Do any of you go to local shows?

[bluejules]

I have finally persuded OH that in order to get the most out of our gees we need a trailer. They live out 24/7 and, although the hacking round here is great, we don't have access to a school. We also haven't been anywhere with them in the two years we've had them.

I am now looking into what we can do if we are mobile! I thought of outings to the beach etc, plus we are not too far from the Mary Townley Loop and could probably do it in sections. The 14-year old daughter is also keen to go to some of the little local shows. I looked at the schedule for one of these and noticed a class called "Wrinklie's Equitation - for novice riders, 25 yrs and over". !!
Do any of you compete in local shows, and if so, what is your experience? I (and 17-year old daughter) tend to associate these shows with whining little pony-club kids and their ultra-competitive mums - but surely they can't all be like that?!

[Mehitabel]

they vary enormously acording to the show and the organisers. most are very friendly and good fun, but some do get taken over by the dreadful brigade.
if there are any on before you get mobile, you could go and watch and see if the atmosphere is nice.

i dont; do local showing myself as it'd be pothunting - we show the stud ponies at county level - but plenty of our liveries do and really enjoy it.

[Ross]

I used to go to local shows a lot (when I was still riding!) and thoroughly enjoyed them. If you aim at the right classes, you meet people who are having the same sort of problems as you, and get to know them quite well, as you all end up being at the same places at the same time. I agree that they vary tremendously though for atmosphere.

I worked up from 2' courses to novice RC teams (which are only 2'6" and 2'9" anyway). It was great fun. These days, I support my friends with RC teams, and one particular friend who is just about to move into BE eventing, so I still see the people and get to enjoy the horsey days out, without the stress of actually competing :)

I'd second the suggestion to go to some on foot first and see what they're like. Check local papers and tack shops for fixtures...

Ross

[The Flying Irishman]

Ditto Mehitable re the "dreadful brigade" and checking them out first. I take the kids to loads in the summer and the majority are great but a few are "cliccy"(sp).

At the end of the day though, its a fun day out for you and your horse no matter what the other people are like.

Kath x

[baxter]

I have a fab time at local shows, my anglo arab is unregistered (his origin is unknown, having gone through sales etc) so i show him (he loves showing off!) at local shows and have a great time.... it annoys me to see some county level people out at the ickle local ones, but i appreciate that most advanced people use these shows as experience, something i will do with my pure bred arab, before we plunge into affiliated.....
I did local shows a lot as a youngster (i'm now 27) and i have found that local level does demand quite high quality in order to be in with a chance, we used to take our mud ponies, and come out with rosettes, but now attire, presentation and in fact competition is a lot more "advanced" shall we say, needless to say a trailer, couple of chairs and a picnic and the paper, happy ponies in the sun... and it's a glorious way to spend a day!
:D

[cassiejane]

25 years and over...wrinklies...goodness knows what that make me then :rolleyes:

I am in the same boat at the moment with no transport but looking into sorting that for the coming season.

I spend the last season going to various shows etc and agree that some are nicer than others. Its a good idea to join the local riding club and ring and talk to the secretary first to see what sort of attitude they have.
My local club is really friendly so yours will probably be too.

Have fun and keep us posted with how it goes.

[Belle1]

I have done local shows for the last 3 seasons (showing, SJ and dressage). Some are good, some are not so good. I go back to the good ones, but not the ones I don't like (for example the show where there was a ridden veterans class and the judge placed all of the children riding and not the adults - so placing lame and thin ponies and ones who didn't move out of a shuffle, but ignoring some very good veterans!).

I won't be going to shows this year as I now have a youngster who needs a bit more education first, and no transport at present.

[Laetitia]

Yes, definately get some transport, it will open up tremendous opportunities.
Couldn't do without mine. We have enormous fun tootling about, just going to different places, not just shows, but other places to drive around.
As mentioned go and watch a couple of local shows to see what they're like. Join your local riding club, they usually have shows and training days and lots of good activities.
You'll wonder how you ever managed without wheels. L

[FRED]

Attended loads last year, fun and good to take part.The down side is the waiting around, the timetables are a sham,everything runs late and on some days events were hours late:eek:

[NoviceNic]

Im 34 and I love going to shows. I tried umping last year and my daughter tried Gymkhana. We will be going to 2 distict shows this year. My daughter will enter gymkhana in 1 club and then i will take my cob to walk around in the other. That way I dont have to worry about 2 ponies at the same time as my OH isnt horsey and if I ask him to hold 1 pony he gives me a "If looks could die" expression.:eek:

[iloveshearer]

they're the best place to start!!! you'll have loads of fun!!!

