By Sharise Hawkins

- Part 1 of 3 in Gearing Up For Your First Horse Show series.

Show season is upon us! For some, shows are a regular occurrence and preparing for one is second nature. But everyone has that first show. Whether you’re anxiously entering your 4-h pony into your first gymkhana, or just getting started into a new retirement hobby, preparing for a first show can stress even the most steadfast riders out. But does it really have to be so…

By Sharise Hawkins

- Part 2 of 3 in Gearing Up For Your First Horse Show series.

She Who Rides Last, Moves Slowest

Regardless of where you’re staying, expect the day of your show to come bright an early. I’m talking a good 5 or 5:30 AM. Shows generally are underway by eight o’clock in the morning and you want to make sure you have more than enough time to do any chores that are required, finish any last minute packing, load your horse…

By Sharise Hawkins

Horse Trailer Checklist:

_ Small wheelbarrow

_ Pitchfork

_ 1 bale of hay per day

_ Large bucket for water

_ Any feed/supplements your horse requires

_ Short length of hose

_Hay bag/net

_ Full water tank (optional, some trailers are equipped with them for finicky horses)

_ Saddle stand

_ Camp chair

_ Tent and other camping supplies (if…

By Sharise Hawkins

Horse Grooming Kit Checklist:

_ Brushes X2 (one with stiff bristles, one with soft)

_ Hoof pick

_ Comb

_ Curry comb

_ Braiding elastics

_ Yarn or braiding tape (optional)

_ Hoof polish (optional)

_ Finishing body spray (optional)

_ Small bottle of shampoo

_ Baby wipes

_ Small scissors

_Baby oil

A Bit About…

By Sharise Hawkins

Horse Tack Checklist:

_Saddle

_ Saddle pad X2

_ Girth/cinch

_ Bridle and reins

_Any additional pieces ie: breastplate/martingale etc

_Fly mask/sheet (optional)

_Rain sheet (optional, but a good idea)

_Cooler (optional, only in cold weather)

_ Wraps or boots (check rule book regarding use within classes)

_ Halter and lead rope

_ Lunging equipment…

By Sharise Hawkins

Horseback Riding Gear Checklist:

_Helmet

_Stock, tie and pin

_ Show shirt

_ Blazer (if riding English)

_Breeches X2 (white or tan, check your rule book)

_Belt

_ Chaps (if riding Western)

_ Boots

_Spurs (if applicable)

_Crop (Optional)

_Gloves

_Hair net

_Extra elastics

_Safety pins

_Baby wipes

_Boot polish

_…

By Sharise Hawkins

- Part 3 of 3 in Gearing Up For Your First Horse Show series.

Well Oiled Machine

If time allows between classes, untack completely and let your horse rest. However, if you have an hour or less between classes, as is often the case, loosen your girth or cinch and remove your horse’s bridle. Have a pair of sweat or track pants and a top you can pull over your show clothes to keep them clean. Make sure your horse has hay…

By Just Add Horses

As the last warm summer days fade into autumn's cooler evenings it is time to, once again, pull out our winter horse blankets. The main function of a turnout blanket is to keep your horse warm and dry; however, if blankets are not properly cared for they can actually put our horses' health at risk. To ensure that your horse stays healthy throughout the long winter months, be sure that your blankets are disinfected and treated with a waterproof coating at least twice…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- The hand gallop is used for jumping fences and is also one of the USEF's Tests 1-19. It is performed at between fourteen and sixteen miles per hour, or 1232 feet to 1408 feet per minute, and should appear controlled and at a speed appropriate for the size of the arena.

At the hand gallop, the horse’s footfalls strike in the same three-beat sequence as at the canter. This distinguishes the hand gallop from the faster racing gallop, which…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- Flatwork is the adaptation of the schooling movements and principles of dressage to the needs of hunters, equitation horses, and jumpers.

While dressage encompasses difficult maneuvers such as the passage and piaffe, in which the horse's steps have a tremendous amount of suspension, these movements have no reasonable application for horses being shown in the hunter, jumper, or equitation divisions. Consequently, hunter seat riders must…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

-  In hunter and equitation classes, most people wear either navy, dark green, or gray jackets, all with or without narrow pinstripes (black jackets are also acceptable, but rarely seen); light-gray or medium-gray breeches (although rust, canary, or fawn breeches are sometimes worn); black dress boots or black field boots, with the boot tabs, toe caps, and spur rests all being optional (brown is the traditional field boot color, but is rarely seen…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- Occasionally, I'll come across a rider who is afraid of jumping fences, particularly large ones. When someone asks me about dealing with this fear, I have to be honest and say that I believe people should do what makes them happy, rather than feel that they have to overcome their worries and fears to prove to themselves or others that they are "up to par."

Life is short, and going through it being a harsh judge of yourself will only make…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- Emotional riding leads to abuse, so it's very important to control your emotions when you're training a horse. First, realize the animal will usually be compliant unless you are "clashing aids," by pushing and pulling at the same time, or are "overfacing" the horse by asking it to do something above its current performance level. For instance, a young, inexperienced horse (referred to as a "green" horse) may not have established its balance well…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

In an over-fences class, you should get into two-point position during the initial circle and stay there throughout the entire course. Concentrate on pressing the horse forward with your legs, rather than using your upper-body as a motivator. This way, you can stay still in your upper-body, making the performance look effortless, while using your legs to do all the work.

Be sure not to actively close your upper-body at take-off, but instead, let the…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- Longeing is not only useful in teaching the horse rhythm, balance, bending, and obedience, but is also useful in helping the rider improve his position and balance.

First, tie the reins around a clump of mane and take off your stirrups before you begin. Make sure the horse is equipped with side reins and that the person longeing you has a longe whip and is familiar with how to use it, for the ground person will be controlling the horse while you…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- Between a horse and rider, there should be a bond of trust. This is especially important for those who jump, asking horses to take off from a particular spot before each fence. Most riders connect that having a "bad eye to a fence" (i.e., not having the ability to determine the proper take-off spot before a fence and putting the horse either too close to or too far from the fence for a safe take-off ) causes the horse not to trust the rider.…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- Generally, the types of things that people can exchange for the opportunity to ride are grooming, mucking stalls, and feeding. If you are well-organized and good in mathematics, you might even be able to do some bookkeeping; and babysitting is sometimes attractive to the professional horseperson who has children. Anything that you can do for the professional that is not immoral, unethical, or dangerous is a possibility for a trade-out.

This…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- If a horse is excitable when it comes out to work, riders tend to work the animal for long periods of time in an effort to wear it out to achieve compliance. The initial excitability of the animal causes an adrenaline rush, just as though the horse were fearing for its life and needed adrenaline to enable it to run fast for a long period of time to escape a predator. If the rider (or even someone longeing a horse) doesn't give the animal frequent…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- One of the major things I've noticed when judging equitation classes around the country is that many riders lack an understanding of the use of two-point and three-point position. This is especially evident in equitation on the flat.  For many years, the USEF Rule Book has stated, "At the walk, sitting trot, and canter, body should be a couple of degrees in front of the vertical…" (EQ 108, #4)

If you think about it, a couple of degrees in…

By Anna Jane White-Mullin

- The three most important considerations when leasing a horse are:

1)  finding a horse with a good temperament

2)  choosing an animal whose capabilities are compatible with your immediate goals

3)  having a veterinarian check the horse thoroughly for soundness problems

I put temperament at the top of the list because a horse with a good attitude makes for safe and fun riding. The capabilities of the horse may not be up to your…