Dedicated Riders Who Don't Show? (Spin-off H/J Thread)

[Strictly Classical]

There is a similar post on the H/J forum - thought it was terrific and that I would start a similar post on the dressage forum! My response to the h/j thread is posted below in blue - please excuse the typos!

Thought this was a serious, reflective topic and I am interested in seeing the dressage riders perspective to the same question.

Original H/J Post by Treasured:
How many of you consider yourselves to be serious, dedicated riders who are interested in progressing and improving your riding but are not interested in competing?

What keeps you from competing? How do you stay motivated to continue pushing yourself for improvement if your not showing competitively?

Do you feel you are treated differently in your barn if you don't show and the majority of other clients do?


Not a hunter/jumper rider - dressage rather - but this is a wonderful post - and I think very insightful!

I consider myself to be very serious about my riding and horsemanship skills, and focus a lot of energy on improving both. I enjoy doing clinics and will ride in them every chance I get. I am very selective about which clinicians/riders/trainers I work with, and have ridden with some very high profile people in the dressage world. I enjoy every minute of the challenge that comes from clinic lessons. I feel that it is, most importantly, an opportunity to learn from some of the very best in my chosen discipline. It is an opportunity for feedback from an "outside" expert. I do ride with a coach, but am primarily responsible for my own training regeim for my horses and myself. I get outside feedback which helps me validate [or not!] what I'm doing at home, but the clinic experience is a whole 'nuther ball game. I get more feedback, I get the chance to show off my horse (because I'm pretty proud of her and what we have accomplished), I enjoy the public display of our own work but in a setting that alos allows others to watch and participate and learn. I don't feel that you get that so much from showing.

I'm not a particularly competitive person - not with others anyway. I do push myself to strive for excellence and accomplishment over where we have come from in our past. Its more of a personal "competition" that can be satisfied with the clinic instruction.

My personal opinion of showing is that it involves financial commitments that can be better spent pursuing more education. It also boils down to being judged against those other riders who bother to show up on the same day. We might be all great riders who do an outstanding performance in the show ring on that given day. Or we could all suck, and the judge will still rank us based on his/her own opinion. I just don't see any validation in getting ribbons when personally I know that I didn't perform up to the standards that I've set for myself and my horse.

I don't need the judgement of a show-ring judge to tell me if my training program is on track, or if I am performing my best as a rider. The only judge that I really need - when it boils right down to it - is the judgement of the horse that's under me! He/she will tell me if I'm doing my job as a rider correctl, but his/her attitude and way of going. At the end of the day, all my work with horses centers around the love I have for them and the desire that I have to spend the greater part of my life with them and working with them. The horse will always show the flaws - or the correctness - of its rider. It will always speak volumes about the manner in which it is trained, handled, and managed.

Showing is nice, and I will show occasionally. I do it mostly because I view it as another training opportunity that is really hard to replicate anywhere else but a show ground and in a show-type environment. Still, it is not the driving force behind my work with my horses.

Also, as an adult I work a full time job as a public school teacher in addition to having the horses and farm. That consumes a lot of my time; my job starts daily at 7:15 A.M. and many days does not end until 4:30 - 5:00 P.M. or later (due to required after school events). The care of the barn and horses comes before and after that job. It cuts into my riding & training time; when I am working with the horses is nice not the have the added pressure of knowing that shows are coming up for which I have to be driven to prepare for. The beauty with clinic riding and lessoning with my coach is that I can go to either with where we really are in the training process, get feedback for that moment in time that is educational and corrective and farm more valuable to me that ribbons or the comments on the test sheet for a mere six to eight minutes in time.

I think the pressure of showing causes a lot of riders to push themselves and their horses unnecessarily hard. It can quickly take the "fun" away from what we do; it can quickly skew our focus of our training. It causes us to rush because we are always pushing to "get ready" for that next quickly approaching show. Rushing causes more harm that good. It causes us to set our own personal agendas and not slow down and listen to what the horse is telling us, and causes us not to meet his needs in training. Rushing the training can cause physical soundness issues in horses over time, it can cause mental issues that can wreak havock on good foundations that have [hopefully] been laid in the training. Many times, rushing horses can cause major setbacks, or can ruin horses otherwise productive careers. To me, rushing is never, ever worth it! (Sounds like a dressage rider doesn't it! Ha! Ha!)

