Trying a Horse at a Show?

[chestnuthunter]

I am hoping to be able to go and try a mare at a show next weekend. It’s a fairly large rated show about 3 hours away. I think the mare would be a lovely horse for me to take in the ammy hunters, but I have never tried a horse at a show before.

In the last few months I have tried many, many horses. I haven’t found anything suitable essentially because I was looking in an unrealistically low price bracket. Now, however, my situation has changed and I am able to look at a different caliber horse. I always arrive on time, dress nicely, and then follow up with the seller soon if a decision wasn’t apparent immediately after the ride. Is there anything I need to be aware of when trying at a show vs. trying at the barn? I’m able to stay all day, and I would love to watch the mare go in her classes before/after I hop on.

I was planning on wearing clean half chaps/paddock boots (zipper on my boots is currently broken), my nice show breeches, a button down shirt, belt, gloves, and hairnet. The facility is huge, so there should be a fairly quiet ring where I can ride without a ton of traffic.

The owner is much better at communicating than the trainer, and so I have been mostly dealing with her. The horse seems very well suited both for my skill level and my show goals down the road.

Sellers, if you were showing a horse to a potential buyer at a show, would there be anything you would want her to know?

[AmmyByNature]

Be prepared to move quickly if you like the horse. He’s being shown - he might be sold overnight. Be prepared for the price to change if he is champion of this division!

Know that you’re buying a show horse. If you want to show, you’ll see what is important. If you want a horse you can ride bareback through fields of wildflowers at home, you might be disappointed. We had a lady buy a horse at a show who was perfect for her - at shows. When he was prepped (nothing inhumane, just going around in the pro divisions the day before) he was an absolute dream. He was more of a handful at home. Couldn’t really camp out on him and hang out with her friends during lessons, if you know what I mean. You have to be prepared for that and not be upset if you end up with something that’s a little different at home that you expected.

It’s either one way or the other. You try them at home and don’t know what they’re like at a show, or you try them at a show and don’t know what they’re like at home. You have to decide what’s more important for you. (Of course, he might be perfect everywhere - just be prepared if he’s not!)

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=AmmyByNature;7775574]
Be prepared to move quickly if you like the horse. He’s being shown - he might be sold overnight. Be prepared for the price to change if he is champion of this division!

Know that you’re buying a show horse. If you want to show, you’ll see what is important. If you want a horse you can ride bareback through fields of wildflowers at home, you might be disappointed. We had a lady buy a horse at a show who was perfect for her - at shows. When he was prepped (nothing inhumane, just going around in the pro divisions the day before). He was more of a handful at home. You have to be prepared for that and not be upset if you end up with something that’s a little different at home that you expected.

It’s either one way or the other. You try them at home and don’t know what they’re like at a show, or you try them at a show and don’t know what they’re like at home. You have to decide what’s more important for you. (Of course, he might be perfect everywhere - just be prepared if he’s not!)[/QUOTE]

I’m definitely prepared to move fast! The last time I was going to look at a show horse, she sold before I could even make it to go see her.

My current horse cannot mentally handle trail riding either, so a horse that is comfortable only in an arena is just fine with me. I don’t expect a show horse to be comfortable on trails, in open fields, being ridden bareback, etc.

What I’m not looking for is a horse that needs professional prep, so if it turns out to be the case she’s off my list.

Supposedly this horse is very relaxed and quiet. The owner said to bring my spurs, crop, and calves of steel

I think, all things considered, I would rather see how the horse is at shows. Good behavior at shows is very important to me.

[findeight]

Only thing different about trying one at a show and trying one privately is it’s at a show. Nothing is going to be different about what you will ask or how you will actually try the horse except the setting and more people around. So you are fine doing what you have been doing.

I would certainly watch the horse show as well as try it. That’s a huge advantage over seeing it at home, let’s you compare. I would also ask around and see if anything else would be available for you to look at and try. That’s the other huge advantage of trying them at shows-see several at one time. If you can guess what trainers might be at that show, might want to contact them in advance and see if they have something you can try and make the long drive more worthwhile if the first horse is not what you want.

Good luck.

[DancingQueen]

Try to not only watch him in the ring, but also in the schooling area before he shows.
Best is to watch him show first and then try him, that way you have an idea what to expect and you won’t have to be nervous that you’ll make a mistake that will make him not go as well as he usually does in the ring.

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=findeight;7775584]

That’s the other huge advantage of trying them at shows-see several at one time. If you can guess what trainers might be at that show, might want to contact them in advance and see if they have something you can try and make the long drive more worthwhile.

Good luck.[/QUOTE]

The trainer has 2 other horses for me to try as well, but I’ll also ask around and find out if there are any more.

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=DancingQueen;7775585]
Try to not only watch him in the ring, but also in the schooling area before he shows.
Best is to watch him show first and then try him, that way you have an idea what to expect and you won’t have to be nervous that you’ll make a mistake that will make him not go as well as he usually does in the ring.[/QUOTE]

:yes:

Getting on her before she shows would make me a little nervous. I usually can give horses a nice soft, quiet ride, but just in case it’s not a good match I don’t want to mess up her classes.

[findeight]

[QUOTE=chestnuthunter;7775590]
The trainer has 2 other horses for me to try as well, but I’ll also ask around and find out if there are any more.[/QUOTE]

Oh, there’s lots more this time of year. Just a matter of letting them know you are looking. And try the other 2 that trainer has just for comparisons sake, sometimes you love them until you get on them then it’s over. Other times you are lukewarm to completely unimpressed by one until you get on it and realize it’s totally perfect. So try anything you can get a leg over, long as you are reasonably sure it won’t try to kill you. That lets more people know you are looking too.