[cazrider]

Sennie and I do a lot of local shows, and I have my own trailer as well. They're great fun. I must admit I've only done one riding classes, "Novice Ride" with no canter, but have thoroughly enjoyed the In hand ones I have done. I'd say, go for it. and enjoy yourself. I've never seen the "Wrinklie's equitation" ones you describe though. They sound great.;) :D

[carrimclaren]

I'm usually on foot when i go :D I lost my confidence last year so only managed one show. I'm lucky enough to have two hacking distance away so this year i'm going to try and do more although the one i did last year was a shocker. Turned up for the novice jumping thinking it would be about 2"6 and most of it was 2"9 with a hideous wall and a hideous treble in. Managed it but with gritted teeth and a "oh my god" expression the whole time :)

[eml]

Go for it! Most clubs are friendly although some seen cliquey to start with.

I have belonged to two and ended up running another one (don't go there unless you are a lady of much leisure) .

One was very serious and competitive but full of people bringing out youngsters (both horse and human kind) as well as lots of older competitors just having a good time. Everyone would help newcomers even schooling them round after competitions and giving them advice. :)

The other was very cliquey and appeared to be geared at the comittees kids winning. We left after being told off for wanting to walk the course as we were jumping the 'open' as 'everyone else had done the same course for the other 8 horse and pony classes that day' distances..what distances :mad:

Don't know about the one I ran as I spent each show day running around trying to keep things going and juggling everyone who was trying to fit in as many classes as possible even when they all clashed!!!!

[Lori B]

Hi Bluejules,
i live not far from you and i think i know the show you're talking about (with the wrinkleys).:D It's an excellent family show with something for everyone, well worth a try at! We've done quite a few shows in the area and have thoroughy enjoyed each one.

[Dummer&Drummer]

yeah ive done a few local shows, hoping to do quite a few more this year. thinking i may join a RC but think i'd fit better into PC but i 31 years old and i dont think there'll have me :)

[Kira657]

I've done a few local shows, there are always the odd few that are there because they know they can win everything. This really irritates me because me and a few of my other friends are all at the same sort of level with our horses so don't stand a chance against these people who have been competeing since they could walk but if you go just for the experience and fun of it all you'll have a great time, I did. I fell off at my first ever show because she decided to put in a big cheeky buck after the first jump but the whole day was so fun, I wish I had a trailer of my own to go more often.

OT but I also can't stand to see some of the kids come out of the ring and whack their ponies or turning them in really tight little circles as punishment for running out or refusing a jump,their parents stand by and watch and do nothing :mad: I'm sure im not the only on who has ever witnessed this kind of thing

[Abi B]

Join a riding club. My riding club only accepts members over 19 years so there are no stroppy kids on badly behaved ponies taking 1st place at our events. Also, Ill keep the name of my riding club out of this thread, but the majority of riders in our club are bloody awful at riding. Its not the winning its the taking part that counts. Most of us are quite happy to remember the course never mind going clear. We also do pony club games, its very amusing to watch a load of adults on large horses in fancy dress attempt walk, trot and run.

[alfie1410]

i dont; do local showing myself as it'd be pothunting - we show the stud ponies at county level - but plenty of our liveries do and really enjoy it.

Thank goodness for you! The amount of local shows I go to where the big guys turn up and scoop all the prizes is daft! I recently entered an unaffiliated fun dressage on my youngster, and the top 6 places were taken by an eventer who travels oversees to compete, fair enough, she was on all her youngsters, but I work full time, can only ride at the weekends in the winter, on a horse that I've started myself, it was a little bit depressing.

My heart felt thanks to you for your integrity and taking us small time guys into consideration.

[Mehitabel]

frankly i'd be thoroughly embarrassed to take our stud ponies to a local show. we are professionals and it does show, and it's just not fair. we have several 'biggish' shows that we can go to for miles on the clock purposes - specialist NF riding club ones that everyone 'on the circuit' goes to, that have novice classes and are small enough in size that ponies aren't overwhelmed by the occasion. they are county standard but on a smaller scale, so no fairgrounds, stands etc to terrify the babies.