Showing most definitely does not necesarily equate with seriousness about horsemanship! I think I would run far, far away from any barn/facility/trainer that requires or strongly "encourages" their clients to show.Showing is NOT the BE ALL END ALL of horses.

[CatOnLap]

Showing is NOT the BE ALL END ALL of horses.
I doubt many would argue with that.

I used to show a fair bit and had a fair bit of success. I have shown once in the past 6 years- this saturday.

It depends on your circumstances, doesn't it? I've had a run of other responsibilities in the last 6 years that precluded being able to spend weekends away at shows.

But I welcomed the opportunity to check for a second opinion, on the work I have done with my horse in the meantime. For less than the price of a 45 minutes lesson with my regular clinician, I got an expert's opinion. I chose my judge and my venue carefully. There'slots of things that you can't tell just from riding your horse. Things feel right and aren't. or in my case, they feel horrible and aren't...

But the judge did say something that makes me think twice. In my area, upper level riders are relatively rare- at any schooling show, you might see only one or two tests above third level. She said it was important for those who can ride above that, to show it to the lower level riders as inspiration...

Plus, at that particular schooling show, only one other competitor dressed in full show attire other than me. I thought that was rather disrespectful. I mean its a SHOW, even just a little schoolling show. What the heck are people doing riding in dirty pullovers?

[BaroquePony]

Strictly Classical,

I do like your response, but maybe you should also post the question :yes:

[BaroquePony]

:lol:

We posted at the same time :yes:

Thanks.

[Strictly Classical]

Baroque Pony - Ha! Ha! Had a real blonde moment there - thought about posting the questions "after the fact" - duh! :rolleyes:

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I consider myself a very serious rider, and I haven't shown in 3 years. My horse and I are now both far beyond where we were, so it isn't a matter of progression. In my case, the decision was made for these reasons:

(1) When I started with this trainer, I realized that the "gaps" I knew we had were like chasms, and I saw no point in showing until I felt we had addressed at least some of the gaps.

(2) I had been on the board of our GMO, and I was very unhappy with where it was going.

(3) cost - I decided I was getting more out of clinics, and can't do both.

(4) work - October and June, the dates of our GMO's rated shows, coincide with grant deadlines for me. In addition, because I regularly sit on review panels for the same, necessitating a few days' trip to lovely Bethesda MD, running to panel immediately after a show, while trying to meet my own grant deadline, was simply getting nuts.

I will show again, but only schooling shows. Yes, the judging isn't the same, but it's generally one day (easy to fit in with work), not far away (I don't have a trailer, so this requires organization), they're cheaper, I don't have to braid, and I don't have to shell out fees for USDF and USEF. Ted loved showing, I had a blast, but at this point, the negative aspects of a serious comittment to showing outweigh the positives.

[merrygoround]

There are a lot of us who have showed, and have found that the task of organizing a busy schedule to fit in a show, then the exasperation of the occasionally awful stabling, warm up areas strongly reminicent of polo scrimmages, footing, sometimes wonderful, frequently awful (but improving, thanks to the USDF), just isn't fun anymore.

For the same or usually a whole lot less money, I can stay home and have a trusted clinician not only assess my progress, but give me direction for my next goal.

Does it affect attitutes in the barn, NO! Does it affect other attitudes. I think so. Less qualified people are out there showing, and teaching, and because they show they are considered to be more knowlegable. ;)

A really wonderful teacher and rider once remarked that in the public eye, you are only as good as your best horse. And to that I could add, your best score-no matter the level.

[stryder]

Good question.
I would say I'm a dedicated rider. I take one or two lessons a week, bring my horse in for "tune-up" training for a couple of months every year. I am constantly improving and ride consistently, regardless of the weather.

I am not interested in showing, but I am judged every time I swing onto my horse. By her. When I am focused, relaxed and carefully listening to her, she offers up an amazing ride. She's fully capable of telling me, "you suck" without uttering a word.

I showed as a child, and enjoyed it then. Now, as a trailerless rerider, it's too much coordination and stress to be recreation.

