Bob's Second Ranch Horse Show . . .lessons learned! --brief edit . .

[Foxglove]

Bob’s second Ranch Horse Show . . .
[recall that I have been only doing Ranch Horse anything since April 2024 –until then I was a fox hunter and dressage rider]
Bob and I attended our Ranch Horse Show in May. We did better than we thought in the 10 classes we entered, best of all, met two COTH folks IRL @2Dogsfarm and @endlessclimb.
Bob’s second show: 3 weeks later was much more fun and we did better across the board with two exceptions.
I learned Bob is liar.
We practiced Thursday before the show on Friday. It was raining and the footing in my arena was deep. But we practiced. Friday, when I took Bob to the show at 6 AM, signed in, although somewhat delayed by an angry lady ahead of me at the show boot that took forever to understand she needed to be a member of the Ranch Horse Association to show –we were down to only 30 min of warm up time as we were the 3rd rider in the first class of the day: Horsemanship –a pattern class. The footing was deep in the warmup ring. My plan was to canter Bob around until the last possible moment because, previously, he does much better if he enters the show ring sweating.

Bob assured me he was exhausted from the early wake-up, and hard work previously. Liar. The horse I took into the ring was a fire-breathing dragon. We DQ. [Edit --just reviewed the score sheets. I did not DQ, I just did not do well]. After that, and more of the planned warm up, we had gradual improvement. By our 4th class of the day, I felt Bob and I had begun to sync. We had no placings.

Home, then back to the show on Saturday with a plan in place. Bob was entered into 4 classes: two trail classes and two cow boxing classes. He would not fool me again with “I’m so tired, I can’t canter to warm up.” I mounted at 8 AM, dressed to show, and moved Bob’s feet until our class at 1:00 PM.

The horse I rode into the trail class was no fire-breathing dragon. We completed our class, had a short break and then did our second class. In between classes, we cantered some more. There was one tricky part in the trail pattern –a counter canter after a side-pass. Bob nailed it both times.

[drumroll] Bob placed 10th out of 20+ riders! Bob placed!!! Our first every placing in Ranch Riding. But it gets better –in the second Ranch Trail class Bob placed 7th!

I took Bob back to his stall, washed him, gave him hay and water, and watched the first two cow boxing classes.
Then it was our turn. My biggest worry was that Bob would walk into the indoor arena, take one look at the cow, and bolt out the door. He didn’t. We called for our cow, we did the best we knew how, Bob had a flash of brilliance at one point as he, all by himself, dogged right and cut off the cow from escaping. Then our time was up. We almost immediately went in for our second boxing. This cow was a little lethargic, and Bob and I were playing it safe –the best boxing is when the rider moves the cow at will. Bob and I were content to keep the cow at the end of the arena. We were successful in both our classes, placing last, but that’s a start!

Sunday classes were in hand: two confirmation classes where Bob did not place, and two showmanship. I won’t enter confirmation again –he’s done it four times, eight judges and no placing. As beautiful as I think he is, I see no point in trying again.
And Showmanship. At the last show those were the two classes in which I placed. That was before I tore two menisci in my right knee. I thought I could tough it out. I was wrong. The pattern called for me to lead Bob at a trot over three poles. I couldn’t lift my leg high enough to clear the first pole. I went face first into the dirt –both hands being engaged in holding Bob’s lead rope correctly. Nothing to do but stagger to my feet, brush off my pants, and finish the pattern. We were almost immediately in the next class –but by then I could barely lift my leg at all. I “ran” beside the poles this time (probably more of a shuffle). We did not place in either class, but we tried. FYI the other exhibitors were extremely kind and supportive –many took a moment to come by my stall and see if I was ok.

Until my knee is replaced (third replacement) probably in February, I will eschew Showmanship. Instead, I will take my confirmation entry fee, and my showmanship entry fee, and enter one more of each class I currently do –Bob can do that as “open senior horse” is a category we can enter along with our current Amateur and Novice Amateur division. Lemonade out of lemons. That means I will have no classes on Sunday, as the only classes left are rail classes which hold no interest for me.
I will also never believe Bob again when he says he is “too tired” to warm up!

No photos, but a video of my best trail class ride!!! And a second one of my second boxing try.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbipQUsx-uI
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oJXNjqmoTjA

[chestnutmarebeware]

Congratulations! Bob’s clearly a character and I love him!

[trubandloki]

@Foxglove

I mounted at 8 AM, dressed to show, and moved Bob’s feet until our class at 1:00 PM.

Wow, that is a lot of riding. It makes the lunging people complain about with the hunter world seem like a light work out.

[trubandloki]

@Foxglove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbipQUsx-uI

It is impressive that they make you (general) do that gate latch. It looks like something I would struggle to align while on foot, let alone on a horse.

[2DogsFarm]

WHOOT!
Great job on the placings in large classes
Oof on your knee.
I give Bob credit for trying the Too Tired fakeout, bet he’s removed that trick from his book
You know my thoughts on in-hand classes
Enjoy the Xtra U/S classes

[Foxglove]

@trubandloki --unless I am showing, I ride in English riding pants --smooth and stretchy. I must say after Saturday’s marathon in the saddle, denim is a much harsher fabric in places where one wishes it were not.

[Paint_Party]

@trubandloki

It is impressive that they make you (general) do that gate latch. It looks like something I would struggle to align while on foot, let alone on a horse.

Ugh. I hate so many of the metal ranch gates used in competition. Half the time they don’t function well or they’re wobbly. You never know what you’re going to get so you really need a patient horse.

Bob did great at that gate! Glad you had a good time.

