Conference noted::equitation

    I show for fun. If I come home without a single ribbon I chalk it up
    to experience. I have met other competitors that go for blood, but I
    don't need ulcers. Horses are my way to relax and I am happy just to be
    able to show my horse to others. I have watched horse show moms ruin it
    for their kids, and those kids drift away from horses after one season.
    The kids that really do well have moms that stand by the gate and say
    smile, have fun, try your best.
    Sandy
    

    I don't own horses but am thinking I may one day so I read this file
    occaisionally and so:
    
    I agree with .1.  I had to let go of the competitiveness in both golf
    and tennis because it was ruining it for me.  Do your best, work at the
    skills, but relax if you unless you think you can make a career out of
    it or something.  I think it's the same all over.
    
    Will

    I think the competitiveness is okay if it comes from within the person
    who is showing. It's okay to be a competitive person and want to win.
    What I think is not okay is when a person is pushed into
    competition--the kids with competitive parents who want to see their
    kids win no matter what. But the kid is scared or not emotionally ready
    to handle losing. Before showing you should love riding so much that
    losing at a horse show won't drive you away from the sport. Kids pushed
    when they aren't ready are just going to associate a lot of bad
    feelings with riding and will probably give it up.
    
    I hardly show anymore (maybe one a year), but when I did show more
    often in high school (about 10 shows a year) I always did it to have
    fun but still loved to win. What was most important was that both my
    horse and I enjoyed it. If he was good but didn't place because the
    other horses were better, I was still satisfied. 
    
    I still like to come home with a ribbon--who doesn't. I still have
    every ribbon I ever won, starting with the first one in 1975. And I'm
    proud that my feisty little Morgan turned into a decent pony hunter.
    But I know when we don't do well, or when the competition is 
    tough we won't get pinned. And that's understandable.
    
    He's 20 this year--I keep on thinking it's time to retire from showing.
    But then October rolls around and I get talked into going to the local
    town show and I end up having a great time.
    
    

    .1 & .3 - Ditto!
    
    I went to a local show sunday, and its funny what you hear standing
    along the fence between "mom & dad".  They actually cut up the other
    riders, and stuff like "My Johnny is the absolute best."  We sent
    him to so-and-so and he deserves to win".
    No wonder the kids want out.  This isn't any fun.
    
    Of course, everyone likes to win a ribbon.  I was on cloud nine
    when I went to a show for the first time, and won two ribbons.
    No matter they were 6th place, I, a beginner, won out of very
    experienced, large classes.
    
    But, I have to keep reminding myself, "this is for fun...don't get
    disappointed if you don't place."
    
    L-

    
    I am with the last few comments....I am defineatly there to have
    fun. I show several times a year, and always have a much better
    time at smaller, local shows than larger ones simply because at
    the larger, high-rated shows it seems like everyone there is so
    wrapped up in winning. They have coaches yelling from the rail,
    they sulk if they don't pin, they call the judge an "idiot" an
    "blind". I just don't go for that atmosphere. At the smaller,
    locally run shows it seems everyone genuinly applauds the winners
    and congratulates them on a job well done. I hate seeing kids
    showing on obviously expensive ponies with trainers harping at
    them . It is so much more fun to see kids on their backyard
    Shetland-types bouncing around hoping they got the right diagonal...
    just my opinion. I show a TB who has done well at several levels
    of showing, but I guess I don't have as much a competetive spirit
    as some in preferring the relaxed "lets have fun" atmosphere to
    the "what do you mean I don't pin?!". Not that I mean to insult
    people who are more competetive and who feel the need to win
    every class, it's just not my personal idea of what showing is
    all about.
    

