Thank you all for your comments.
What are some types of beginner competitions I can compete in?
That depends. How well do you ride? Do you own a horse? If so, what kind of horse is it and what kind of training does it have? If not, what kind of horses do you have access to? What style do you ride? What kinds of shows are held in your area? Are you working with a trainer or taking lessons or are you on your own?
Come on, kid, you’re trying to make us do all the conversational work. You need to be an active participant in the conversation, not just keep tossing out questions.
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IMPOSSIBLE to answer if you are not sharing what discipline, or general location.
You should haunt h/j for a little while and then pose the question as a separate thread, that way you will have some points of reference. Also read up the ahsa rule book, maybe go to a show or two as a spectator.
Basically there are schooling shows, for the green horse or rider, for practice and affordable tune ups. One day, put on by a barn often. People ride to them, board at the barn or work out of their trailers.
Then there are unrated shows, the rating is an American horse show association designation that requires specific prize money for things like a stake class or a jumper class. Can be one or two days, can offer stabling at a fee, sometimes stabling is mandatory. Often locally used as the step up from schooling.
Then the rated show. Most h/j rated seem to be A class, multiple days, multiple arenas. Used to often be called Open and had multiple disciplines. Stabling required, shavings required to be purchased at the venue, etc, etc, etc, hotel rooms and just overall expensive.
Breed,western and gaited all have their own parameters. The saddlebred people have academy shows geared to the lesson and beginner rider. Your region may have little 4H shows with mounted games, Festival and Fair shows, breed association shows, barn shows, week long A rated shows, you name it, so although if you have your own horse and trailer you can go to most of them if you qualify for the breed and pay the fees, even if you don’t have a chance in hades at winning, your trainer will be the appropriate person to ask as you may have to use one of the barn’s horses and the trainer has a vested interest in ensuring you succeed as you are an advertisement of the barn program and the trainers good name.
There is a whole can of worms there as you want to invest in A show habits in terms of your appearance and turnout. Look your best, cleanest and tidiest, some trainers focus on letting their clients enjoy the show and don’t care if hair is flying about, clothes are ill fitting etc… It should be paramount that your ability is suited to the class and you and the horse are the team you need to be at that moment.
As an aside I have watched two kids get run away with and either fall off or literally be bucked off, one at academy where I fault the trainer and the other at a Festival show. The second one was an EMT transport, horrible for everyone especially the cute kid rider, and An example of overconfidence, impatience on the part of the trainer if their was one, or the parents and the child as well. There is no point in going to a show if you are not fully prepared and have a solid position WTC with good transitions, no matter the discipline, even as a cute kid beginner. It shouldn’t be a passengering contest.
Ask your coach. They will be able to tell you what shows other barn students go to, and if you are ready.
As a rule, you should be able to ride independently of direct lesson supervision at w t c, steer your horse in a busy crowded warm up ring, and do some basic problem solving on your own before you venture to a show. You should also be capable of handling your horse on the ground, grooming, and tacking up unaided. You should be able to handle your horse if he gets scared or excited. You should know safe procedures.
You should also be capable of doing whatever the class you are in requires whether it’s flat or over fences. Typically people show a level below what they school.at home.
Ask your coach what shows other barn members attend and go watch and cheer them on. This will give you a better idea of show atmosphere and the skills needed.
