SHOW MANUAL
SILVER GATE FARMS
HORSE SHOW TEAM MANUAL
Show Team Goals
- Riders will become competitive in traditional hunt seat equitation or dressage and compete at regional, state, and
national level competitions
- Riders will develop an appreciation of the tenets of classical horsemanship and a deep love of horses
- Riders will develop a bond of unity with their horse through training and competition.
- Riders will acquire a deeper understanding of horses: their minds, emotions and instincts, through progressive training
- Riders will develop a comradeship with other riders through group training, goal setting, and service.
Individual rider objectives
- Set year end competition goals for the show season.
- Set quarterly training objectives that will help them meet their competition goals.
- Horse shows and show lessons will reveal strengths and weaknesses and help define objectives.
- Riders will journal their riding goals and objectives and chart the progress toward those goals
- Meet with trainer after each show and each show lesson to review journal and reflect on progress toward goals and
objectives.
Commitment to Excellence
- Trainer will select a division in which student will compete based on their level of riding
- Show team riders will learn the rules of competition for their selected division
- Show team members will compete in medal classes at their appropriate level of riding, learning the requirements of the
medal, and competing at the medal finals.
Commitment to Train
- Show team riders will take a minimum of three lessons per week
- Show team riders are athletes. As such, they will maintain their bodies in excellent physical condition, obtaining
appropriate rest, proper nutrition, and mental balance that will facilitate training.
- Show team riders will maintain their horse, tack, tack space and barn in a manner that is supportive of their training
goals.
Commitment to Parents
- Show team riders will maintain the support of their parents through a respectful attitude, by obtaining good grades, and
demonstration of responsibility toward daily chores. Show team riders will take care of the equipment purchased for them by their
parents.
Commitment to Horse
- Show team riders understand that their horse is their partner in competition. Horses are athletes and must be
treated as such. If a horse id treated as a rider’s tool, his performance will reflect the rider’s attitude and be mediocre at best and
sour at worst
- Show team riders will foster a horse’s desire to please and his love for showing.
- Show team riders will regularly discuss their horse’s needs with the trainer to obtain the best possible performance.
Horse preparation
Preparation for competition begins months before the
horse show day with lessons, training, nutrition, grooming, and conditioning
- All show team horses are required to be on a customized nutritional program to optimize muscle tone, healthy hooves, and
a shiny coat.
- All show team horses will receive joint supplementation to optimize joint health and longevity
- Show team horses will receive regular veterinary, dental, and chiropractic care to optimize their performance
- Show team horses will receive regular tune-up training from the trainer to keep them show ring ready.
Grooming
It is of utmost importance that your horse be properly groomed on the day of the show.
Regular daily grooming is best for maintaining your horse’s coat.
·
Regular currying brings out the natural oils and shine, and draws out deep down dirt which
can then be brushed away.
·
Shampoo bathing should not be done more than once per week as the soap can leave the coat
dull and dry.
·
Coats should be sprayed with sunscreen and bug repellent on a daily basis.
·
Manes and tails should be shampooed and conditioned on a weekly basis to remove debris and
tangles. Tails should be sprayed daily with a detangler and the tangles worked through with fingers.
·
Manes should be kept pulled and trained to lay down using a mane tamer.
·
Hooves should be conditioned regularly.
·
Regular clipping: muzzle, throatlatch, ears, bridle path, fetlock, pastern and white
socks
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Body clipping is scheduled two weeks before a horseshow.
·
Horse’s apparel: boots, wraps, blankets, and pads should be cleaned on a weekly basis
·
Tack should be kept clean and neat.
EXPECTATIONS OF SHOW TEAM PARENTS
- Have riders arrive on time for lessons.
- Join appropriate clubs before the first show of the year.
- Review show schedule with trainer and sign up for desired show in the SGF office.
- Check all show clothing for fit. Clean clothes and replace items that do not fit properly. Clarify issues of
horse o rider apparel.
- Check the condition of tack. Pay special attention to stirrup leathers
- Sign up for horse shows in the office
- Keep a record of the rider’s placing to determine points accrued
- Learn the rules and specifications for the classes your child is riding in
- Arrive on time for horse shows, allowing time for riders to get mentally prepared and physically warmed up for the horse
show.
