Rationale for Showing, or not, During the Pandemic

[atlatl]

Let’s see if we can discuss this rationally and not insult each other. I’m genuinely curious as to why people want to show during the pandemic.

I personally have absolutely no interest in showing at this time. I was hoping to earn my gold medal this year, so it’s not that I’m not interested in showing. Between my age, my horse’s age and my slow recovery from injury not showing this year means I’m unlikely to get my gold medal ever. I’m in the high risk age group, live in one of the hot spots in the US so am just not willing to take the risk, particularly when many of the horse people I know don’t appear to be willing to wear masks or social distance.

I understand that even schooling shows can be a major source of income for clubs in which case I’d suggest just sending them money if you can and staying home.

I have friends that are anxious to show and I just don’t get it.

If people don’t think they are at risk, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, please don’t debate that in this thread.

[NewYork_Marx]

@atlatl

Let’s see if we can discuss this rationally and not insult each other. I’m genuinely curious as to why people want to show during the pandemic.

I personally have absolutely no interest in showing at this time. I was hoping to earn my gold medal this year, so it’s not that I’m not interested in showing. Between my age, my horse’s age and my slow recovery from injury not showing this year means I’m unlikely to get my gold medal ever. I’m in the high risk age group, live in one of the hot spots in the US so am just not willing to take the risk, particularly when many of the horse people I know don’t appear to be willing to wear masks or social distance.

I understand that even schooling shows can be a major source of income for clubs in which case I’d suggest just sending them money if you can and staying home.

I have friends that are anxious to show and I just don’t get it.

If people don’t think they are at risk, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, please don’t debate that in this thread.

I think it really depends on where you live and who you are around. I have experienced the full range of very liberal mask wearing to no one really talking about COVID.
Shows are running, and doing ok. My thought is each state has put forth regulations, and we need to follow the guidelines.

I personally feel fairly “safe” riding and showing outside, and I feel much more unsafe going to the grocery store. I think it was the CDC that published that horseback riding outside is considered very low risk.

If it’s not your thing, stay home or do online shows.

[outerbanks77]

I am thinking about going to a tiny schooling show at the end of July. They require masks for anyone who isn’t riding, and it is all outdoors. If I go, I’ll warm up, ride my tests and leave. Having shown at this place before, I feel that it is less risky than going into a grocery store. I would not go to a larger recognized show right now.

[oldernewbie]

Also discussed here, pretty sane.
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/f…-shows-threads

[NewYork_Marx]

@outerbanks77

I am thinking about going to a tiny schooling show at the end of July. They require masks for anyone who isn’t riding, and it is all outdoors. If I go, I’ll warm up, ride my tests and leave. Having shown at this place before, I feel that it is less risky than going into a grocery store. I would not go to a larger recognized show right now.

Most recognized shows are reducing overall #s, at least they were for june shows.

[NewYork_Marx]

I want to show because it gives me a goal, everything else has been depressing. My horse is ready, I am ready. I have money to do this and it’s not seen as risky. I’ve not been anywhere but the barn since March. Everything was taken away, thank goodness for the horses.

[outerbanks77]

@NewYork_Marx

Most recognized shows are reducing overall #s, at least they were for june shows.

The ones I’m aware of here are filling to max capacity almost as soon as entries open. I dont know if they’re limiting spectators or grooms, but that would make a pretty big difference in total number of people.

[Miss_Motivation]

Good question. The CovidPause, as I call it, has given most of us a bit of time to think about all of our motivations and inclinations to do anything/everything with horses, from showing to even having horses.

CovidPause is unexpected punctuation in our busy lives, which I think of as a lot of commas, in our pell-mell pursuit of whatever it is we’ve been chasing with horses all along.

I’m kind of enjoying just riding, without real competition goals in mind. My new horse went to one very small schooling show at a local stable which was very comfortable in terms of distance, masking, etc. It was a nice progress check on the horse (yes, he’s as easy to show as he is to ride at home) but I don’t care too much one way or the other if we show anytime soon again.

This is a lost year, in many ways, but I’m finding it a year of gain in terms of cleaning my house, of course, but also kind of cleaning my mind, and my heart. I’ve let a few friendships drift away that were costing a lot emotionally to maintain, and I’ve made good progress on some personal goals. Showing will be back, I’m not on any particular timeline… but I sure feel fortunate to have the time and space to enjoy horses when so many people are having to spend this time in very close quarters.

[NewYork_Marx]

@outerbanks77

The ones I’m aware of here are filling to max capacity almost as soon as entries open. I dont know if they’re limiting spectators or grooms, but that would make a pretty big difference in total number of people.

yeah, might be region specific. This might have changed since June, hard to say.

[NewYork_Marx]

@Miss Motivation

Good question. The CovidPause, as I call it, has given most of us a bit of time to think about all of our motivations and inclinations to do anything/everything with horses, from showing to even having horses.

CovidPause is unexpected punctuation in our busy lives, which I think of as a lot of commas, in our pell-mell pursuit of whatever it is we’ve been chasing with horses all along.

I’m kind of enjoying just riding, without real competition goals in mind. My new horse went to one very small schooling show at a local stable which was very comfortable in terms of distance, masking, etc. It was a nice progress check on the horse (yes, he’s as easy to show as he is to ride at home) but I don’t care too much one way or the other if we show anytime soon again.

This is a lost year, in many ways, but I’m finding it a year of gain in terms of cleaning my house, of course, but also kind of cleaning my mind, and my heart. I’ve let a few friendships drift away that were costing a lot emotionally to maintain, and I’ve made good progress on some personal goals. Showing will be back, I’m not on any particular timeline… but I sure feel fortunate to have the time and space to enjoy horses when so many people are having to spend this time in very close quarters.

for me its been the opposite, I have been more focused on my riding and goals. I am actually busier now but it depends on how you look at it.
Course, I have a very constant approach to my riding and don’t change very much when I show, its all the same training regardless… (Ie intensity, focus, etc). I have more mental energy since I work remotely.