[InsideLeg2OutsideRein]

I definitely fall into this category. I consider myself a dedicated and rather "serious" rider. I ride a minimum of three times a week, take lessons and clinic regularly, until recently was leasing a schoolmaster in addition to riding my own horse, and am at a small barn with several FEI riders and horses, which are all a great help in advancing.

For one, showing isn't all that important to me because the thrill of riding for me comes with every good piece of work. A great transition, the horse being absolutely straight, having and even contact on both reins, the horse being engaged and wanting to do it right etc. . Now, in the future I would like to show a little bit because I think it is a great, independent test of your skills and training, but my own horse is just finally doing better after years of soundness issues and I just want to focus on getting him stronger and suppler, my schoolmaster has been semi retired to plop around happily on a loose rein, and the other horses I get to ride are all competed my their owners at higher levels.

Soooo, I just keep working at it and will show when I get the opportunity perhaps with my next horse! :)

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I would venture to say my horse is my toughest judge, so like stryder, I am judged every time I ride!

[Carol O]

As one who does not compete, I have a pet peeve.

I ask my horse friends how their horse is, and what they are doing that they are excited about. This makes for a lively one sided conversation. Rarely does anyone ask me about my horse, however.

HINT: If asked about your horse or your riding, you should reciprocate! Of course this goes for asking about family, kids, etc...

[Ajierene]

As one who does not compete, I have a pet peeve.

I ask my horse friends how their horse is, and what they are doing that they are excited about. This makes for a lively one sided conversation. Rarely does anyone ask me about my horse, however.

HINT: If asked about your horse or your riding, you should reciprocate! Of course this goes for asking about family, kids, etc...

So....how are you doing with your horse? Are you two enjoying the winter?

[stryder]

So....how are you doing with your horse? Are you two enjoying the winter?

What are you working on now?

[amm2cd]

I consider myself a serious rider. I ride 6 days a week, two or three horses a day. (It was 18 degrees when I went out to ride my boys before classes today). I take lessons when I can, though not nearly as often as I would like.

I, for one, love to show. I am not a professional, nor do I have the fanciest horse/pony out there, but I love taking to oppertunity to show off my horse to other horse people. I don't show nearly as often as I did prior to leaving for college, but I doubt that I will ever take a total hiatus from the show ring. It gives me an additional satisfaction for puting in all of those hours.

I know quite a few people who don't show due to circumstances or personal choice. They enjoy their horses just as much as I enjoy mine, and I know that they usually try as hard as those who shows. And they are just as much fun to gossip about the ins and outs of dressage with, (though I refuse to be dragged into a conversation about your kids, sorry:D).

[angel]

I did show a little bit at one point in my life. Showing is lots of work and lots of expense for just ribbons. Then, my mare was injuried and cost more than $10,000 to save her life. After that, I had some major medical issues. Today, my horses are all getting too old to put them through the hassle of a show, and I am not sure that I could pick up the pace again either. However, I still have this thought that maybe someday I can afford to bring just one more along. If I ever do, there will be some very limited showing done again, but definitely not with the pressure to which I put myself before.

[Bayou Roux]

Interesting timing on this question. We've recently added this statement to our Riding Program outline:


Competition
There comes a time in a student’s riding progression when the student is ready for independent evaluation of her skills and accomplishments. While XXXXX Farm is not primarily oriented toward competition, we recognize the intrinsic value of this external assessment. In addition to riding before impartial judges, the experience of practicing for a competition, and the added focus and drive this goal presents often kick-starts or elevates a student’s motivation. Preparing for and taking a horse off site to a busy competition grounds presents the student with an entirely new set of challenges and responsibilities, and offers a unique opportunity for accomplishment and satisfaction.

We do not school and train specifically for “showing.” We will support and assist any student we feel is serious, disciplined, and prepared for a competition, but the decision to compete will rely solely with the student, and, if the student is a minor, the student’s parent or guardian will be involved in the decision. We do not consider showing our ultimate goal, and absolutely do not chase ribbons, but happily engage in healthy competition as an opportunity to garner feedback and a chance to continue learning.

We school, school, school and love every working minute of it, but only visit the competition arena when it's time to get fresh eyes and take on the added challenges.

