Sending Out an SOS.... Planning Ride Times

[Carol O]

I am setting ride times for a schooling show my itty, bitty chapter of our GMO is putting on this weekend.

Planning is going really well but, I am wondering about ride times... If it is suggested the rides average (x) minutes, do you schedule a test every (x) minutes, or give a minute or two between rides?

Thanks for any advice!

I think we will not be as poor after the show, and can maybe afford Fox Village software.... Yes!

[Cupcake]

I believe that I give training level rides 6 minutes in the 60 M arena and Intro rides 5 minutes in a 40 M arena.

First level rides I give 7 minutes.

That is usually enough to keep things going smoothly. I usually fit in about 70 rides in about 8.5 hrs.

Good luck with organizing your show!

[Peggy]

Give some time between tests. Also schedule periodic longer breaks in addition to any official lunch break.

[hoopoe]

http://equestriansinstitute.org/wroot/docs/2008/shows/EI%20Schooling%20Show%20April%202008%20Ride%20Time s.pdf

here is a link to a schedule of ride times for a schooling show. All rides are in a standard arena

They allow , on average, 7 minutes per ride which is enough for the ride and judges comments. It also allows for novice riders who are not prompt or for rides where things just don't go as planned.

periodic breaks for the judge and for lunch, usually 1 mid morning break and a lunch break. If the show goes past 3 you will likely want a break about 2 hours after the lunch.

If riders ride multiple tests you need to allow some time between rides but it is usually difficult to comply with the 45 minute rule that applies in USEF recognized shows. If someone rides multiple horses they you need to provide time space but for multi rides on the same horse you can likely get away with 7 to 14 minutes between rides.

[Blkarab]

http://equestriansinstitute.org/wroot/docs/2008/shows/EI%20Schooling%20Show%20April%202008%20Ride%20Time s.pdf

here is a link to a schedule of ride times for a schooling show. All rides are in a standard arena

They allow , on average, 7 minutes per ride which is enough for the ride and judges comments. It also allows for novice riders who are not prompt or for rides where things just don't go as planned.

periodic breaks for the judge and for lunch, usually 1 mid morning break and a lunch break. If the show goes past 3 you will likely want a break about 2 hours after the lunch.

If riders ride multiple tests you need to allow some time between rides but it is usually difficult to comply with the 45 minute rule that applies in USEF recognized shows. If someone rides multiple horses they you need to provide time space but for multi rides on the same horse you can likely get away with 7 to 14 minutes between rides.

I just scheduled a show last weekend, and we placed each ride (with the exception of 2nd level and the freestyle) at 7 minutes apart. We had mostly intro and training, so it gave ample time for the judge to make comments and breathing room for the riders who were riding several tests.

Good luck!

[Spectrum]

I actually ad *2* minutes to the Intro, Training and First Level rides above the suggested time for my schooling shows (not for recognized shows).

The reason for this being that at schooling shows the lower level riders are much more often kids and green riders who aren't riding their horses forward, are going off course, etc. This all slows down your schedule significantly, especially if you have a good judge who is trying to write lots of comments on the tests (which is, of course, one of the things you hope for at a schooling show).

Spectrum.

[oldenmare]

Here's how I schedule my schooling shows:

Intro - Training - 6 minutes each
First - Fourth - 7 minutes each

I also allow 3-4 minutes between each class for judge to have a chance to review the test for the next class (also allows a little catch-up time in event of complications).

Don't forget to schedule a 15 minute break every couple of hours - judges (and scribes) need restroom breaks too.

Also, having a ring steward to keep riders on track and coming in after prior rider's halt REALLY makes show run much more efficiently.

I ran a 70 ride show on Sunday with this schedule - and we ran to the dot or even a little early - but I owe it all to great ring steward and excellent judge/scribe.

[MontanaDun]

Another trick is to schedule in an extra minute or two every five rides to allow a little catch up time in a full schedule.

MD

[Carol O]

Thanks for the suggestions!

the show is tomorrow.

I will let you know how it goes....

[Dressage Art]

Going off course - this is the issue that I see quite often at the schooling shows and it can throw the whole schedule off. It takes an additional time for those riders to gather themselves back up and to re-start.

[Puddin Pie]

Hope it went well. For a schooling show, I would fudge and add a little more time to each test then you think you will need. If you are moving ahead of schedule, you could always see if someone wanted to ride early. Plan on the longer break with the thought that you can take 10 minutes off of it to get back on time if need be. The show I scribed in the spring got off to a real bang: gust of wind blew down the entire rail of the ring, right before the first horse entered. The rails weren't secured well enough. Lesson learned!! Obviously, it did not start exactly at 8 as planned. Or your judge runs late getting to the show etc, etc.

[Carol O]

Thanks again for all the suggestions. They were all very helpful!

The show was a success, and the times were gernerally well set. There were a few unexpected delays in the morning when the PA system quit, and then in the afternoon a dust devil foemed near A, got pretty big, and went through the arena toward B, lifting and then blowing down sections of fence as it went along. I cannot wait to see the photos of that! The photographer said those photos may go to AP!

[hoopoe]

yikes that is not your typical show delay type event

glad everything went well

[Dressage Art]

Congratulation on a successful show!

We had a dust devil on a show a couple of weeks ago as well, it blew and took out some of the test sheets and lifted them supper high in the air and they disappeared eventually in the sky just like the party balloons do... was quite fascinating to watch... the issue was that one of those tests was for a rider who just rode her test!!!!

Audio systems are such a pain!

Show managers definitely have to be ready for unpredictable damage control at times!

[yaya]

Definitely. This weekend we found that the showgrounds owner had redone the sound system, and for some reason decided to take out the CD player, and we had 3 freestyle rides scheduled.

Luckily I had put my boombox and patch cord (used when announcing at a breed inspection the week before) into my truck.

It actually worked better than the system they had before!

I have learned - never rely on what might be there for you. ALWAYS bring your own stuff! (I even have to bring my own phone for the office)