[Rerider54]

@outerbanks77

I am thinking about going to a tiny schooling show at the end of July. They require masks for anyone who isn’t riding, and it is all outdoors. If I go, I’ll warm up, ride my tests and leave. Having shown at this place before, I feel that it is less risky than going into a grocery store. I would not go to a larger recognized show right now.

This, sort of. I had signed up for a schooling show so of course my horse decided she had to be ‘off’. Back in March I thought the year was basically over as far as the shows went. I also wasn’t hauling down the road for lessons, or having a trainer come to me. So I changed barns to one of my trainers establishments. It is a smaller, more private place. As my husband and I are in the high risk group we have mostly been isolating since mid-March. He rides his bike in the neighborhood and I go to the stable three or four days a week. I try to only go to the grocery store once a week, during senior hours.

No more shows in our area till August-October. I will probably go to something. The plan will be to go for the day, wear a mask when not riding and not talk to anyone. Not my preferred day but it is okay. When I registered for the schooling show I didn’t get to I even included the numbers that I have from previous shows. I thought that way I wouldn’t have to even go near a secretary. I don’t see this going away any tim soon. Reading the news about FL, AZ, CA and TX tells me I might be staying home for a long time. Either way I will live with it, key word ‘LIVE’. I was hoping to get the last two scores for my Bronze. But if not this year then next. If we survive this it does make for a good story.

[Gardenhorse]

For me, it gives me a goal and something semi-normal to plan for and look forward to in a time when everything else is crazy. In my area, the shows seem to be taking mask requirements and social distancing seriously for both competitors and volunteers. If they weren’t, I would not attend.

[atlatl]

@oldernewbie

Also discussed here, pretty sane.
https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/f…-shows-threads

Good thread, thanks for sharing.

[Jealoushe]

I just went to an event this weekend. A bit different with eventing, but I really wanted to get my mare out and see how she handled the course. We have schooled a few times this year, but the actual event is always a different test than schooling. Sometimes with eventing you have to keep yourself or your horse “in the game” so to speak.

That being said, I had confidence based on the schooling opportunities. Everything was very well handled. I didn’t close to a single person other than my groom. Everything done online, assigned parking etc. I am also in Ontario though, and have been wearing a mask since March and not going out unless to work and home.

[trubandloki]

@Jealoushe

I am also in Ontario though, and have been wearing a mask since March and not going out unless to work and home.

And to ride I assume, if your horse and you were fit enough to compete.

[mmeqcenter]

I was planning on showing recognized this year for the first time. I’m fairly new to dressage.

I am now planning on not showing at all this year, not even going to spectate. Bummer, especially since Regionals are basically in my backyard this year but, it’s really not worth the risk IMO. I’m in a very rural county in Florida, our numbers overall are low, but people come to our GMO shows from bigger cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville, much less the recognized shows. People just are not taking it seriously in Florida it’s ridiculous. Sitting on my horse is low-risk, obviously, but the issue is being around a bunch of a-holes at the office or bathroom who DGAF about anyone else and refuse to follow rules on masks and social distancing.

[BayBondGirl]

@NewYork_Marx

I want to show because it gives me a goal, everything else has been depressing. My horse is ready, I am ready. I have money to do this and it’s not seen as risky. I’ve not been anywhere but the barn since March. Everything was taken away, thank goodness for the horses.

Same. I am pretty pregnant right now so no shows anyway for me, but if I wasn’t, I would be hitting up whatever local schooling shows are available.

• I feel much safer at an outdoor horse show than an enclosed, busy grocery store.
• I show alone anyway so “physical distancing” is a normal part of my experience. Not to mention keeping horses from getting too close together is burned into my brain and instincts.
• Most/all venues that are tentatively reopening are being careful with their guidelines as they don’t want to have to close down again.
• I am responsible and intelligent enough to keep myself as safe as I possibly can anywhere by using hygiene, distancing and safety protocols (mask etc).
• Showing gives me purpose and a target; I have a very hard time being productive with my rides if I don’t have a “milestone” to meet.
• Riding is my happy-place and that is very important for me to maintain during a global crisis.

[Jealoushe]

@trubandloki

And to ride I assume, if your horse and you were fit enough to compete.

I live on my own farm, so they have been in work continuously all winter.

[happilyretired]

I haven’t shown in a few years and have no great desire to start again anyway. But I did go as a an owner/spectator at a recognized show in Central Florida a few weeks ago. My observations — probably a pretty safe endeavor despite the recent surge of cases in Florida. This particular venue is very spread out with satellite barns. Lots of room for everyone to keep their distance. I’d say restrooms were the only real “enclosed space” I had to go in. I just wore my mask and “kept it quick”! So if you like to show and if the show grounds lend themselves to spacing I’d say go for it.

[CLB15]

I was planning to show this year and had the calendar lined up, but now that some shows in my state are starting up I’ve decided not to attend. Traveling to lessons and going to do some virtual shows instead to get the “routine” of traveling to another barn and being judged that way.

Theoretically riding isn’t a team sport so the argument in my area has been not to lump horse shows in with other sporting events as restrictions are lifted. But it doesn’t becomes much less of one when it’s a rider, some of their family, a friend or 2 to show up to spectate & hold water bottles, the coach, some barn mates that carpooled in with their horses together, etc… I know what I’m doing to minimize my risks, and I trust the degree that others at a horse show would do the same, so I won’t go. Plus it seems for as many shows that are enforcing [correct] masks & social distancing, changing their schedules, check-in processes and award distribution processes, there are as many that are not.