We love Horse Shows

Below are photos of some of our horse at various shows we have attended.  We show Quarter Horses at local circuits and go to AQHA shows when we can.  All of our horses have been shown and even the ponies have to be able to attend shows as well as be party ponies.

Horse show are alot of work and fun and can be a great activity for the entire family.  What may start out as owning a backyard pony or horse for pleasure and trail riding can expand into showing.  The first thing to do is get proper instruction or lessons so that you and your pony or horse can safely compete and have a fun time.

Showing horses may look easy and often times it is.  However, winning and being competitive at it is a whole another matter.  Hours and hours of practice and training for you and your horse is required EACH WEEK before getting to the show.  Once there, the pony or horse must be worked in the show ring you are going to show in, then re-groomed, saddled with his/her show equipment, and then look like it all is "so easy" once you get into the show ring.

Many of our shows are in the spring and summer months and 95+ degrees and high humidity is always a problem for us and the horses.  Lots of sweating then drinking a whole lot of water is a must so that no one dehydrates.  Someone once asked me:  "why do you go to horse shows when things are so hectic, stressful, and hot?"  It's not just about coming out of the ring with the blue ribbon or trophy but the feeling that all those hours put in beforehand paid off to get that "great ride" for those few minutes in the show ring.  

Alexsa began sitting on horses when she was 6 weeks old and then started leading them at 2 which was a nerve racking ordeal to watch, though she demanded to lead "Bubbles".  She started riding by herself some at 3 and then showed the lead line class till she was 6.  Her first canter was at 6 as well on Bubbles whom is very easy to ride.  She has received all of her formal training from me in english and western lessons, and she is an absolute natural with horses and has lots of "horse sense"!  Though she is very good in english and western, I only let her show the horses that are well trained.

Alexsa once got 6th out of 27 horses at one of the AQHA shows when she was 6 years old, and her little face beamed like she had won the World Show.  She knew she had a great ride and even though she didn't get first, she was happy.  And it's all about that great ride even if you don't get a ribbon.

The pictures below are mainly of Heza Snazzy Triples and our mare Diversified Velvet, whom is the easiest horse for any child or adult to show.  Velvet has won alot of Western classes but when she was younger she didn't always place while she was learning.  We sent Velvet to Tony Burris, AQHA judge and trainer, as a 2 year old and she stayed there till she was 4.  We were patient and knew all those hours of hard work would one day pay off.  She's a sweet, little mare and always gives 100%.

But Heza Snazzy Triples referred to as Snazzy was also trained by Tony Burris.  He was a klutz for about 3 years.  After he had colic surgery, broke my nose at a horse show by throwing me in the ring, and had many expensive cuts due to his clumsiness, he finally grew up.  He had been shown quite a bit by me, but placed inconsistently.  He did great in 2006 and 2007 even though there were still a few times he didn't place at the shows.  But most of the time, he did great and was a joy to ride.  And it's all about that ride!

Some other horses and ponies are also pictured below that we have shown and continue to show sporadically.  We usually try to keep only 2 or 3 horses "show ready" due to all the hours of time and hard work involved in getting ready beforehand and at the show.  Showing can also be fairly expensive.  You not only have to pick a horse that is trainable and knows what "his job is" but you have to then continue to keep that horse tuned up.  The expense of show saddles and show clothes, horse trailers, entry fees and more is just part of what goes into this.  Once you get the initial expense of these, then the rest is just plain old elbow grease working with your horse.

Unless otherwise noted:  Copyright © 2007 Photography by Erica Bowman
All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited by law.