My best horses? People called me and asked if I wanted them, didn’t set out to look at them. Easier when they drop into your lap.

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=findeight;7775607]
Oh, there’s lots more this time of year. Just a matter of letting them know you are looking. And try the other 2 that trainer has just for comparisons sake, sometimes you love them until you get on them then it’s over. Other times you are lukewarm to completely unimpressed by one until you get on it and realize it’s totally perfect. So try anything you can get a leg over, long as you are reasonably sure it won’t try to kill you. That lets more people know you are looking too.

My best horses? People called me and asked if I wanted them, didn’t set out to look at them. Easier when they drop into your lap.[/QUOTE]

I have a list of about 10 more to ask about if this one doesn’t work. I guess people are unloading their horses before winter sets in. I will hop on anything that’s reasonably safe, even if it doesn’t look like exactly what I’m looking for.

The trainer is pretty well known in the area, so I’ll check with her and see what other horses she knows of.

I think things have a way of working themselves out, so I’ll be interested to see what happens.

[CHT]

Are you sure it is allowed by the show? Around here I don’t know that it would be: riders at the show have to have signed releases and the required memberships to be allowed to ride on the show grounds.

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=CHT;7775665]
Are you sure it is allowed by the show? Around here I don’t know that it would be: riders at the show have to have signed releases and the required memberships to be allowed to ride on the show grounds.[/QUOTE]

Doesn’t say anything about that in the prize list or on entry forms. It is a very large, very well insured facility.

[eclipse]

[QUOTE=CHT;7775665]
Are you sure it is allowed by the show? Around here I don’t know that it would be: riders at the show have to have signed releases and the required memberships to be allowed to ride on the show grounds.[/QUOTE]

As long as the show day is over she should be ok. We’ve tried horses at shows, including Spruce, and there’s not been any issues but the day was completed!

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=eclipse;7775710]
As long as the show day is over she should be ok. We’ve tried horses at shows, including Spruce, and there’s not been any issues but the day was completed![/QUOTE]

That’s my intention anyway. Spectate, shop, eat, and try the horse once everything’s over

[chunky_munky]

Remember that you will most likely have two jumps to ride to. One vertical and one oxer . If t is a big show as you imply, that will most likely be it. I never liked people trying my horses at a show for two reasons 1) not a good facility 90% of the time. Not enough jumps, no course, etc. 90% of the time they want to try it again somewhere else . PITA Then they want you to hold the horse for them NOT. Second reason- many of the rider rode so badly that you didn’t want other people at the show to see such devastation and abuse to your horse!!! A missed lead change in public with a bad rider will always be blamed on your horse. Sad but true

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=chunky munky;7775762]
Remember that you will most likely have two jumps to ride to. One vertical and one oxer . If t is a big show as you imply, that will most likely be it. I never liked people trying my horses at a show for two reasons 1) not a good facility 90% of the time. Not enough jumps, no course, etc. 90% of the time they want to try it again somewhere else . PITA Then they want you to hold the horse for them NOT. Second reason- many of the rider rode so badly that you didn’t want other people at the show to see such devastation and abuse to your horse!!! A missed lead change in public with a bad rider will always be blamed on your horse. Sad but true[/QUOTE]

Thank you for giving me a seller’s perspective.

Perhaps I would want to try the horse again, but I would NEVER ask a seller to hold a horse for me. That’s not fair at all.

I’m hoping to ride after the show in a quiet ring away from the general show public. I’m not the kind of rider that misses changes or “unschools” horses. I can usually tell very quickly if the horse and I are not a good match, and if so I stop riding and hop off right then. This particular horse is being advertised as a children’s/amateur hunter, so I don’t think she will be incompatible/an eyesore to the people watching.

Honestly, I think an oxer and a vertical might be enough. I pretty much know exactly what I’m looking for.

I can understand the downsides to trying at a show, but there are lots of advantages too.

[gumshoe]

I would expect that the owner wouldn’t let you ride until she’s finished showing. I don’t see it as something you will have a choice over.

[chestnuthunter]

[QUOTE=gumshoe;7775794]
I would expect that the owner wouldn’t let you ride until she’s finished showing. I don’t see it as something you will have a choice over. ;)[/QUOTE]

That’s fine too I just don’t know the horse’s class schedule and what is considered the norm for trying at shows. I am perfectly content to hang around at the show all day and wait for the owner to tell me when she’s ready.

[DMK]

[QUOTE=eclipse;7775710]
As long as the show day is over she should be ok. We’ve tried horses at shows, including Spruce, and there’s not been any issues but the day was completed![/QUOTE]

WEF and HITS would shut down if people couldn’t try out sales horses during the show day!

The only thing I can add is if the horse has been tried by more than few people and showed in a few divisions, he may be tired and that can change his ride. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse, but you have to consider that and trust the seller as to what he is like when he first gets to the grounds (or trust that your agent/their agent have your best interests at heart). And if he has been showed/tried a lot, it may also impact the PPE so you need to consider that a tired/sore horse may still be the RIGHT horse.

[chunky_munky]

suggest the first ride in a quiet place. Then you take it to the show to see it in a competition environment. I think you have it backwards.

[chunky_munky]

Smart sellers do not allow trials on the show ground at WEF. Having lived there for many years, it is simply a bad idea. Most people have farms off the property. Much better for your first ride unless you are a very experienced and perhaps highly decorated rider. I have watched many a sale go south on a nice horse due to riders nerves and craziness in the schooling areas. Use all the privacy you can get.
A good seller will not let you try the horse when he has done multiple divisions and is tired. If they do, that is very unfortunate for the horse as well as you.