My girlfriend is the equestrian. This is her life and her passion and I am just trying to support her and learn a few things
A few questions:
Is there a youtube channel that explains what im supposted to be looking at when im spectating. Or ettiqute when it comes to horse shows. Apparently eating a cookie and folding up the bag was not okay
Is there a list of training camps I can take a look at? Im hoping to see if we can finance a trip for her.
Thank you in advance
First, thank you for being such a caring, concerned friend. How wonderful for your friend to have you in her corner!
The most important rules are no loud noises or sudden movements around the horses, including at ringside. Iâm assuming maybe the crinkling of the cookie bag was loud enough to cause a distraction? Hopefully, your friend understands you want to learn and will be open to explaining anything specific that youâre unsure about. The articles below give a brief over-view.
I have no ideas about camps, but Iâm sure others will chime in with some info Good luck and have fun with your friend!
Do you know what discipline or classes she rides in?
Whatâs looked for in a hunter class is different than a equitation class, and breed shows have their own conventions and rules.
I donât want to bombard you with unnecessary information.
You did this at a horse show, and not ringside during a tense first ride?
They can get over it. This is how we end up with explosive horses and a sport no one wants to watch, I swear to god.
At any rate, depending on her sport of choice, we can help you out with what youâre supposed to be looking at, and if youâre supposed to golf clap or go crazy.
Depends on what type of show/class to what you should be looking for.
Eat your cookie and snack and if they say anything tell them to train their horse better. Thats ridiculous.
Dressage/hunter shows are typically quieter spectators and avoiding more sudden movements.
Jumpers/eventers/saddleseat/western folks donât care what you do.
Must be a dressage rider 
Fuggedabout YouTube.
Just go to shows & observe.
Ask other supporters - parents, other competitors from her barn* - assuming sheâs not doing this solo. Even trainers should be willing to chat IF theyâre not working with clients.
*Caveat: not when theyâre actively competing or getting ready.
Shownerves are a Real Thing & can make otherwise nice folk not so nice 
Re: Camp
Ask your GF if thereâs a clinic sheâd be interested in taking her horse to.
Some are a single day, some over a weekend.
& Be ready for possible stickershock 
Any chance you might join her in this sport?
My own DH started riding late in Life & we ended up competing together.
Tongue-in-Cheek suggestions for Things to Not Say at a show:
-âWhere do I bet on these things?â
Said by a smartass friend when he came with me to watch my horse be shown by a friend 
-âThat judge is blind!â
Actual ringside comment from an idiot 4H Mom when her kid didnât place 
-âYou cut the corners better than anyone elseâ
Attempt at praise from a non-horsey friend after a Hunter round where âdeep into the cornersâ did not happen for me
Oh I would totally say this to a friend who bombed a round. Gotta be first at something, right?
Next best was my First Ever Dressage test.
Where I was convinced I didnât need a Reader.
Until halfway in, when my mind went blank 
I meandered across the centerline, as I passed the Judge she whispered âWrong testâ 
But it was my trainer who ran over with a purloined blue ribbon saying:
âTake this & go home!â 
Iâve never had a reader, but I totally got lost in a test when my horse took the bit and I had to do an extra circle to get everything a bit more under control - boom, test gone in my brain. The judge was very patient with me as I gained and lost my bearings another 2x before finally getting back on track.
I would have required an ambulance 
OP, keep eating your cookies and tell GF to desensitize the horse to bags, it can be done. Unless it was a massive trash bag and you were waving it around like a flag on the 4th of July, you did nothing wrong here.
Maybe you could both go to a show where she is not showing and spectate, then she could answer your questions in a stress free environment (this is based on me assuming she was showing when the âbag incidentâ occurred).
Good luck!
Try to not do anything to âspookâ or âsurpriseâ the horse (or any other horse) while they are in the ring competing. Stand back from the fence, or from the horse, if you are going to make a sudden noise or flap something. Donât get in the way of where the horse is going, stay back. Stay back and WATCH, and LEARN. You will likely be put to work at some point⊠hopefully you will have picked up enough basic horse sense by then to stay safe yourself, and keep others safe around you with basic horsemanship. Ask questions if you donât know something. Otherwise⊠stay out of the way, and enjoy be a spectator. Donât offer to participate if you are unsure about what you are being asked to do. Ask for input on what you ARE asked to do, and think that you may be comfortable doing. Other than that, hold inanimate things, go for coffee, and clap and cheer at the right moments. If you donât know what might be the correct moment to do this, take your cue from others around you.
Welcome to the wonderful world of horse competitions, where we try to ride our four legged flight animals and ask them to do specific tasks that make no sense to them. Things like loud noises and sudden movements that tend to scare the flight animals and make them bolt for cover are generally unpopular.
