Ready to Show?

[PurpleHammer]

This might sound like an odd question, but I was thinking about it and was curious if there are many thoughts on it. So, here goes!

The following topic goes out to riding instructors and judges. (The discipline/style of riding doesn't matter as I mean this in a general sense, but it might be useful to be specific to help explain your answer.)

How do you know when a person is ready to compete at a horse show? I understand some people base this decision after reading a description about what is required as a minimum qualification for a class/show, such as, "able to jump fences up to 3 ft. in height" or "able to walk, jog, lope both ways around the arena," etc., but I've also heard about some instructors who say that the rider needs to have meet those minimum qualifications for a period of time that they set, or the rider needs to do it to a certain ability/confidence level. Obviously there are riders who "stand out" (for the good and the bad/scary) at horse shows, so asside from people just having a bad day/ride, how do you know if they're really ready to compete?

For riding instructors, do you "spell out" to your students what proficiency level they will need to be able to do a skill/set of skills if they show an interest in competing, or is it just a "yep, you're ready"?

For judges, is there any minimum qualification asside from what might be written in a class description that you'd like to see followed? What about riders who are "the best in the class" but are clearly on "auto-pilot" and could do well in a higher level?

[Soot]

Round here most people start going to local shows whenever they feel ready themselves. From there they will soon find out if they are good at anything and what classes they should be working towards. The RI might have some input in the decision to start competing/showing, but in the end only the rider can know how they feel. Some want to start waaaaay too early and have a few terrible seasons (although I don't see any harm in learning by experience at small local shows so long as no horse or human is in danger), whereas others feel nervous to start showing even though their level is well above that usually seen!

[Dancinglite]

For riding instructors, do you "spell out" to your students what proficiency level they will need to be able to do a skill/set of skills if they show an interest in competing, or is it just a "yep, you're ready"?

Training at home one level higher than competition expectations.


For judges, is there any minimum qualification asside from what might be written in a class description that you'd like to see followed? What about riders who are "the best in the class" but are clearly on "auto-pilot" and could do well in a higher level?


Able to complete course/test with confidence. Without a best in class the others have nothing to compare to.