Conference noted::equitation

    Well, since I didn't really get into horses until I was 25,
    (1 year of riding lessons at 15, and a lot of rent by the hour
    during the summers...) I never got a chance to show....
    That is, until I went to visit my sister in Texas 8 yrs ago,
    and she and her trainer "told" me I was going to a show tomorrow!
    So off we went to buy the proper attire, and then back to the
    ranch for a 2 hour riding lesson on one of the trainer's show
    horses, and we washed horses and packed up the trailer.....
    To make a long story short, I entered 3 classes.....and came out
    with 2 ribbons!  (and beat out my sister in one of the classes! (: )
    And, the local town (in Tx) paper wrote a story about me!
    
    Lynne 
    

    Well, this has been my first year of showing.  I had previously ridden
    over the past 25 years but nothing really serious though.  I started on 
    hunter jumper lessons last November and my instructor recommended that 
    I try a schooling show at Winstar Hill Farm this spring.  I entered 4 
    events and ribboned in three (two 4th place and 1 fifth place).  I then
    entered the student show at Brindle Ledge and placed 1st in Adult
    Equitation under Saddle and a 4th in the 2' 6" jumping.  Did miserably
    in two other events.  In fact almost got thrown on the 3' jumps. 
    Before going over, I had to grab onto something.  Let me put it this
    way.  He's now got the longest ears I've ever seen on a gelding (just
    kidding).
    
    I must say that I've never enjoyed anything so much as the thrill of
    actually trying it.  It was great and I hope to do more in the near
    future.
    
    Denny
          

    Im sort of the opposite of the last 2 replies. I showed a lot as a kid,
    on ponies in 4H, progressed to horses and state-level shows, was
    moderately successful at both by my folks could never afford to get me
    a real classy horse like I needed to be super-competetive. 7 years ago
    I bought a Standardbred mare off the track and began retraining her,
    tried a few small shows and then discovered her gift for endurance
    riding and got into that where she has been extremely successful. Then,
    a few years ago my brother bought a Thoroughbred gelding dirt cheap (if
    one considers 500.00 for a horse dirt cheap), and someone suggested I
    try taking him into some small shows. He won 'bout everything, and we
    began competing more and more and two years ago won our (my) first
    high-point year end championship in Adult Equitation and reserve in
    Pleasure. Since that I've slacked off a lot. Weird as it may sound,
    when I was showing as a kid on less-than-perfect horses and ponies, it
    was my fondest fantasy to win a year end champ....I saw the kids that
    did so and how I envied them! Since accomplishing that, I find showing
    just isn't as important anymore...I reached my own personal goal and 
    now it's time to go after new challenges. I am heavily into endurance
    riding with my mare, she's placed every single time out, and just keeps
    getting better and better, and I find I enjoy the atmosphere
    of a day on the trails more relaxing and enjoyable than the pressures
    of a show.  Oh, I still show some, a few times a year, with the TB, and
    even did a tiny local show last summer with my endurance horse (where
    SHE won 2 division-end champs, to my complete and utter astonishment...
    I still haven't gotten over that one!). Guess Im just getting old! :-)
     

    
    I wanted a horse my whole life.  I got one at 16.  I showed
    everyweekend and I loved every min of it.  Then I got out of it for
    5yrs  after my horse died.  I bought another horse 3yrs ago (Im now 28)
    and now I dislike *most* shows.  I find they are to one sided and
    political.  
    
    I do how every [[LOVE]] hunter/pace, and enduranc riding and lots of
    pleasure trail rides. I love anything that pits you and your horse
    againts the nature.
    
    The endurance bug has really bitten me and I am now riding for hours
    and hours and have joined 2 endurnace clubs.  If I have my way I will be
    traveling all over the states by next year (as soon as I learn a little 
    more about the sport)
    
    good thing I have the best hubby in the world.
    
    Louisa 

    It was the only way I could jump all those neat fences without having
    to climb up and down and replace my own knocked-down poles.....

   Once one gets the "showing" bug, one tends to accumulate a goodly
   number of ribbons...has anyone thought of something clever to do 
   with them besides wallpaper the entire interior of the house?

  

    I know you'll like this one....
    
    A woman I used to ride with made a quilt out of all her ribbons.
    
    I don't remember offhand what pattern she used as it was before I got
    interested in quilting, but it was quite attractive.
    
    Kris
    

   I thought of that...in the 'old days' ribbons were made out of
   real satin and I could picture a quilt out of those, but the 
   ribbons now are nylon and so stiff...

   How bout if I made a horse cooler out of them! ;^)
    

    RE: all those ribbons 
    
    New England Pinto (and Paint) will buy back the good ribbons to re-use,
    (0.10 or 0.20/piece).  Personally I haven't reached the point where I
    want to turn mine in.   Maybe next year.....

    Donate them (the ribbons) to your local 4-H, riding or 
    pony/horse club.....

    
    	I just saw one of those quilts first hand and it looked great.
    	My friend was retiring her horse, former World and International
    	Sidesaddle Champion, International Plantation Walking Horse
    	Champion, at the Internation PWH Classic (show) last week. She made
    	squares out of 4 ribbons, then sowed the squares together. The
    	whole thing was backed and she is in the process of quilting it.
    	Her horse looked great wearing it in the retirement ceremony and
    	many, many people came up afterwards to see the quilt. 

    I think the quilt idea is really neat.  But does anyone know exactly
    how it's done?  You must have to take off the metal hangers but what
    about the cardboard-type backing?  Or do you just use the bottom part?
    Inquiring minds want to know!
    
    thanks,
    gwen
    

    
    	She only used the straight parts of the ribbons to make
    	the squares... I would have found a way to incorporate	
    	the rosettes, but I have a while to go before I worry 
    	about that!!
    
    	I'll have pictures of it at NRO next week if anyone is 
    	interested...(if they came out good!)
    	
    	Sherry
    

   RE:
   <<< Note 1631.10 by BOOVX1::MANDILE "Green eggs and ham...yuck!" >>>

  >  Donate them (the ribbons) to your local 4-H, riding or 
  >  pony/horse club.....

     Just curious...what do they do with them? I can't imagine 
     giving them out at shows when they have the names of other
     places on them...

  RE: <<< Note 1631.11 by MPO::ROBINSON "I don't think, therefore I might be" >>>

    
    >	I just saw one of those quilts first hand and it looked great.

        Really? And it didn't seem stiff at all? And the stitching held?
        The ribbons I've got don't feel like they'd sew well...
        I make quilts out of soft cotton fabrics, so I have trouble
	picturing an appealing quilt out of ribbons. I'd love to see 
        the picture...
    

    
    Giving ribbons for reuse -- We did an entire April Fools schooling show 
    with left-over and donated ribbons.  We just did a /\ cut on the streamer
    that had the name of the old show on it.  And we did a LOT of ironing. 
    
    So for a schooling show people received BIG rosettes (the donated ribbons 
    were from AHSA Class A Arabian shows) down through eighth place.  We even 
    had a couple of neck ribbons for high points.  
    
    Oh yes, the trophies were all donated, as well. 
    
    People seemed to be really happy with the results. 

    RE: .14
    
    They do give them out! Believe me, most of the kids are so
    thrilled to get a ribbon/trophy, that what it actually says isn't
    all that important...or, they do like .16 mentioned.../\ snip snip!!!!
    
    Lynne