Are people braiding for these classes or just treating them as a schooling show at a rated show?
Around me (PNW) we have one outreach show. About half of the people braided. It was not required. But to be fair, the show management treated it as a schooling show - less fancy ribbons, fewer prizes, lower entry fee, etc. quality of judges was the same.
I’ve done some of these classes in their prior incarnations, and they were held at schooling shows. No braiding required. I know starting this year, they’ll be offered at some rated shows, so I’d probably do the mane, unless it’s a B/C show where no one braids anyway. I can’t imagine going in the ring at an A show for anything other than jumpers without the mane done.
Outreach shows are generally more like schooling shows, since the judge doesn’t need to be a USEF judge. I back gate quite a few of the Outreach shows here in Oregon. We run an Outreach show in one of our rings at the facility during some of our rated show weeks. Most of the horses that come for the Outreach show aren’t braided, though some old school trainers have their kids braid for practice, and some of the horses are cross entered from the rated to the Outreach show and just happen to be braided already. I haven’t seen a difference between number of braided horses for the Outreach classes vs. the other divisions we offer.
I imagine YMMV, depending on who’s running the show and who’s competing.
Side note, for anyone reading this shows in Oregon, there are going to be a lot more Outreach shows offered in our area from now on. The OHJA membership just voted to change our “local” system show process to require the shows to be USHJA Outreach shows and OHJA will just count the points. Shouldn’t affect the general membership population too much but it will mean there’ll probably be more opportunities for people to participate in USHJA Outreach classes I’d imagine.
Here is a folder of photos from the photographer at the outreach show last year. You can see the variety of horses, riders, and presentation.
So showing up with the fake tail in and unbraided would be totally acceptable if I was turned out like I normally am? Boot shined, tailored sportsmans, classic white shirt and navy show coat? I have little to no desire to be braiding in below freezing temps…it is 16.00 classes and no fees charged and will be running on a Thursday.
I can’t imagine that would be a problem.
