Part V: Having Fun with Other Styles and Activities in .NET framework

Printing QR Code 2d barcode in .NET framework Part V: Having Fun with Other Styles and Activities

The type of show or shows you choose to participate in depends on your level or riding, your chosen discipline, your breed of horse, and how much commitment you want to make to riding and showing Your instructor or trainer can help you determine which shows you should enter, depending on your riding level Ultimately, the sky s the limit for horse shows If you had unlimited amounts of time and money, you could do them all But because that s pretty unlikely, focus on the particular type of show that s best for you at a given time I provide some guidance on different horse shows in the following sections

When you re a beginning rider and a novice exhibitor, the first type of show you want to enter is a schooling show These shows are just as they sound: they re for schooling, or training Under very little pressure, both you and your horse gain experience showing at a schooling show Your competition is other beginners like yourself, so the playing field is fairly level You can find schooling shows by checking in a local horse publication, looking for signs in your local tack and feed store, or checking your newspaper for upcoming events Schooling shows are usually put on by local riding clubs or commercial stables The classes vary depending on the discipline of the show, and the shows usually last only one day The entry fees are very affordable, usually around $10 to $15 per class I describe the three types of schooling shows in the following sections: Western only, English only, and shows with both disciplines

Some schooling shows feature only Western riding classes Among others, these classes usually include Western pleasure: Horses in Western pleasure are judged in how well they carry themselves and move with a Western rider The horses are judged at the walk, jog, and lope Trail obstacle: In trail obstacle classes, judges evaluate horses one at a time and observe them as they encounter obstacles such as a mailbox, a wooden bridge, and a tarp laid out on the ground Equitation: Riders, not horses, are judged in equitation classes Judges look for proper body position at the different gaits of walk, jog, and lope

Western schooling shows sometimes have timed gymkhana events, in which horses run one at a time around barrels or poles On occasion, the shows also have showmanship classes (which require a handler, who s being judged, to present a horse for evaluation) and halter classes (which are performed with the horses in hand instead of under saddle) However, halter classes are more typically part of a breed show, which I discuss later on Riders are expected to dress in Western apparel, although they don t need fancy clothes or expensive tack on their horses See 10 for details on Western apparel

A great many schooling shows are for English riders, specifically those who ride hunt seat Classes usually include Hunters over fences: Horses are judged one at a time as they negotiate a series of fences Judges look for good form as the horse approaches and jumps over each obstacle Hunter hack: One at a time, horses are judged as they re asked to negotiate two small fences Judges look for good form as the horse approaches and goes over the jumps Equitation: Only riders face judging in this class They re evaluated for proper body position at the walk, trot, and canter Jumping is the primary focus of these shows, which are great for helping novices in the show world get their feet wet in the ring (check out 16 for details on jumping) Riders in these classes enter the arena by themselves and perform the course as prescribed by the show steward Before the class begins, riders memorize the course and walk it on foot to become familiar with the pattern and distance between jumps Figure 22-1 shows riders in an English schooling show