    
    I also agree with the last few statements. I myself, am very 
    competitive within myself and always strive to win, whether it 
    was myself or my students. I never gave the impression that there
    was only one place, first ...No matter what the outcome of
    the class is/was, the first and only question that mattered to me
    was "were you happy with the performance" if the answer is yes, 
    then that was all that counted to me.  When I was younger I was
    in one of those high pressure barns where there was only one ribbon
    that counted, first. In going off on my own and teaching I have 
    always remained competitive and driven but focused on the more 
    important issue that it has to be fun. If I ever saw a student 
    beating themself up over not placing I just sat them down and reminded
    them what was important. I have been in many a position also at 
    having to take a parent aside and setting the guidelines straight. 
    I had one parent who didn't feel their daughter was winning enough.
    This particular kid was winning firsts, seconds and numerous
    championships almost every time out. He felt that if she came home 
    on any given day with more 3rd or 4th place ribbons, vs Blues she was
    not doing well enough. One occasion he contemplated selling the horse
    after a specific show because she came home with one blue and several
    third place ribbons. This just happened to be one of the most important
    shows(in my book) for this girl..she had put more effort into this and 
    it was at a higher level than she had ever been. The parent just wasn't
    seeing the day to day commitment, he had to see it in black and white,
    or should I say Blue and Red. He since mellowed out, but it caused 
    serious rift between everyone concerned. I have on occasion been a bit
    hard at times, with heavier expectations, but I try to understand why
    each person is out there and what they want from it. If I see obvious
    blunders, I will get after them.  In the longrun, its just a personal
    feeling that each person holds. I am just as content at a small
    backyard show as I am at a Circuit show, however the higher the stakes
    and competitiveness, the more demanding I become.  I would not
    encourage anyone out of the local shows if they weren't able to accept
    their own performance vs having to win a ribbon everytime out.
    
    Marianne
     

    
    I am a very competitive person.  
    
    For showing (whether it is the rated shows or the schooling shows) I
    try to go with a goal in mind.  99.9% of my goals are training related
    and are goals relative to my or my horses' past performances --
    i.e., this show we are going to concentrate on being soft yet forward
    in the corners and to the jumps.  Or we are going to work on
    consistency rather than brilliance.  Or we are going to have better
    transitions.  
    
    If we achieve these goals, then the show has been a success.  If we 
    didn't achieve these goals, then what do we need to work on to achieve 
    them next time.  If we get ribbons along the way, fine.  If not, fine.
    
    There are shows where you NEED to get a specific placings -- i.e., when 
    the goal is 'qualifying' for something like Nationals, or for the indoor 
    shows, or for Regionals.  I enjoy shows like these the least of all.
    
    For example, this summer there is only one show in all the surrounding 
    states which has classes to qualify for Nationals in Arabian Hunter and 
    Jumper.  So for this one show, the goal will be to get enough points to 
    qualify.  (And hopefully, all the previous goals will help to achieve 
    this one specific goal of a ribbon.)
    
    Mary Jo

    
    
    	I'm with .7, I love to show and always have since my 4-H days.
    	When I was in 4-H I had one of those moms that stood there
    	telling me what I was doing wrong and all, this made showing
    	for me really hard.  I started out doing good wining a ribbon
    	here and there when I was about 8 or so but then later on
    	when I started wining blues and Championships the pressure
    	started and the fun went away and also the ribbons because of
    	my attitude... I almost quit 4-H and horses all together but I 
    	love horses and riding so much I decided to show for myself and
    	for the "FUN" of it instead of for my mom.  
    
    	I love to compete but my main reason is for the fun and to see
    	what other people think of myself and my mount.  I'm going to
    	start showing again this summer and to tell you the truth I'm
    	a bit nervous but very excited to show off my new baby.  He's
    	4 now, but still a little baby to me...:-)  I believe it is
    	important to have a competive side in a person so that they
    	stive for what they want and WORK for it but just to remember
    	that not everyone will like you for some reason or another and
    	to just do your best.  I always feel if "I" beleive we as a
    	team did well and had fun then that is enough for me and if
    	a ribbon is given to us then that is very nice but if not then
    	thats fine too!

    
    	Zina

    while we are talking about showing. I have a quick question..
    
    basically everyone has heard from me about my mare being lame in the
    knee, I havent had an horses available so i can show this year..
    what are the restirctions for showing a lame horse, or using
    bute?? also what if i just wanted to show her in halter..
    I know this is a bit much, but i wanna show something*** so** BAD!
    any suggestions?
    
    
    and to keep things on track :^}
    the one thing i cant** stand is.. I see people showing their horses,
    and say the judge asks you to stop on the rail or you are in the ring
    doin indivual workouts, and someone is yacking to a coach or parent
    about whats for dinner or they didnt think so and so would win..
    or they are talking about the judge, you know yikyak..
    ARGH!! i hate that!!
    
    I think that is so unpro!!! I mean if i were a judge I would look at
    it as disrespect.. being relaxed about showing is one thing, but
    some people stretch it too far and break my concentration..
    (well i'll get off my soapbox i just wanted to know if anyone else
    noticed that or was it just me)
    :^}
    
    		wendy o'
    
    
    

    I don't think using bute in order to show is a good idea.  Its not good
    for the horse and is unfair to the other competitors.  I believe its
    also against the AHSA regulations.  If your horse is lame, he/she should 
    be recuperating.  Even showing in halter, won't the horse have to be 
    conditioned?
    
