What are your plans for spring shows?

[Beasmom]

Our show season started pretty early around here, considering we can get snow in May. Figgy and I have already done two small recognized shows and will do more before summer's heat slows this ol' lady down.

So, what's everybody up to? Levels, # of classes per day, favorite show venues?

[anchorsaway]

I'm starting out at a schooling show May 9th, T3 and T4(my favorite besides F2) and of course dressage eq :)

We pretty much stick with schooling shows, I like the atmosphere better and our SO's are top notch!

I'm hoping by the end of the summer to be solidly and completely First Level, maybe dipping down to do T4, tehehee.

June, August and October are concrete dates so far. I'm hoping to add at least two or three more. I'll show anywhere from 3 to 8 classes a weekend but prefer to stick around 4 or 5; keeps my guy fresh and uncranky:lol:

[Beasmom]

Wow! I'm a piker compared to you! I do two rides a day; after that I start mixing up parts of tests. I like our locally rated shows. They're fun and low-key, but my scores count towards championship show eligibility and year end awards.

So far, training level eligible for Champoinships, need one more good score for First. Hoping to ride a Second Level test before the end of the season.

[lewin]

I am supposed to take my Percheron to our first dressage show mid-May. We are going for 2 tests a day at 3rd-2 and 3rd-3.

[Dressage Art]

My season started back in February and I'll be done by mid summer. Temps in July, August and September can be 100F+ in our area. But winter and spring is 60F-70F. But today was about 85F already... I have 3 more shows to go to showing 3-2, 4-1 and 4-2. We already earned two scores of 60% needed for USDF Silver Medal from 4th level - that was my goal for this 2009 show year. So, if my mare will stay sound, I'll be happy.

[caddym]

My season starts in May and ends in september. I do one recognized show a month.

I'm moving my mare up from second to third level. I have her entered in 3rd test 3 in her first show. I want to qualify her for the region 8 finals. once she is qualified, I'll probably ride 3rd test 1. I do one test a day.

My other horse is showing prix st george. I need one more score for my silver medal. I will also qualify him for the region 8 finals. I would love to ride an I1 with him, but he's not yet ready.

[Riva]

I'm hoping to get to a couple schooling shows early in the year at First 4 for warm up and be showing recognized at Second 2 and 3 by the end of the year (just a couple shows.)

[quietann]

Schooling shows, about once a month from April to October, except for a NEDA show in August. We will be at Training Level, riding two tests per show, though we are going Intro for our first one next Sunday because I've never shown my mare before and want to start out very relaxed. I hope to have shown all four Training Level tests by mid-summer. My trainer's assistant may ride her at First Level once or twice.... The mare is way ahead of me! :lol:

[mypaintwattie]

We are doing about one show a month, started in February and will finish in October. Most are open all-around shows, but my horse will be doing her first ever dressage show in June, a schooling show at our barn. We will most likely do Intro level, because, hey, she has to start somewhere! I'm excited to get back into the dressage ring, it's been a few years for me too!

[unbridledoaks]

We are going to our first show this weekend. I'm excited. For the first part of the year, it is all my Welsh Cob Stallion, then I'm going to show him and his daughter in the later part of the year, due to having a late start on her. We will probably average 20 shows this year, staying local too. I have plans for my homebred to be shown in hand and one other stallion to jump. We will see.

[exvet]

Well technically our season started in the late fall and continues year round. I skipped the first couple of shows but ended up going to the March and April shows. So far we've earned 3 of our 4 scores for our silver. Just need one more PSG score. All earned with our ten year old welsh cob. We've managed to qualify for championships already at fourth & state championships at fourth/PSG with him. I've also qualified our welsh cob x mare at first level for championships which was another goal. So what we have left includes the shows in May & August where my daughter will ride my 10 year old at training level with the hopes of getting her qualifying scores. Luckily the show in August is actually 2 shows and I'll ride the 10 year old in the second show with the hope/goal of getting that last PSG score. If my daughter qualifies him at training level though I'll let her take him to the championships and I'll just focus on our mare at first level. I also plan to take our section C to the May and August shows to see if we can qualify him at training level. The schooling shows here are year round too (summer ones are in the mountains which are not that far from me). I hope to have the 3 year olds (brothers, one gelding, one colt) ready for intro by late summer/early fall. In the meantime we'll be taking the mare to the schooling shows for work on second level. Hoping to have her ready for FEI pony classes by next year. As always busy, busy, busy since we've also been invited to participate in a dressage demo for an Equine Affair in June.

[TBDQ0328]

We're doing 4 shows over two weekends - one this weekend and one the first weekend in June. Our goal is to qualify for Region 4 championships at first level and move up to second level at the June show. If we don't go to championships in Sept, we'll do the other local recognized show in October. We're lucky in that, with the exception of championships, our farthest show is 2 hours away, and the local ones are only half and hour, so we don't have to travel too far.

[Tamara in TN]

Hoping to have her ready for FEI pony classes by next year. As always busy, busy, busy since we've also been invited to participate in a dressage demo for an Equine Affair in June.


ummmmmmmm details ??? I'm always the last to know...:)

best

[mp]

GMO-sponsored schooling show with my mare in a few weeks. We'll do TL-1 and TL-4.

I'll be bringing my gelding back into work (he's been on pasture sabbatical since November) in May and there are more schooling shows in June, so he may be going instead of her (I'm too old and lazy to get two horses ready). TL on him, too.

Then a couple of open all-breed shows in July and August. They're held in the evening about 15 minutes from my barn. Just easy-peasy rail classes for fun.

