Staying involved in horse shows

[Arzny]

Essentially the title.

I used to show a lot, but now I have a horse with a dirty, random stop. He’s great at home in lessons but less so at the show. My other horses are leased. This means that the motivation to actually go show is limited. It costs a lot of money to have a horse stop out because I took too much from the piggy bank in the warmup.

Therefore, I’d love ideas on how to stay involved when one isn’t necessarily showing a lot. Just hanging out with my barn family isn’t an option, since I haul 3 hours to lesson. I’m also 2-3 hours to any show, so just a day trip to watch is a lot.

Are there scribe or office positions that will that a working adult to help for the weekend? Is it weird to even offer that?

[onlyTBmares]

Does your horse behave at clinics? I don’t show much at all but go to a ton of clinics. They cost much less than showing and have a collaborative environment that I really enjoy. Its a good opportunity for networking as well where maybe you can find someone who wants a weekend groom or just an extra set of hands.

[dmveventer]

If you’re open to a different discipline, eventing runs on volunteers and shows could always use an extra set of hands. Check https://www.eventingvolunteers.com/ to see what’s in your area. There may not be much going on right now for the winter depending on where you are, but things will start picking up in a few months! You don’t need any experience and eventers are generally a pretty welcoming bunch of people.

[widge]

If you have a local/regional horse show association I’m sure they’re eager for another set of hands. The one I am a member of is entirely volunteer driven by people with their own day jobs and horses. I’ve helped run the ribbon table in the past, and am working on the website and sponsorships this year.

[Arzny]

Thanks for the suggestions! Clinics generally aren’t a thing in my area, at least for a jumper. I occasionally go rouge and play at a cow working clinic though! I’m just in a tough area for jumpers.

As far as eventing volunteering - I have been so completely burned by volunteering at events that I won’t bother anymore. I should try a different show, but the last gig put a bad taste in my mouth.

I’m also not looking to groom - I groomed FEI event horses and show jumpers and am not looking to take whole weeks off work or take a pay cut for what my services are worth. However, messaging my regional program is a good idea. I just dropped them an email. Thanks!

[Rumorhasit93]

This might sound crazy…but could you take your horse to shows and not show? Especially since you live so far from your barn, you could use it as an opportunity to take lessons in the AM and lounge around, have a drink, and cheer on your barn-mates by afternoon. Trail ride, hack, hand walk and hand graze your horse and just enjoy not showing? See if you can do your own grooming or something so it’s maybe more cost effective, and you’ll have the time anyway and no stress of getting on for a class.

[Arzny]

I do that often! Especially at WEC in the winter.

[Night_Flight]

@Arzny

Are there scribe or office positions that will that a working adult to help for the weekend? Is it weird to even offer that?

Yes, I’ve done it. Some shows will hire extra office staff for the weekend since it’s busy with everyone checking out, and accommodations could be provided (they were for me). Depending on the show, the office might be contracted out to a particular individual or company who hires their own staff, so in those cases you would need to connect with that contracted party rather than with the show manager.

[piaffequeen2]

Totally random and not sure where you live but maybe consider trying Polocrosse. Very low key and great environment. All levels and any horse will do (saw that you did working cow horse) https://www.americanpolocrosse.org/
https://youtu.be/D7sHMtt17LE?si=pCtKqp4Nabh4h5pd

[Arzny]

Not a thing in my area and not looking to really stray away from hunter/jumper shows.

[Dana]

Show secretaries are always in demand. You may need to volunteer at a few to get the software and stuff figured out, but could be an option for you. Good in gate people are also needed at a lot of shows. Maybe another avenue to investigate.

[Renn_aissance]

Learn to run the office or the in-gate. You’ll have a job every weekend if you want it, and you’ll get all the social of the horse shows except they pay you to be there instead of the other way around.

[LCDR]

You want to stay involved in hunter shows without being a rider, but to get to and from even the shows closest to you means around 4 to 6 hours on the road, total. Are you really up for that? How often are you willing to make those drives alone?

I don’t really understand what staying involved means to you. Will sitting in a show office all day while all the action is outside satisfy you? Or are you OK with being outside standing at an in gate all day? Do you want to be paid or are you volunteering your time, even paying for your own lodging at venues where you’ll be for a couple of days?

[Arzny]

I make a 6 hour round trip haul, alone, every other week for lessons. Not taking the horse and trailer will make it a walk in the park.

I’m happy to help in the office or in gate, but I wasn’t sure if they’d take someone who’d prefer to be there Saturday & Sunday only, not the whole week. I’m not necessarily looking to be paid - would rather help out and not lose out on connections when I don’t have a nice horse.