At least show shirts are relatively cheap - that’s a Treat Yo Self purchase next time you can go try things on!
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Yass!
Ok, next question. I’ll be all by my lonesome. No help, no reader, no nothing.
Which is fine. But any tips for memorizing the tests? A I have down pat. I think C is good. But B my brain won’t hang on to.
Depending on ride times do I just focus on the next up test, ignore the others so I don’t confuse them mid ride? I know there is logic to the tests, which helps. But for some reason I can’t see the logic/pattern on cadora WT B.
Any tips appreciated as the “what have I done” nerves set in.
Edited. I just reviewed them again and they do make sense so ignore me. I think the trick will be studying the show ring so I can envision it, as currently I can only ride it in my mind in the lesson arena.
Is there any chance the horse show might be able to provide a volunteer to be your reader?
It couldn’t hurt to call and ask them.
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Could you rope a friend into reading? Maybe someone you know is going to the same show and could help you out ?
If you’re a visual person, I love these:
I use them all the time for memorizing tests.
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Even get a non horse person if you coach them a bit.
Usually there is a spare coach or rider willing to read a strangers test at a schooling show.
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Those are great. I’ve printed my tests and am doing a version of that myself. I think we should be ok!
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If you’re showing in a jacket, could you just pin it at the back to make it a little tighter?
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I haven’t shown in a while , but the tests are designed so that movements are done on the left rein, then a diagonal to get you on the right rein, and you do the same things, just going the other way (Or vice versa, meaning right rein/diagonal/left rein).
For me, once I got the notion of "walk in, halt at x, walk off and turn right at the rail, trot at M, 20m at B, keep trotting, etc and get me through the rein-transition diagonal, then the geometry just flows for me from there, it’s just that the letters change.
I will draw a million tests on a dry erase board to find the flow and my self-talk that gets me through it. Serpentines in my head are “weee weee weee” - I know the directive is straight over the centerline then 10m half circle to straight line…but I knew that and didn’t need to remember it…so I replaced it with weeee 
because they are fun.
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I memorized the shape of the tests. The critical moment was the initial turn at C. Once I had that it was fairly straightforward. I’d think in terms of circle in the middle of the long side, transition to walk coming out of the short side, etc. The figures were usually identical in position and order so turn left/right at C, shape of test, change rein in this fashion, shape of test, final centerline to halt, salute.
In my first year showing, my own coach was reading for me and skipped two movements! Fortunately I knew that wasn’t right and continued correctly. 
Once I had caught up, my coach resumed reading. I very rarely had anyone read for me after that.
Often there are people willing to read if you ask. Do tell them when you would like them the read the movement. “Please read the next movement when I start/am halfway through the current movement.” or whatever works for you.
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Now that I’ve conquered test memorization, how early should I arrive to the venue.
Let’s say 1st ride time is 11. It’s an hour drive, but let’s say 90 minutes to be safe.
I probably want 30 minutes to warm up? And probably want to time my warm up to be just before the class, so in the saddle by 10:30.
90 minutes to park, handwalk a bit, groom, tack, me get dressed, so that’s arriving by 9, leaving home at 7:30 (but probably 7 because that’s how I roll).
Does that sound good? I can’t do a crazy long warm up because he still gets a little pissy when he’s done (in his mind) and I ask for more. I don’t want him pulling a tantrum in the ring, lol. Plus he hasn’t learned the hurry up and wait ropes of a show, given his former life as a rope horse.
I was hoping I could braid the morning of but it’s not looking like it.
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If you are riding more than one test, consider the full time you will be in the saddle when you decide how long your warm-up needs to be.
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There is no hurry up and wait in dressage. That early in the day there’s little room for delays to have come up.
For intro a warm up of 15 - 20 minutes max.
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15 minutes might be appropriate for a been there done that horse to do Intro, but most of my Intro horses have never been to a show before. I plan 30 minutes in the saddle for a warm up before a test and if that ends up being too much we hang out and wait then do a little more trot when we’re in the hole. For the next show I do less.
I’ve also found my greenies handle the schooling the day before the show significantly different than show day. It’s a more intense environment.
Plus you always have a lot more horse after your warm up and then when you head over for a new ring all by yourself.
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He’s a former Roper, he’s seen it all.
Do you know the OPS horse (and are giving better advise than us strangers)? I would not automatically assume a “former roper” would be fine for 15 minute warm up in a different style of environment for a different style of riding. The western people often lope their horses for 15 minutes plus at events.
edited to add that I’d much rather have too much warm up at my first show with a horse than not enough and can always adjust from there.
No no, he has seen it all. Ridden down the highway, camping trips, cattle catching when they get loose… he’s seen and done it all.
He will be a bomb proof angel. But, he still takes me time to get soft and loose. To be fair that’s because it takes ME time. My nerves will be up. So that’s why I was thinking 30 minutes warm up, to let me relax and him relax. But fair enough that it might be too long.
Unfortunately I did not own him during his cattle catching days. He sustained an injury and I got him after that because I was jonesing for a horse after mine died. He turned out to be the perfect horse to get me back in the game precisely because he’s so bomb proof.
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Ok boss.
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To your point, we don’t know you or your horse. Have a great time.
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I appreciate all the comments, let’s me rethink and plan.
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