Hi, I’m going to my first horse show in a few weeks (it’s a 3-day hunter jumper show), and am wondering if I am required to go to all three days? Is there something that happens on the first day like receiving competitor numbers or can that happen any day? I am also wondering how many classes I should sign up for. I won’t be going with a trainer.
Thank you!
Check the prize list, but there is rarely any requirement to attend all the days.
Usually you can pick up your number on any day.
I’m a dressage person, but I used to do 3 tests in a day when at the lower levels. Not sure what is considered normal for HJs.
Just consider how much time you need to warm up before each class and compare that to your horse’s fitness level and normal at-home training time. If this is your first show, I’d error on the side of fewer classes to make it a calmer, less exhausting day for both of you. Then you can adjust in the future based on this experience.
Generally speaking, you can go whenever you like.
There are some hunter divisions at bigger shows where you have to enter the whole division rather than enter individual classes, so just be aware of that when you read the prize list and make your plans.
That doesn’t mean you actually have to go in the ring for every class if you don’t want to, but you might have to pay for the whole division anyway.
Also, if it’s a recognized USEF show, the horse is required to have an identification microchip for most classes. Microchips are not required for horses in “outreach” classes.
Good luck and have fun. And welcome to the BB!
Nope, I’ve shipped in to show one day at plenty of A shows. But be aware that there usually is some kind of “grounds fee” if you’re shipping in and not stabling–though it’s substantially less than the cost of stabling. But even if you’re stabling, you don’t have to stay the whole time.
You can get your number from the show office any time.
Usually you go do a division (2-3 OF plus a flat), or a division plus an eq medal. Depending on fence height, I think more than that gets to be too much for the horse if you’re just doing one day of showing. If it’s a schooling show and you’re doing mostly flat classes, more than that might be OK if your horse is fit–for example with my young horse I’ve been doing 6 classes, but it’s two sets of WT flats plus a course of 4 groundpoles.
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