Ever been burnt out?

[Carol O]

Have you ever gotten burnt out with showing?

What do you think contributed to it?

What did you do about it?

I have been there twice, and got over it once. I am still there now. Last time, many years ago, I burnt myself out going to show after show in search of the scores for awards. I got plenty of awards, but it got to where it just wasn't fun anymore. This time the causes are more complex. I love my horses and love riding, but I would rather have a colonoscopy every day, without sedation than show. I don't know if I will ever show again.

[baylady7]

Empathy here-I think I ended up a bit burnt out last year after chasing points/awards for year end stuff. Part of it may be due to my own expectations, but I know a big part of it was that my trainer was less than supportive. My friends and fellow show folks were great. I now have a new trainer who is very supportive, but for now I am not showing. My own horse I retired from shows (he deserves it- and loves his trails rides)- he was not happy I could tell this last year. Now I do have the opportunity to show the horse I lesson on, but am giving it a pass for the time being. In the meanwhile I am doing (even) more volunteering and looking at other activities, such as (auditing) clinics and going on group trail rides, to get us out when needed.

[InsideLeg2OutsideRein]

And the problem is? : ) Showing is optional last I checked! :yes:

[horsestablereview]

Showing is optional, yes, but I think it's an important part of the learning process. It's easy to get caught up in chasing points and forget WHY we show.

The emphasis on showing should be education. I go to shows to test myself and see how much information I've actually absorbed and where my horse and I are at in the training process. If you approach shows as a learning/benchmark tool, then it's a little harder to get burnt out. I also won't go back to another show until I feel that I've learned my lesson from the previous show.

Your trainer matters too. If the focus is on ever elusive points, scores, and ribbons then you'll miss the enjoyment going to shows.

It's not all or nothing either. You can choose to go to only a handful of shows in a year...you don't have to run the gauntlet and go to every show in the county if you want to show. :)

[Arizona DQ]

There is nothing wrong with taking a break or just limiting the amount of shows you do. Maybe just a few schooling shows throughout the year to measure your progress and get someone else's opinion on where you are in your training. Or, just quit for a while and enjoy your horse and the progress you are making!

I do not like to show just for the simple reason it is such a hassle to get everything ready and travel to the show grounds!

Nothing wrong with taking a break! :D

Have a relaxing summer instead!!

[snbess]

If it isn't fun, don't show. I know a lot of people think showing is an important part of learning and growing...and I think it can be. But there are many reasons to not show. Showing is a skill in and of itself. You don't need to account for yourself to anyone but you. If you get no joy from the showing process...do something you DO enjoy! Yes, I used to show. I don't find it fun anymore, so I stopped. I feel no hole in my life and I'm having much more fun now. If I feel the desire to show again in the future, I will. :::shrug:::

[smithywess]

I don't believe that folk show for simply altruistic reasons. I think almost always ego is a predominant feature. I simply don't buy these comments that people show to determine how good or bad has been their training. The judging these days,by and large is simply atrocious so why would someone want such an opinion? Why not select a clinician who is honourable as well as knowledgable,and whom you admire, and attend a couple of times a year perhaps ? This will check your work. In the meantime you can study academic riding forevermore without the necessity of anything else other than getting out of the rain. Then when the time comes,and you've also done a bunch of reading,you can attend that clinician again to see how you're doing. You don't need or want anyone else to interfere with this enjoyment. Your success can only be measured by your improvement. You can't possibly get burnt out if you love your horse to this extent.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I always had a blast showing. I did burn out, but that was for peripheral reasons - our big shows are in June and October, which is when I had grant deadlines, and would also be sitting on grant review panels. It just became too much.

It's been a few years, and now I would love to go back - but I don't really want the fuss of braiding, or the costs associated with memberships and showing at rated shows (I'd rather spend my money on clinics). I think if there was someone else here who was really up for it I'd get infected again.

[slc2]

The folks that I know that go once a month to shows and very judiciously pick what shows they go to, and don't chase points, seem to me to be the ones who get the most out of showing and enjoy it the most. I never had any choice...LOL, I went to as many as I could afford, which was not enough to burn out on.

I think people who expect a great deal of success and who are very intense about their achievements can get really burnt out, because they get frustrated with how it's going. I think being relaxed and patient and sometimes saying, 'it's just a horse show' makes it more enjoyable.

[merrygoround]

Once, haven't gotten over it. Never will!

Feels so good to stop hitting myself over the head.! :)

The scores were great, but the organization to go, and the organization when there:sigh:, I just don't miss it. I count on my instructor to "kill" me.

[Daatje]

Yes, yes, and YES.

And I didn't even show that much when I was showing. It was too much work, too much money and not enough enjoyment.

Then I discovered foxhunting. :cool: Good riding, good company and good food! No stress.

We now show one or two times a year at small schooling shows (one is a fundraiser for my hunt club), but showing is SO not why I own my horse. There was a time when I wanted to climb the levels, and when training 5-6 days a week was necessary to avoid getting REEMED out by the instructor, but man, life is so much better now that the pressure is off!

My horse is my friend. Neither one of us care if we show or not. In fact, not is better.