- Make sure rider eats healthy breakfast including protein. Bring water and snacks for small meals throughout the
day.
- Make sure the trainer and groom receive water and lunch during the day as their commitments may prevent them from taking
a break to eat.
- Schedule discussions of rider’s placing, point standings, and judging discrepancies with the trainer after the show
Preparation checklist: The day before leaving for the horse show
- Bathe horse: do not condition mane and top of tail if braiding
- Show clip horse: bridle path, nose, ears, under jowl, fetlocks, and white pasterns using #15 blade
- Clean tack and polish boots
- Wash pads
- Gather clean show clothes into garment bag
- Pack car or trailer neatly and orderly
- Set out shipping equipment for morning loading
- Review show schedule with trainer.
- Review with trainer any special needs of horse-lunging, calmer, electrolytes or other preparation
Schooling at the Horse show
Schooling sessions may be given the afternoon before the
horse show. Riders need to be prepared to school their horse. Please have schooling equipment and riders prepared to ride at the
scheduled time.
- Go to horse show office, leave an open check, obtain a revised show schedule, and pick up the rider’s number.
- Place the number in an obvious place as you cannot show without a number.
Braiding
Braiding is required for “A” shows and all medal finals.
A non sticky ace bandage attached to the hors’s halters needs to be left outside the horse’s stall for the braider. Manes can be left in
for two days if the horse does not rub. Tails should never be left in overnight.
SHOW DAY
Preparation checklist
- Eat a good breakfast. Arrive at the show grounds early, allowing time to organize and relax
- Check the numbers of entries in the classes before yours, to give you an estimate of the time until your class.
Allow two minutes for each jumping round and 15 minutes per flat class. For example, four classes with six riders per class
is 24 rounds. At two minutes per round, you have 48 minutes until your class. Please remember that any
delays will add to your wait, so be aware of what is happening in your ring.
- Inform trainer of approximate class time and the number of riders in classes
- Learn courses and visualize riding course
- Provide groom with appropriate equipment to dress horse half hour before class start time.
- Trainer will prioritize multiple groom commitments. Riders are required to assist each other and the groom with
preparation
- Be ready to mount horse approximately 15 minutes prior to class start time. Do not jump your horse until your
trainer is there to supervise.
- Keep trainer informed of class progress and order of go.
- Do not enter the ring for classes over fences without your trainer. If you or your trainer is required in another
ring, tell the ring steward that your trainer has a ring conflict so that he can accommodate you if possible.
- Between classes, offer your horse water and let him rest in the shade.
After Completion of Classes
- Return horse to trailer or stall. Un-tack and wash him down
- Clean tack if showing the next day
- Remove braids
- Help prepare other students and horses for their classes
- Be at the ringside to cheer on fellow riders
After show reflection
- Show team riders will record in their journal, progress toward riding goals and areas that need continued work
- Show team riders will discuss assessment with trainer and set lesson objectives
Show cleanup
- Meet trailer at barn to help unload
- Unwrap horses
- Put show equipment away clean and neatly, ready for the next show.
HORSE SHOW ETIQUETTE
- Be polite and considerate at all times when dealing with the gate stewards and show secretaries. You are only one
of many people they have to deal with during the day. Recognize that they may be tired. Please be patient and cooperative.
- Addressing the judge: While it may seem reasonable to voice your unhappiness over a judge’s decision, doing so is
against USAE rules and not acceptable. It is against USAE rules to talk to the judge without receiving permission from the show steward
and judge. Judging is subjective and we must accept the judge’s decision.
- Parent Policies: Parents or guardians are not permitted at the back gate of the show ring. Your child, as a
competitor, needs the full benefit of their trainer’s comments and can be distracted by the presence of their parents at the back gate.
Please feel free to watch the round for the spectator area. Allow the trainer and your child 3 to 5 minutes after the completion of the
course to critique and review the round. This will allow the competitor to mentally review his/her performance.
- Keep your trainer informed: Your trainer may be working with several students at one time. They may also
need to move between rings. You can help by keeping them informed of your schedule and be patient.