    Mary

    Showing a horse on bute is indeed unfair and against show regulations.
    It does our sport no good at all to have lame horses presented in
    public - and it certainly will reflect on how much you care for
    your critter.  And we can add tranquilizers, stimulants and anything 
    that masks their presence in drug tests.
    
    Even halter horses - they are judged on conformation and movement.
    You sure aren't going to place with a lame horse, because the lameness
    reflects on the horses conformation.  Maybe you'd get by in a breeding
    class (like Get of Sire) but I doubt it unless the lameness was
    caused by an obvious accident and not a hereditary problem.
    
    -maureen
    

    
    
    WELL I thought i would get some opinions..
    first her knee is due to an injury from a rock, some kid was out with 
    his tree wheeler and spooked her and she went over and down onto 
    a boulder. No showing isnt that important, she she likes it and so 
    do i.. (i figured some 4h local town shows)
    
    I know bute is no good, but someone had mentioned about the politics
    of using bute so i didnt know where the restirctions were.
    I cant however show her with bute in my national assoc.
    but didnt know about local shows.
    
    my horse is getting so hot just being idle, I saddle her and shes
    like a pistol.. its go go go..
    the vets suggested i ride her to keep her from getting stiff.
    so.. i thought while i was out there, I may as well as show.
    she limps because she stiff, we really dont know what degree it hurts
    her, shes seldom ugly, except on rainy days, and then its crankiness to
    the other horses.
    
    I guess your right just that i thought , well i dont know what i
    thought now.
    just wanted some insight.
    
    
    		wendy o'
    
    

    
    I encourage you to examine the rules for the shows you plan to attend.  
    
    AHSA DOES allow Bute and Banamine in low dosages.  There is quite a bit
    written up on how much is legal and in what combination.  Also the AHSA
    magazine as well as the rule book lists what drugs are not legal.
    
    FEI is much more restrictive.  AQHA is even more restrictive.

    
    I was just reading this last night... And I think this is the current
    drug rule...
    
    AHSA allows these drugs to be administered no less than 24 hours
    prior to showing and these drugs must be administered by the show
    vet.  They must be used for theraputic purposes only (and shipping/
    clipping/whatever does not count).  Legal residual blood levels are 
    specified for all drugs. And FWIW, horses who receive drugs from
    the show vet seem to have a high incidence of being tested.
    
    What this amounts to is that you can treat a horse with drugs, but
    by the time you show it, the drugs must be metabolized to the point
    where the horses performance in not affected in any way.
    
    'Course if you're showing 4H or unsanctioned shows and you don't
    care about showing ethics or that you might be hurting your horse, 
    go for it.  I've never seen anybody at a small show do drug testing.
    

    -maureen

    Even in dressage, your horse should be sound.  How can a judge 
    evaluate a movement as correct when the poor beast limps?  
    
    Most dressage judges will excuse an obviously lame entry.  BTW-
    their decision that your horse is unsound is NOT protestable.
    
    

    re.15
    
    yea i know what you are saying, I felt my mare off from time to time
    and if you really watched her you could see it, then i just thought it
    was from stones bruises because she would get it every so often (the
    limp) and we jumped and we barreled.. the vet looks at her, she looks
    fine, the shoer shod her all the time.. he saw her walk trot,
    because we were agruing about how much i could turn the toes in on the
    front.. :^] When you ride a horse everyday, it feels funny goin one
    way, thinking the horse is just stiff on that side ,but then everyone
    says that they dont see anything , judges pin you most of time in 
    A rated and b rated shows.. 
    
    then again i know of a horse that has jacks in his hocks, hes
    sound, a little stiff ;^}  she shows him...
    
    	as far as showing my tough on myself, but i do it for self
    disipline.. I like to win, just when place as high as i would like i 
    start watching the winners and see if it something i want to change.
    
    
    	I'm glad there are poeple out there that will go and try anything,
    i think it eases up others what want to try it but were afraid.
    
    		wendy o'
    

    Regarding showing attitudes, I am also a competitive person, and
    like to win.  I love ribbons!  I have gone to 3-8 shows per
    year for the last five years or so, now mostly at B-rated
    AHSA hunter shows.  I would usually pin low, a couple of
    champions/reserve, with my horse whom I sold last year.
    