[snbess]

Like many of you, I consider myself a serious rider. I generally ride 5 days a week. We did take this winter off and are just starting to get going again, but once the snow is off the arena, we'll be back to 5 days a week. I went through a period of several years where showing was a big deal and provided focus to my goals for the year. What I learned was that I don't enjoy showing. If I'm going to spend that much money/time/energy on something, I had better be having fun, because this is what I do when I'm not being paid to work. So, now I ride by myself and take lessons and learn whatever I can to fill in the gaps in my knowledge while my mare ages. I use the tests as training goals and I endeavor to be a better rider for my next horse. When I took some of the pressure off myself and my mare, we started having a lot more fun together. That's now my primary goal.

[Trevelyan96]

Personally, I only show at schooling shows because I do it purely for the 'fun' factor of meeting other riders who are trying to learn, improve, and have fun with their horses but aren't really foucsed on points, ribbons, or standings. I'm just not overly competitive. I go strictly to see if I am improving from one show to the next, and from my past doing rated hunter shows I realized that the pressure of competition can often bring out the worst in owners, riders, and trainers, with the horse paying the price.

Then again, I'm one who would rather spent 2 years at Intro level than rush my horse's training or use any type of shortcut. Probably explains why trainers eventually all get ticked of and tired of working with me. Its not that I don't want to move forward, I just have more patience than Job when it comes to training than the average person, and most trainers want clients who will move up faster because it attracts more clients for them. You don't often hear a trainer bragging "my student spent 2 years at Intro level, and her horse is more solid on basics than any horse I've ever trained."

[Carol O]

So....how are you doing with your horse? Are you two enjoying the winter?

Thank you for asking! Yes, we are really enjoying the winter! We are at a great barn, very close to my house, with great footing in the indoor. We are doing great! Riding 4 days/week, and very excited about showing our canter progress to our trainer, who has been wintering in warmer places. Canter half pass is coming along very well. As Lendon says, half halt, set it up, and then (just) ride it. Thank you for asking! How about you, Ajierene? How is the winter working with your training routine?

[Wayfarer]

I consider myself a dedicated rider -- typically I ride 5-6 days a week, and some days I ride up to three horses. My own horse gets 4-6 rides a week. 1-2 of those are in lessons. (It all depends on my work schedule.)

I took her to some wee shows this summer because they were either across the road or at our barn itself, for the experience, just doing the english pleasure classes against the western-horses-dressed-in-hunt-tack and the hunter-jumpers. I wouldn't mind doing a training level test or something if I can find an easy and cheap way to do it, just so I can see how we measure up out of curiousity's sake, but meh. Not worried. The cost, the time, the effort of preparation... not worth it to me.

But the DH, he loves showing. Loves it. I don't know if it completely defines his horse experience, but it sure seems to be a much bigger part of it for him than it is for me.

[slc2]

Many of us, due to health, financial or job issues, can't show much or even at all. However, I still believe showing is a very important part of a rider's training.

It offers a perspective one doesn't get in a clinic or a lesson.

"It's all about the journey".

It isn't really all about the journey. One needs to reach a specific level of skill and accomplish certain things before doing the next things in dressage. There is no real way around this.

Too many people play a little with this and that and think they are advancing, or fall in with an instructor that strokes their ego by letting them believe they are advancing, while they are not doing things correctly.

Too many OTHERS stagnate at one level because they are not resolving basic issues - instructors can take their money for YEARS, DECADES, and enjoy an easy ride with the student progressing not at all. That isn't really a 'journey'.

"The horse is the best judge. "

This is true in dressage, just about never.

The horse accepts and tolerates so much incorrectness in dressage that the horse is NO JUDGE of what is being done. No judge at all.

Horses are creatures of habit. They 'like' what they are used to, and they would usually prefer to work less hard. These two factors make the horse the WORST judge of 'correctness'. A horse is a good judge only of extremes that border on abuse.

Or for example, if you are hanging off one side of the horse and he keeps losing his balance, he may offer you feedback because he can't HELP offering you feedback, but there is every possibility that one could hang off one side of the horse and he'd simply get used to it, or that the rider would never even notice the horse is losing his balance and would ascribe that to something completely different (needs new saddle, needs chiropractor).

That, plus the fact that a horse is perfectly happy to shuffle along with the reins hanging down working not at all, and would probably actually OBJECT to 'working more correctly'.

They are NOT a 'good judge of correct dressage'.