- Negative comments directed toward others are prohibitive and reflect poor sportsmanship
Sportsmanship
- Show respect for yourself, your teammates your competitors, your trainers
- Treat fellow competitors as you would like to be treated
- Show respect for the judges and their decisions even if you do not agree with them
- Admit when you make a mistake
- Admit when someone has more skills than you
- Good sports are generous an gracious
- Good sports acknowledge their victories without humiliating their opponents
- Good sports compliment their opponents
- Good congratulate winners promptly and willingly
- Good sports accept the outcome without complaint or excuses, even if they question the judges decisions
- Good sports understand that in sports as in life, you may not always win but you can learn something from losing also.
HORSE SHOW ASSOCIATIONS
Horse shows are run under to rules of one or more horse
show associations. You or your child, your trainer, and the owner of the horse must be a member of the association before you can compete.
Your horse will need to be registered too. Your trainer will decide which shows you will be entering and which associations you should
join.
The local associations are:
The regional/state associations are:
The national associations are:
Membership forms are available from your trainer in the office, and in the
show schedule package. Renewal dates are December 1 of each calendar year.
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All horses showing are required to have a USHJA number.
Copies of membership cards must be submitted with all entry forms. Supply
your trainer with copies of your membership cards and horse ID number to keep on file. Carry copies of the cards with you to all horse
show events as a backup
You can still compete if you pay a large non-member fee. If you compete in three or more of these
shows, it is cheaper to join the associations. The associations you join will send you a rule book, and premiums for each show.
The premium contains all show information- location, directions, date, start time, class listing and any other relevant information. Each
association records points from all competitions throughout the year. Members are eligible for year-end awards.
ENTRY PROCEDURE
- Sign up in the SGF office and leave SGF show deposit fee.
- The entry form needs to be filled out completely prior to submission.
- Make sure your form has all required signatures.
- Have your trainer check the entry form.
- Your trainer will mail your entry with all required deposits to horse show offices
- Make a copy of the completed entry form for your records. Circle the rider’s classes on the premium. Bring
both with you on the day of the horse show.
LIST OF SHOW EQUIPMENT
TACK
- Saddle
- White wool fleece show pad (with gel insert if necessary)
- Show Bridle that matches saddle
- Show martingale that matches bridle
- Show girth that matches saddle
- Equitation boots
RIDER SHOW APPAREL
- Hunt coat: navy or grey
- Tailored sportsman show britches with leather belt
- Leather belt
- Long sleeve riding blouse (ratcatcher) with collar
- ASTM/SEI approved helmet: GPA or Charles Owen
- Black gloves
- Boots, thin socks, rags
- Children 11 & under riding in Jodhpurs and paddock boots must wear leather garters.
- Hair under helmet in hair net
- Spurs and spur straps
SCHOOLING APPAREL
- Beige tailored sportsman schooling britches
- Navy or light blue polo shirt embroidered with SGF logo
- Leather belt
- Navy schooling pad with SGF logo embroidered on left side
- White polos for grays and chestnuts, black polos for bays and
blacks
- White or black bell boots
SHIPPING EQUIPMENT
- Leather shipping halter with fleece covers
- Two navy lead ropes, stud chain
- Navy nylon halter with horse’s name embroidered on left cheek
- Shipping wraps
- Navy bandages
- Head bumper
HORSE APPAREL
- Navy cotton sheet
- Navy Irish knit
- Grey bath robe
- Tack trunk with trunk cover
- Stall plate
Tags
- One halter plate with show name
- One bridle tag, One martingale tag, One girth circle
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RECOMMENDED READING
NOVICE RIDERS
- US PONY CLUB MANUAL D LEVEL
- GEORGE MORRIS TEACHES BEGINNERS TO RIDE
- HUNTER SEAT EQUITATION BY GEORGE MORRIS
HORSE OWNERS AND SHOW RIDERS
- US PONY CLUB MANUAL C LEVEL
- CENTERED RIDING BY SALLY SWIFT
- RIDING AND JUMPING BY WILLIAN STEINKRAS
- JUDGING HUNTERS AND EQUITATION BY ANN WHITE