[Mango20]

I’m following with interest! I don’t even own a western saddle, but if Monday’s PPE goes well, I will own a young horse who has been training for ranch riding stuff. There is one show series very close to me that holds classes. I’m tempted.

[Foxglove]

@Mango20 --I hope your PPE goes well Monday. Were I to restart my new chapter of Ranch Riding with Bob, I would have attended a show or two before I took him and just jumped in both feet. Another thought is that it seems to me that all the judges at the Ranch Riding shows I attend have scribes. Again, I would have learned how to scribe and volunteered to scribe before I took the plunge.

I didn’t. Because of that my first show was stressful. It was a new place, new classes, new equipment, new people —all at once. I would have to say that the first show was more stressful than fun, except for seeing @2DogsFarm and @endlessclimb IRL. It was Mother’s Day weekend too, and I invited my family to come watch us. The two classes they watched, Bob did well, so all good. But again, stressful . . .

The second show was better --I just received the over all results --and while we did better --I had that momentary feeling of let down. I think that is normal --do we ever do as well as we hoped?

Bob has this week off --he is 6 weeks overdue for a hoof trim as he was at the trainers when the farrier came last time. And our trainer is at her own horse show --doing great.

I do ruminate on the fact that at the very best, Bob and I will have only 5 more summers of showing. My DH is approaching 80 --the farm, though small, is a lot of work for both of us. Our plan is to start the process of moving to a more suitable living arrangement in 2030 --looking at places, deciding, then liquidating the farm.

Still much can happen between now and then --so I focus on the joy I have now. Next show is July 25-27.

I hope you will let us know how the PPE goes!

[findeight]

Sorry I did not see this earlier on, great progress.

On being worried about him being scared of the cow…remember he is a QH and there are 2 possible ways that brain will react to a cow in the ring neither of which is being scared of it. He may simply look at it and wait for you to tell him it is OK to to go to work with it or he might just think it is a stupid, smelly creature and not worth his time or attention in which case you just need to urge him to get to work.

Don’t make yourself more nervous imagining how other types of horses may react, you know him and know he is warmed up and can be trusted. Try to stay more positive. I think watching and maybe volunteering to work at a show or scribe is a great idea to learn exactly what judges are looking for. It is skill based but still a judges opinion so do a little research on what makes a plus and what is a minus.

How is the cow boxing scored?

[Foxglove]

@findeight -cow boxing seems to be based on how horse controls the cow. I played it safe and just kept the cow at the end of the arena. At practice this week I rode into the cow and MADE it move left and right. The more active the cow/horse the higher the score!!

[findeight]

Thank you, learned something. Do think it was smart to be conservative and just hold the cow until you get a little more into reading cattle to judge how they will react to being moved which is an art in itself. Some of them are more cooperative then others.

[saddleup]

When I was switching to the Ranch classes I went to a QH show to watch. It was their lunch break when I got there. I sat in the bleachers, and then all four judges and their scribes came and sat right in front of me. I could hear everything the closest judges were saying as they watched the classes. It was great. I’ve never scribed, but it was the next best thing. I learned a lot that day.

[Foxglove]

@saddleup @findeight --I feel I have so much to learn, and sometimes I feel as if I lack the basic talent to be successful in Ranch Riding [and maybe showing in general]. There are riders I compete against who have had a lifetime of Ranch Riding, and then there’s me who just started in April 2024.

But, I can’t change that.

So I focus on doing 'better than last time."

The toughest part is thinking Bob could/would do better if I were a better rider/cow person. On the other hand, isn’t that true of every horse and rider combo?

Many years ago, Ian Starke did a clinic DD and I attended (she rode, I groomed) and at one point, he rode DD 3 Day horse Hail Caesar over some bank obstacles --maybe just being kind or encouraging, but after the ride, he told daughter Hail Caesar was “just like the horse he had at the [2000] Olympics.” Forever after, we wondered, if Hail Caesar had a rider like Ian Starke, would he have been an Olympic horse? As it was, he was the best horse DD every rode and our barn favorite until he died at here at 28.

Bob has me and I take lessons and practice and try to everything I can to make us successful. Of course, Bob doesn’t care if we show or not, as long as he’s well cared for, treated kindly, and fed on time, and I don’t forget the treat when I put his bridle on.

I like to think he enjoys the cow work --he really is a different horse around cows --very focused!

I think I will ask my trainer how one becomes a scribe —I could do that!

Hail Caesar for your viewing delight:

[findeight]

Hey you may have started this particular discipline later in life but you have had decades in horses and gotten the stupid out of your system…for the most part anyway

You are starting with a much deeper understanding of the basics of working with a horse. Bob doesnt care about what prizes he gets, he just cares about pleasing his new partner and maybe getting a treat plus you are the food fairy who comes every day. That is all he expects.

Back when I was doing Western and Paints down in Texas, we had cutting late in the day and I was helping at the shows so was there and used that time partly to watch. These old cow guys go out and watch the cattle from the time they get unloaded. By the time they face that herd in their class, they know every cow and whether they are herd bound, loners, submissive or aggressive and yes you can learn to see the difference and tell them apart. It does take a little time but if you can get somebody to sit with you for a bit, maybe over a couple of cold ones, it is is not rocket science.

Even the Reined Cow Horse folks who get a single cow at random often like to see what they might get before they see it in the arena. Even if you may not recognize all of them, you might recognize one that was particularly pushy in the pen or overly timid and that can tell you how to plan your routine.

It just takes time to master and you cannot learn unless you are out there either competing, watching and listening or volunteering or just spectating just keep eyes and ears open and mouth shut unless it is a question then be humble. Most of those folks might be slow to warm up to you but they love talking about their speciality and the horses they use for it. Good people.