Getting out of one's usual riding place helps the rider to focus better and relax more when at home. When he comes home he rides differently - more confident, more relaxed, more focused. When he comes home, he is more in control of his horse, more able to deal with his horse should conditions change at his barn.

He learns to deal with distractions and changing conditions and still meet a minimum set of conditions.

He also has more of a goal, and more of a point to work for. Showing tends to focus the rider's goals and give him something to work toward. Without showing, many people lose interest and 'get in a rut' of doing the same things over and over. They also may very well ride a whole lot less. There's no 'deadline', no 'I have to get this worked out or I'm not going to be able to show first level'.

Without the goal of first level, for example, some people might never practice their sitting trot, and could languish for years not mastering it.

He does the work not as isolated elements with 'give me some time to set it up', but in a test, which requires the rider to set up the horse better for each movement, plus it requires more obedience from his horse, and a more immediate reaction to his aids, which helps the horse to be more through.

The evaluation of an independant person who is not seeing one every day gives an opinion that is not making allowances for what was seen for the last few months, like an instructor may.

The judge's evaluation is against a standard, not making any allowances for anything.

An instructor gets his livelihood from the student, so he may tend to grow complacent about faults or just ''give up-go on'' when the student doesn't respond to the instructor's corrections. As a result students often don't get problems corrected effectively for years and they become solidified habits.

A judge is a 'wake up call' that insists the person look at 'where they are at' relative to that standard, without making any allowances or saying 'oh well' or 'shoulda seen us a few months ago'.

A show is basically, a report card, not just for the student, but for his instructor. When he is judged by the judge, that may be his only opportunity to evaluate the instruction he gets. He may look at his score and be shocked, thinking, 'Wow! My instructor never mentioned that!' or 'Hm, my instructor said that is GOOD, not BAD, and here I've gotten marked off for it!' The student may never have any other opportunity to evaluate his instructor in this direct way.

Finally, the judge is usually far more qualified and experienced than any of the instructors we can get to and get lessons from. Judges often have been in judge's seminars, training conferences, and have themselves trained horses to a higher level, competed at a higher level, and worked with world class trainers that we ourselves could never afford to work with regularly.

The judge may have an economy to what he emphasizes that is much more oriented toward progress than toward stagnating at a level the instructor can retain a student at.

In that sense, the judge often has experience we simply can't normally get access to. This may be the only time a person has access to that quality of knowledge.

The best thing about it is that one is usually completely anonymous to the judge. He doesn't know us from Adam and he is getting on a plane and leaving the next day, so he can tell us things flat out in a way no one else can.

[millerra]

Ok, I'll admit it - I like to show. But I mostly event and go to 2-3 (max) dressage shows a year.

Why do I like to show dressage - the new set of eyes judging and giving me feedback. It can be quite helpful albeit sometimes blunt.

Why else? Because it's an escape - for just me and my horse to go hang out together w/ my horse buddies. I can talk horse all day LONG and in the evening, sit down in front of the stalls w/ my show buddies, drink beer, munch chips and chat horse. I get to focus on making my horse beautiful, and sure his stall is immaculate and take him out to hand graze and watch the world go by.

You may ask - why don't you do this "at home"? well, I keep my horses at home, 2 hours from anywhere remotely horsey. I have kids and a hubby and more than 1 horse. My barn time is "groom and ride as many as I have time for, clean stalls, feed and maybe pull a mane or two". Why wouldn't I want a weekend just to spend w/ one horse, just me and him.

I tell you what - it's HEAVEN! to me.

[Icecapade]

"It's all about the journey".

It isn't really all about the journey. One needs to reach a specific level of skill and accomplish certain things before doing the next things in dressage. There is no real way around this.

is that not a journey? getting from one level to the next?


At this point, I'm a serious rider as dedicated as my cirucmstances will allow, but I don't show. But I will. I think its crucial for my horse's education and mine. And I am a competitive person- I train to be better than I was, and to be better than Susie Q is over there. My horse is competative, and while he could care less about a ribbon, he likes to win, so while this isn't a who is faster sport I know he will enjoy going and doing things and he does garner as far as horse's are concerned a sense of achomplishment. And yes, he does... call it personification if you like, but my horse shows all over his face pride and embarassment alike. :D

[Dressage Art]

Does picture in your head of your riding goes together with reality? Does words/theory match the way your ride in real life?