    Now, with a greener horse, I find I am showing without winning.
    It was exasperating at first, thinking I was "wasting" my money,
    but the good part was I have become less and less nervous.  Now,
    I actually enjoy the whole show, not just when it's over!  I
    concentrate on improving our performance, and I feel good when
    we do.  When we don't, I make a note of what to work on.
    
    I am embarrassed when we make mistakes like cross-canter or a
    refusal, but, them's the breaks.  Showing is now fun for me,
    and if I get a ribbon, it is a fabulous bonus.  
    
    Jennie
    

    Sherry,
    	I'm glad that is over!!  
    	What I ment by the teasing was, I rode english and the other
    english riding kids were mean as h*ll to me.  I didn't have my own
    horse, I used second-hand everything, and my parents hardly ever came
    to a show.(There were 4 athletic kids in my family)
    	When I started riding western(and winning at the shows) these same
    kids teased me more.  The one thing I noticed was the kids showning
    western were just as bad but not to me, to the english ridding kids.  I
    gets so confusing.
    	I stoped showing at 18 because I couldn't stand the teasing and
    outright meaness at shows.  I started working for Annett Cart at
    Hacienda Del Oro in CA as a show groom.  It was actually more fun
    getting the guys ready than the presure of having to show them.  
    
    In any case, I love horses and I love shows, but I hate showing myself. 
    I will groom for any show, any breed, any style, but please mommy,
    don't make me go in the ring again.
    
    virginia

    
    	That's too bad that you had that experience. I have NEVER seen
    	anything like that happen around here (N.E.). Has anyone else?
    
    	Sherry
    

    Yes, sorry to say I have been treated poorly by others of a
    different riding persuasion.  (I was an adult, though...)
    I got tired of hearing that my horse would look/be a 
    "wonderful" dressage, hunter, english horse....so many experts
    out there, but no one ever offered friendship along with the
    unsolicited, unwanted advice...):
    
    But, Mom & Dad did come to 2 shows this year....the first time
    since I bought my horse (7 yrs ago), and it was the first time 
    for them seeing my sister show, too!  
    When my sister got 1st place w/ trophy on my horse in western
    trail, you could see how proud they were....
    
    Lynne
    

    Lynne,
    
    I'm sure some(maybe lots) of the comments you got about your horse
    making a "wonderful" dressage, hunter, english horse were just the sort
    of slight you took them to be. But, I HOPE that at least some of those
    people meant "Wow, what a good horse! He'd be just as good at something I
    know how to evaluate."
    
    John

    I don't know, John.  I have had the same said about my 16.2 hh running
    QH.  He is Kipdedoo(sp?) and quite leggie.  I got the impression they
    were saying that I was wasting him in western pleasure or he was not
    very good at it and should be tried in something else.  I all depends
    on how they say it.  As it stands, he has never been out of the
    ribbions in pleasure classes.  I don't have him anymore, but have
    stayed in touch with his new owners and they take him to all the shows.
    
    
    virginia

    
    	The thing you have to remember when you hear remarks like
    	that is - it only _their_opinion_.  I hear crap all the time
    	at the shows - `she doesn't think she's going to WIN anything
    	riding side saddle does she?', or `what the h___ kind of saddle
    	is that?'. (figure it out, moron...).
    
    	Sherry

    Sherry,
    
    	Speaking of saddles. I ride, show, and break, in a 30 year old
    Simco made saddle(western).  I have had people tell me I would be
    disqualified if I tried to show in it.  That saddle is like a
    conforable easy chair.  I have tried to show in a friends silver saddle
    and ended up all over the place and never could get good contact.  It
    doesn't matter what you show in as long as it is safe and conforms to
    the rules of the class.  I love being simple and easy going at shows,
    it iratates the h*ll out of the ones running around frantic. (no flames
    please, I have had my share of frantic shows.  I just prefer not to be
    if I can)
    
    virginia

    Re: Virginia
    
    Right on the nose!
    
    That is what they meant.  I *know* my horse is sharp
    looking, and yes, he probably would make a dressage or
    hunter prospect.  But, I ride Western, TYVM....
    
    Re .170 Giggle....
    
    You should have heard the comments about my other horse when
    someone took him to a show.  He has dressage training, and
    when warming up in the ring before his turn to jump, he went
    into a dressage extended trot.  (he got a little excited, cos'
    he oves to jump)  I was standing behind a few people, who of
    course knew it all.....and called him a park horse...Giggle