom him up!

At the show- Go and enter shows, then get back to trailer and unload Smoke. Take all his transport stuff off and make sure he's clean. We like to get there with plenty of time to spare and most show jumping shows run late round here so we go watch a few classes. When the class before we are due up in starts we go and tack him up and begin a small warm up. Smokey doesn't get warmed up much else he will be shattered by the time we have to jump the class! It works well for us too, being placed 3rd and 5th in our past two shows, that was with jump offs too (he's a lazy horse!). If it is a particular local show, I often see the people that work at the 2 previous riding schools I work at, so I have a natter with them plus watch others go round the course; helping me remember it better!!

About it really, I think :)

[Raggle]

If it is working well then I don't see what's wrong with it. I keep an eye out, too. Because something in the rule book came between us I wasn't able to show Pretty Boy at San Antonio, and his owner did instead. If I had been in the show ring then I'd have been more expectant of the woman who was wearing a straw hat [you aren't supposed to for one...] that was showing a filly that was not clean, obviously hadn't been worked with for halter ever in its life, and not clipped. The filly reared and tumbled into his butt and he reared. I just feel that I'd have been more prepared for it than her because I was the one working with him for several months. She never did anything with him. :/

You do have to watch out for the suspicious/angry people definitely!

I didn't ride because he was a yearling at the time, lol. I have yet to show one of our three, but I am looking forward to it since I'm getting WP lessons right now. :)

It's great to be wary though and you are not doing anything strange!

[DixieGirl]

Day Before: I give my horses a bath, I load the trailer and their hay bags, I normaly ride them or lunge them.

Day of Show: I unload the horses, give them a really good grooming and polich them for the halter classes, practice the showmanship pattern if it is posted yet, walk my horses around so they can get used to their new surroundings.

Thats about all I do for shows and stuff. Hopefully I will be able to go to the next local shoew. Cross your fingers 4 me!