I would encourage everybody to show at least 1 time per year. May be schooling shows if $ is tight. It's a different atmosphere that you can't really achieve anywhere else. The issues really come up when rider/horse is taken out of their comfort zone. It's common to think that in the warm up you get only 80% what you get at home and in the show arena you get 80% of what you got in the warm up. So performances are different at home and at the shows where you have to deal with many strange elements. If absolutely no way to go to the show, then videotape yourself: ask somebody or just put a tripod with camera in one end of arena and ride a USDF test. Watch it; score yourself, set some goals, rinse, and repeat.

I find that riders who show become more humble about the way how they ride and more aware of their own mistakes. Some riders, who do not show, can overlook some mistakes and tend to believe that they are correct in them, but truth, can be different. Since there is nobody to really "judge" them, they can have those mistakes for years and not be aware of them. Like a not correct shoulder-in that is really just a neck-in, but there is nobody to tell this rider about it and they can go on and actually be proud of the neck-in that they are doing. Simply b/c the lack of information given to them.

I also find that even if theory is strong in riders who do not show, sometimes picture doesn’t go together with their words. Picture of themselves in their head at times is also different of one in reality. And they are simply not aware of that. Even trainers who do not show talk about giving hands, be soft with their aids, but at the same moment they themselves are bouncing on their horses with hands all over the place, yanking on the reins and seesawing. They say “look, see the horse needs to be soft and supple and bending, just like that” while they ride a resistant 4x4. I find that really fascinating.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

slc2 - I'm surprised at one of your statements ("the horse is the best judge - NOT") - could you tell me why you feel that way? Because in my case, with my horse - it is the absolute truth (as long as I am listening).

Once my horse realizes there is a better way, he won't accept less than that from me. I can tell if I am riding correctly because I can feel him relax, I can feel there is no tension in his back, I can feel how he is moving underneath me, I can feel him lick and chew the bit (I never used to think this was possible, but it is!).

I truly focus when I ride, because he lets me know if I am not asking correctly. And what he used to accept, he won't anymore. My horse is not a schoolmaster, but I would assume a schoolmaster should have this very trait.

If anything, when we show, Ted gets pumped and more energetic (assuming it's not typical Missouri summer weather). I'm the one more likely to "shoot my wad" in warmup.

[slc2]

"horse is the best judge....not....why do you say that"

Why do I say that?

Because I believe it, fervently. People perhaps don't like the idea because it suggests one can't learn everything without some feedback from a trainer, instructor or judge.

But the problem is dressage is what it is; it is the most deceptive thing in the world to learn, and what 'feels good' and 'the horse likes' is quite frequently the most incorrect, misled stuff one can imagine.

Most riders use incorrect aids, sit to some degree off balance, to one side or the other of the saddle or leaning forward, hold their hands incorrectly, do not position both of their legs the same way on the horse, so one leg is on the horse's side one way and the other leg is laying completely differently, so do not use their leg aids evenly, and make many, many other mistakes. Horses ignore about 90% of the mistakes riders make from the judge's point of view. It takes a judge or instructor to set the rider on the right track.

If that were not true, that bell curve of those scores at the horse show would look a little bit different, and trainers would not be reading students the riot act when they get up on student's horses.

[saultgirl]

I am a dedicated rider; I usually ride 4-6 days per week. I take lessons on a regular basis. I read a lot and watch a lot of videos. I really try to improve.

I've NEVER ridden in a horse show.

My tack is always clean and my horse is always groomed, clipped, mane pulled, etc.

Showing is just something I'm not interested in. Like saddleseat riding and miniature horses -- great, y'all have fun out there, but I'm happy just riding :)

[Kolsch]

But the problem is dressage is what it is; it is the most deceptive thing in the world to learn, and what 'feels good' and 'the horse likes' is quite frequently the most incorrect, misled stuff one can imagine.


Amen to that.

