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.

Various Horse Shows

Snazzy english, May 2008.

Sheldon winning his 2nd class ever!

Local horse show, May 2008.

June 2008 local horse show.

Snazzy in Adult Western Pleasure.

Snazzy in 10 and under western.

Sheldon getting very comfortable showing.

Our 2007 Year End Trophies.

2007 Year End Trophies:  Alexsa was high point for Western Equitation 10 and under on Diversified Velvet.

2007 Year End Trophies:  Alexsa and Erica got trophies for western, english, and equitation.

Erica got Reserve Champion for High Point for Adult English on Heza Snazzy Triples.

Alexsa got Reserve Champion High Point for 10-and-under Western on Diversified Velvet.

Belt buckle won by Alexsa and Velvet for 10 years old and under Western Horse.

Belt buckle won by Snazzy and Erica for 2006 High Point Hunter Under Saddle Horse.

2006 Year End Awards.  7 trophies and 2 high point awards for 2006!

Looking at our 2006 year end award trophies.

Merrylegs and Alexsa.  Alexsa got 5th with her english and quickly changed into a Western outfit to ride Diversified Velvet.

Miss Snazzy Bubbles.  We only showed her at AQHA. She is Snazzy's mother too.

Midnight in the halter class

Express It With Magic and Erica showing in halter at an AQHA show.

Velvet and Alexsa

Alexsa and Merry (photo by Clara Cahoon photography)

Alexsa and Sheldon as lead line entries on Snazzy and Tuffer N Bronze (aka Spirit).

Snazzy and Merry.  (photo by Clara Cahoon photography)

Velvet (photo by Clara Cahoon photography)

Velvet and Alexsa

Alexsa and Velvet

Erica carries the flag on Miss Snazzy Bubbles at a show.

Alexsa shows Tuffer N Bronze in a halter class.  We use him for pony parties sometimes.

Miss Snazzy Bubbles and Erica

Alexsa showing Midnight in halter.  He placed 4th and was the only pony.

Snazzy' s first show as a 3 year old.   4 days later:  colic surgery.

Erica and Velvet in a western pleasure class

Alexsa showing Velvet

Alexsa, Snazzy, and Erica.  2 hrs. after he broke my nose.  See the swelling?

Alexsa and Velvet

Snazzy in a hunt seat class. Finally learned his job!

Sheldon showing Velvet in the lead line class.  He won the class.

Alexsa and MerryLegs show in the english pony class

Alexsa and Velvet show in the Youth western pleasure class

Sheldon showing in the lead line class