Then the big breed show in September (gelding was HP champion last year --dressage pays off :)) and the GMO-sponsored championship schooling show the week after that.

Not very ambitious. Just want to have fun with my horse(s).

[Dressage Art]

so much for "spring shows"... we have 95F already :( and I have a show in a not covered arena coming up this weekend... OY...

[Beasmom]

I feel your pain! I aim for the spring and fall shows and save summer for working out the bugs that show up in the early shows and trail riding.

My goal, which will take more than this year is to earn my Bronze. I have half the scores I need.

[normandy_shores]

Had my first show last weekend, though it was just a schooling show (though we braided and wore all the garb anyhow). Showed T-3 and T-4 (61.6% and 62.4%). Whole thing was under $100 so I'll do that one in June and September as well.

Doing a 2 day Bronze rated show in June, the schooling show the following weekend, possibly a 2 day Bronze show in July, and MAYBE a 3 day Bronze show in September. Likely doing a schooling show in September as well.

I want to be showing First level again -- last year we did F-1 and F-2. I know those are within reach, but I really want to push and try F-3 and F-4. We just don't have great simple changes or counter canter. Our F1/F2 scores were 55-57%, so we've got lots to work on. Even if I only show F3 and F4 at the schooling show... I just want to ride it. Jules is 19 and healthy, but I always worry that this could be our last season, or that maybe next year we won't be able to do above training level. Seize the day! Plus, it's about fun, right?

I also scribe at the monthly Bronze one day show, even if I can't/don't attend. If only I had a truck/trailer here....

[Beasmom]

Yeah, I've braided and the whole nine yards, too, just to get my mare used to the show routine. My gelding is "whatever" about everything. Mare would get wound up the night before the show...

[rugbygirl]

I am missing out on Spring shows for work : (

New horse and I are doing intro. Sooooo ambitious! We'll probably do a show a month starting in June. Nothing Gold-rated, just Bronzes. We also show Hunter/Jumper on the same weekends, Novice horse/Novice Rider. Under four classes a day, although I'm sure Wolfgang could do all of them without breaking much of a sweat :lol:

Clydesdale is on maternity leave, so no shows for her this year, but we'd go back into Intro this year anyway.

My riding got deconstructed this year, and I've only got a year of showing under my belt anyway, so Intro suits us fine :)

[normandy_shores]

Yeah, I've braided and the whole nine yards, too, just to get my mare used to the show routine. My gelding is "whatever" about everything. Mare would get wound up the night before the show...

For me, it's part of the experience. Being able to show is a big deal for me, even if it's rinky dink. Jules is my first horse and not easy for me to afford him when I'm out on my own at 23. When I get to go to a show, it's a big expense and I want the whole experience and I make a production of the whole thing. The show this past weekend was pretty simple. I braided and packed the day before, but on show day we were back home by lunchtime. Definitely not a full day or weekend experience, but I still want to go the whole nine yards as far as turnout and hanging around the show office and meeting people and reviewing scores and other rides. That's part of the experience, and I don't take it for granted. Everytime we trot around the arena doing our warmup, I get emotional just thinking about how lucky I am to have my horse and the opportunity. I spent 15 years catch riding and never getting to show and having horses taken out from under me (all valuable experiences).

Even just writing about getting to do it has me feeling overwhelmed emotionally. We are all so lucky to be involved with these creatures, whether it's casually, as riders, as owners, as exhibitors.

:)

I can't wait for 5:00 so I can go ride! I even just called about doing a newspaper delivery job (UGH, 3:30am) so that extra money can send me to more shows....

[Beasmom]

Your post touches me. It is indeed a joy to have horses in your life!

Good for you and best of luck with Jules!

[GiGi]

I am re-debuting my gelding at First Level. I wanted to event and it wasn't his cup of tea. I just do it with my mare now. Hoping to do well and get through Second Level in the Fall.
We have 2 Two-in-One Weekend shows. Chattanooga Dressage/Combined Training Assoc. puts on the first one the first weekend in May. One show Friday the other is Sat/Sun. Really helps keep showing costs down. We'll do 1/3 and 1/4 both days with Sunday's 1/4 a qualifier. Then the end of June Goodhorseman Foundation has one at the Conyers Int.l Horsepark. Hoping at the end of that weekend we will have earned our first level scores for Bronze and also qualified for Championships!
This fits in nicely with my mare's event schedule for the year.

[HappyHoppingHaffy]

I'm planning on doing the 4 little schooling shows with the local dressage association this spring, summer and fall. I'm doing T3 and T4 next weekend. It will be my and my guy's "straight" dressage debut. :)
I'm hoping to have him move up to F1 and F2 by the end of the summer. Maybe mix in a NEDA show? Not sure though. Well see how it goes and what the financial situation is like!
Good luck to all in their showing endevors!

[Cowgirl]

Hey B's mum, good going with you and F! We couldn't make it to the first clinic of the season (for us) last weekend due to SNOW. LOL!

I am hoping to do two early shows at 4th/1, and then train for a few months and end the season with two shows at 4/3 and PSG, assuming she is ready. She just needs more strength in the collected canter and then we have it, however you can't put a clock on that. So we will see. But 4/1 is doable now.

[Mrs. Cowboy]

I'm doing my first dressage schooling show with my 4 year old this weekend, and first combined test with my 9 year old mare.

Lessons/finding a trainer were the big accomplishments this year. If I place ahead of anyone in any competition, I'll be thrilled.