Actions like dragging a noisy chair to a better viewing spot or opening an umbrella just as a horse goes by are prime examples.
A good guideline around any competition area would be to behave as if youâre in a library with a stern librarian keeping an eye on you from a few feet away.
If others around you start to cheer and applaud, feel free to join in.
Everyone you see competing on a horse has probably spent a lot of time and energy and money to get there. So itâs a good idea to be mindful of avoiding distractions when they compete.
The idea of a gift involving an educational experience is lovely. There are many opportunities for clinics with excellent riders and trainers. Itâs just a question of finding the right one for your friendâs chosen field in the sport.
Good luck with your horse experiences, and welcome to the BB!
Standing ovation, young friend.
Grab a book on horse care, many are available, most are beginner level. Pony Club Manuals are tops.
Youtube videos are hit and often enough complete miss. I remember a few Uhooh ones that became legendary - for all the wrong reasons. shockingly enough most âlaudedâ trainers are not for novices, though that is their market.
As you may have noticed, there are a lot of things to know before knowing what to ask.
What discipline does your lady participate in: Riding around the ring alone, doing fancy circles: Dressage. Consider golf course or Wimbleton behavior ringside.
Does she ride in circles with other dressed up people it might be hunters. I think the above is applicable, but I am not sure. Riding alone over low colorful poles is also hunters.
Apparently she is not showing saddle seat or arabians in hand. I doubt you would have heard yourself think at the occasion.
Riding alone over colorful jumps as if chased by demons: Jumping.I also donât think the cookies would have been an issue.
Useful skills for the boyfriend to posses:
Knowing the difference in coat color: Which horse is brown, bay, chestnut/sorrel, or grey. Learn about markings on head and legs.
Knowing the difference between straw and hay. Bonus points for knowing the different hay options. Not all concentrated feed is âgrainâ and definitely not oats.
Learn how to pack a show SOS kit. like stain remover if the lady rides in white breeches.
Bandaides, sunscreen, hydration, snacks.
Learn which part of the horse is which, goal is to learn basic handling skills like leading the horse on halter and bridle.
Learn the parts of the tack. Learn how to clean it. Not necessarily a deep clean, but a quick rinse and wipe.
Last but not least:
Ask your lady friend. Not all people accept interference in their routine. I always loathed it having a boy underfoot.
Ask her questions. Perhaps take a couple of lessons yourself.
And be prepared to entertain yourself, have your own hobby. Something you can do while she is at the barn.
welcome to the fold!
and do come back if you have more questions.
ETA: I forgot to add: photographer or Videographer skills are a plus for a horse show BF.
I would suggest attending a show with your friend where she isnât riding or after her class, puts her horse away, and has free time. Sit out of ear shot of the other spectators and have her whisper a commentary on good and bad (out of ear shot so no one is offended). Then you will know what she thinks, and can mirror back her language and concerns after you watch her ride.
Here are some basics. Good things: horse looks balanced and happy, rider looks balanced and happy.
Bad things. Horse acts up like bucking or bolting. Rider falls off. Jumpers/ hunters rider knocks a pole down or goes off course. Horse trips. Rider is excused by the judge halfway through.
More detailed. Horse is on correct canter lead. Rider is posting the correct trot. Hunter/jumper horse maintains a nice big canter whole round. Dressage or rail class, horse changes gaits on cue.
If you are really interested, attend some of her riding lessons to see what sheâs working on. You could even take some beginner lessons to get a feel.for the sport.
I love watching big jumpers on TV even though Iâve never jumped over 2 foot 6 maybe. I can see the horses that will knock a pole before it happens.
I feel like if youâve participated in a sport even at a low level you can watch better. I donât know what Iâm.lookimg at in hockey or football 
but I can watch college girls basketball with some focus (not pro mens basketball itâs another game) because we played that in high school. Lots of men love watching hockey or football or baseball because they played enough as kids that it makes sense.
They were done, waiting for the ribbons.
@luvmyhackney @Demerara_Stables think its called hunter/jumper? its ânot a raceâ race with hurdles in the way, first round i think the time doesnt matter as long as you dont hit anything. If you make it to the second round, then the best time wins.
Thank you so much and in advance as well
Thanks for the response. Def was not a trashbag, my cookie was not that big. Sadly
Have tried to go and watch but shes always helping her team out so theres really not much time to answer my questions, let alone what questions to ask
Thanks for the response and absolutely. Happy to move hay and whatever else, but I would like to be able to at least know what im looking at.
At the moment the only thoughts going through my head during the âits not a raceâ is âoooh the horse went up and came down. no one diedâ.
you should keep a diary.
Your description does sound a little like Andy Griffith, âWhat it was it was Footballâ (or Shakespeare, for that matter)
Like I said, video skills: Tape the show and ask questions later.
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