I'd like to think I was a dedicated rider, but I'm not dedicated nor rich enough to show as often as it would be necessary to overcome my stage fright. I'm blessed with instructors and horses that keep me humble and on the right track so I don't feel lack of showing creates a hole in my riding. I've recently been made aware that perhaps I could/should medicate myself to show. ;)

I find that test riding is invaluable- not so much for the score, but as a proof of training. It's too easy for me to use movements/training as a crutch. I can't stop during a test for a bit of a hand gallop to refresh the horse, or ride a 20 meter circle to relax. Test riding reinforces that I need the skills to deal with it within the confines of what we're already doing. If that makes sense.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

slc2 - I have a trainer, plus several friends at the barn who have very good eyes and provide them for me on the ground. And these are not rank beginners by any stretch. In my case, my horse is not my sole judge, but he my most consistent and best judge. I can feel at every step (if I am listening) if I am inhibiting or impeding him in any way. I'm not sure that it is true that "horses ignore 90% of the riders' mistakes" - I would venture to say that some may be more tolerant of how they respond, but that response is always there.

[GreekDressageQueen]

Yes, I am a very serious and dedicated rider but I simply don't show because I can't afford to right now. I showed extensively (almost every weekend) when daddy was paying for it :winkgrin: and although I miss the show ring at times, I don't feel I HAVE to prove myself to anyone. I ride nearly everyday and train all of my horses with help from various clinicians and my trainer - when I can ride with her (she lives 8 hours away). I would like to try to do some shows in the future, however, living 6+ hours away from any major city drives up the already high cost of showing for me. I'm looking into doing a show in Albuquerque in May and all of the fees and related costs (not including gas and lodging for the 7 hour drive/3 night stay) is already at $600! Add $200 for gas and $100 for motel, $50 for food, etc. and I'm looking at dropping a grand for one weekend of showing. OUCH!

On a side note, I do think some people unfairly judge others who don't show. Maybe I'm just being oversensitive, but I do get the feeling sometimes that people think you AREN'T serious unless you are showing and that you must be a BAD rider if you don't show. It pisses me off, but I'm just not as rich as everyone else and I can live with that. It also helps to know that I could probably kick their a$$ anyway.

[stryder]

slc2 - I have a trainer, plus several friends at the barn who have very good eyes and provide them for me on the ground. And these are not rank beginners by any stretch. In my case, my horse is not my sole judge, but he my most consistent and best judge. I can feel at every step (if I am listening) if I am inhibiting or impeding him in any way. I'm not sure that it is true that "horses ignore 90% of the riders' mistakes" - I would venture to say that some may be more tolerant of how they respond, but that response is always there.

I agree. I can easily test myself on things I consistently have trouble with. And my trainer never gives me a free ride just to make me feel good. I'm paying him to help me advance as a rider, and he takes his job seriously.

And if I allow my horse to lean on me, she'll happily plop onto her forehand and go round and round. It's a constant struggle and I must remain vigilant for her to stay light and in self-carriage. How do I know? The easy canter depart from the halt or walk, on the lead I choose, or an easy piaffe.

But without self-discipline and a critical eye, it would be easy to pat myself on the back when I've allowed movement to get sloppy. Was the reinback really straight? Was the halt really square? If I tell myself it was "good enough" when it wasn't, well then, that's a different story.

But in fact I am a very harsh judge of myself, and have to fight perfectionist tendencies in my work. These don't spill over to all other areas of my life (housekeeping!) but riding is my escape from my real world. The one that requires constant deadlines and hurry, hurry, and lots of coordination.

So, no, coordinating a ride to a show, and then obsessing about whether my sweet mare is perfectly white and groomed would not be my idea of fun. It doesn't have anything to do with how serious I take my riding.

I don't automatically view people who are frequent competitors as vain and needing the approval of others. Whether people show is up to them, and I am truly happy for those who show and do well.

But I would appreciate some recognition that some of us who don't show are, in fact, serious riders.

[mp]

But I would appreciate some recognition that some of us who don't show are, in fact, serious riders.

Maybe a small plaque on your horse's stall door? Because a ribbon would just be silly.

[stryder]

Maybe a small plaque on your horse's stall door? Because a ribbon would just be silly.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Perfect!

[CatOnLap]

our provincial horse council has a ride'n'drive program where you log all your hours in the saddle and qualify for awards just based on participation. I believe they DO send out stall plaques when you reach certain levels.

[mp]

I don't need to log my hours in the saddle. I look at my butt - if it's growing, I know I'm not "dedicated" enough. ;)

stryder, I actually DO have a ribbon on my horse's stall door to show my dedication. I got it at my first (and possibly my ONLY) recog. show. It was outdoors and a very unseasonable 40 degrees with a 40 mph wind. I had a crap ride, but didn't fall off or puke on my boots, which I thought was damned fine since I was a nervous wreck and my horse was goggle-eyed idiot.

I was at the show by myself and didn't know any of the other exhibitors. So I only found out later that over half canceled their rides. What a bunch of un-dedicated chickens. :lol:

[horsepix76]

I ride 5-7 days a week, up to 3 horses per day. I don't show. However, I do ride with clinicians, most of whom are judges. I feel that for the money, I'd rather pay $100 per horse and have 45 minutes of their undivided attention rather than $100 (or more) per horse and 5-10 minutes of their attention.

[Arizona DQ]

Then again, I'm one who would rather spent 2 years at Intro level than rush my horse's training or use any type of shortcut. Probably explains why trainers eventually all get ticked of and tired of working with me. Its not that I don't want to move forward, I just have more patience than Job when it comes to training than the average person, and most trainers want clients who will move up faster because it attracts more clients for them. You don't often hear a trainer bragging "my student spent 2 years at Intro level, and her horse is more solid on basics than any horse I've ever trained."

I am spending a lot of time in Intro and have the complete support of my trainer. We are retraining my mare for dressage and we are in no hurry. :yes:
Have a good solid base and the rest will come..... I consider myself a serious rider, but am enjoying the journey. Every time we make head way I am thrilled! :eek:

My mare was the "Perfect Giraffe" when I bought her and now is actually rounding, using her back and has the most awesome back swinging, overstriding walk. She has the potential and I will take her as far as we both can go. :)

I do go to our local GMO schooling shows, but that is about it. I do not want to spend the money on the rated shows and feel I am right where I want to be.....

To me, dressage is a journey and every step is just amazing. Why rush through the levels? I want to savor every minute and every success (as small as it may be)!!!

[JackSprats Mom]

Originally Posted by Trevelyan96 http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=3922856#post3922856)
Then again, I'm one who would rather spent 2 years at Intro level than rush my horse's training or use any type of shortcut. Probably explains why trainers eventually all get ticked of and tired of working with me. Its not that I don't want to move forward, I just have more patience than Job when it comes to training than the average person, and most trainers want clients who will move up faster because it attracts more clients for them. You don't often hear a trainer bragging "my student spent 2 years at Intro level, and her horse is more solid on basics than any horse I've ever trained."


I don't mean to be rude but two years at intro is NOT about making sure the basics are there, its about not ever asking the horse for more which is the only way you can move forward.

I show, primarily because it keeps me motivated and moving forward. If I know I have a show coming up it focuses me to get it perfect, and moving up makes me ask for more. For me, its too easy to get complacent and think something is good enough, showing makes me want to make it great not just good enough.

For example, just today I was practicing parts of 1/4 and have had problems of my horse wanting to run through the canter/trot/canter transition at X. So I focused on that, as I have a show in two weeks (just schooling to see where we're at for this show season) and ended up getting the BEST canter work from him I have ever had. Now I only pushed for more because I know that show is coming up. Otherwise i probably would have accepted a just ok transition.Now that I know what he can do, I will always ask for this.

[nuts4cowboybutts]

I think it is just how you are wired up in your own personality whether you want to show or whether you just want to have fun and enjoy riding your horse.

Some people enjoy playing golf just for the fun or the game, but they never enter a tournament. Others practice and can't wait to enter a tournament.

Other people enjoy tennis as a sport and enjoy exercising and playing with friends. Others want to prove their skills so they can compete in a seeded match.

Some people enjoy painting and it relaxes them to paint and they never enter an art show.

Same with horses. Some just enjoy riding, grooming and interacting with horses. They compete with themselves and enjoy seeing how their horse does day to day, and they enjoy it immensely, just doing their thing.

Other people want to show.
Must be a competitive attitude that makes you want to show your stuff. Some people really like that adrenaline surge you get when you have just one chance to "get it right" before the next show. That kind of high makes people want to show and want to compete and want to win.

I've got a competitive attitude. That doesn't mean other people have to do what I want to do.

If others just want to enjoy their horses in their own way, that's just fine with me.