Who shows your horse at the show?

[sassy]

I have a young horse (3 coming 4) and I do 99% of the rides. We’ve had some very young assistants at my barn and while I’ve been open to letting them ride him, as soon as it started to not go well I very nicely asked that the head trainer be the only one to ride my horse. It wasn’t a big deal but I didn’t want him being allowed to get away with things or have the assistants going to him war with him.

Sometimes I find that young trainers feel like they have to prove a point and don’t know when to quit…which can be quite counter productive when training babies.

In my scenario I’m older, more experienced, and ride just as well, if not better, to help put it in context.

EDIT: to answer your question - I’m the only one that’s shown him so far but I would only allow head trainer to show him at this point.

[endlessclimb]

There’s a similar venue in this area, and I’ve not had any issues with the horses there. They are edgier than at home, no doubt, but it’s never been an “oh crap we might die you’re so lit” issue.

I like to think I’ve got good icewater in my veins, but maybe I actually do. Taking horses to new places is just part of the gig, and it’s never been an earth shattering thing for me, or for them.

[luvmyhackney]

@endlessclimb

I guess my follow up question is - are everyone’s horses really that much worse off property? I have had some seriously nutty ones, and they were nutty everywhere, not just at home. A show is stressful, but some handwalking and dealing with looky things for a couple hours and everyone seems to settle in to a state that’s “just a little bit more horse than at home.”

Actually my horse was perfect at his first show but I still had the trainer show him. I don’t have show clothes or want to show, but I want him to have a show record and experience in case I ever have to sell.

I did his first trail ride and clinic, trainer did first jump, ditch, water jump, etc. It’s easier for her to have a WS jump on one of the experienced horses and play follow the leader so he gets positive experiences. I don’t have that at home. He’s improved much faster than my inconsistent rides at home.

Trainer has more resources than I do plus rides 8-9 horses a day. I ride 1-2 three days a week. Guess who is the better rider. Isn’t me.

[Rel6]

@endlessclimb

I guess my follow up question is - are everyone’s horses really that much worse off property?

A lot are fresher/hotter/spookier/more anxious. That is why “comes out the same horse at home or at the shows” is such a selling point in a sale ad. They are creatures of routine, and I don’t think it is weird or uncommon for them to be a little different when taken out of their routine.

[Mounted]

@endlessclimb

There’s a similar venue in this area, and I’ve not had any issues with the horses there. They are edgier than at home, no doubt, but it’s never been an “oh crap we might die you’re so lit” issue.

But the point of a pro ride for a green horse isn’t to keep someone from dying. It’s to educate the horse the best way possible. It may well be true that both the head trainer and the assistant can give the horse a perfectly reasonable, confidence-building outing. It’s also possible that the head trainer’s ride is even better for the horse. An if the head trainer rides the horse considerably better (which is not the same as “more competitively” or “to a better ribbon”), as the OP reports, then there is nothing wrong with the OP preferring the better ride. It’s absolutely true that you don’t need a perfect ride from the top professionals in the industry to make a horse – a wide range of competent riders can bring along young horses successfully. It’s also true that some riders are better than others, and if the head trainer is better than the assistant, there’s nothing wrong with recognizing and wanting that, especially if the OP is limited in the number of shows to which she can send the horse and thinks that the horse will make more progress under the head trainer than the assistant.

Of course, the head trainer may not be available because of conflicts with other rides or clients, or may say that in his/her program, some rides are designated to the assistant. And then the OP can decide whether this is the service she wants to purchase or whether she wants to choose a different program.

Just as you can choose the program you prefer – riding your own horses at shows. I’m glad that is working out well for you. Of course, if you haven’t tried it, you can’t know how your horses would progress with some rides from pros or more talented riders

[endlessclimb]

No doubt some are more that way, but to the extent that it’s unmanageable by an ammy?

I’m being genuine, I’ve never experienced one that continued to lose their marbles after the first, say, 4 hours on the grounds. Even my spookiest one was manageable. My nutty one was nutty everywhere, didn’t matter if it was home or away.

I’ve never done week-long shows though - maybe it’s more lack of turnout than the change in venue?

[endlessclimb]

Totally fair. I’m making my horses for me though, so if I can at all get the riding done I’m going to. They don’t need to progress, we need to progress. The process is the fun part for me.

As we’ve said the whole thread, different strokes for different folks!

[endlessclimb]

Thinking too - do these horses only leave the property for “lit” venues? Do they go for a long trail ride a couple times a month, or is it just to a crazy show or clinic? That might contribute to some of the persistent craziness too, I’d think.

Who knows. I’m glad it’s not a problem I’ve had, though.

[Rel6]

I don’t think anyone said to an extent it is unmanageable by an ammy. It is just personal preference. Some people don’t want to be the horse’s first trip in a strange ring and gain confidence from knowing the horse has gone around already. Some horses gain more confidence from having their hand held for the first trip or two, and then can impart that confidence back on their rider. My horse has never been a show ring with anyone but me (an ammy). But if my goal was to have him further along faster, or to have him as a resell, I would have had a pro doing more of the show miles.

It is so personal and I don’t think there is a “wrong” way - for horse or rider. But OP asked if her request is fair, and I think it absolutely is.

[fivestrideline]

Only going off property to shows is common. Trail access - even haul in - is a luxury in many parts of the country!

Also, a lot of people are nervous themselves at competitions and feed that to their horse. Or, they’re extremely hard on themselves and freeze up when things are “different” than normal - be it show ring or clinic or just riding around people. “Can take a joke” is a selling point because a lot of people regress a level when the pressure is on (just like a young horse, actually).

I don’t think many horses are completely unmanageable at shows - I’ve met a few, but they had a screw loose at home too. But a lot of horses are more up, perhaps lookier, or have never seen a whole forest of national flags flapping in the wind at the end of the arena . Being able to change the plan and not show, or trot a course, know when to dig in and when to give up - that’s a skill not everyone has developed. Having the trainer ride can be just enough to give the owner that confidence boost to feed into their horse.

[Bluey]

Consider that many assistants have already started many youngsters and are used to first class for them, is not like they are clueless beginners.
Are they as good as the main trainer and you want the best, sure, any trainer will accommodate if it possibly can, but just keep in mind, if the trainer had suggested the apprentice could show horse, it is because it would be doing as good a job as the situation demands and the owner can help someone to some day become a full trainer and your horse will be one more to do so, at no cost to the horse, since that assistant is already proficient as the trainer is at that first class for any horse.

You do have to put your horse with a trainer you know is doing the job you want and some times that may be having a designated other rider on your horse than the trainer itself.

[findeight]

I don’t think that many people use a Pro because the horse is a fruitcake, decent trainer would leave one of those at home, I hope. A judged ride over the competition course is more about a good relaxing experience for the horse, settling the Ammy riders nerves and making sure the horse is fine tuned a bit to be competitive in the Ammys class.

At what it costs these days to get into the show ring, reasonable to be sure you are the best you can be,

Oh…schooling shows? Vanishing breed, especially if you want miles at anything over 2’6”. That is why they have the open low or schooling rounds before the Division rounds at the rateds. Can be the only relevant practice the horse gets.

[phoenixrises]

Seriously people do you not get nervous as F? I want my trainer or assistant to put rides on so that his are good rides in the new area, until he understands his job. He’s a good egg, he can take a joke, that doesn’t mean he should have to while also dealing with a new part of his job.

I’m so happy you’re all the same rider away and home but I’m certainly not.

[foursocks]

I’ve brought horses from never showing to showing many times by myself, and it’s really satisfying, for sure. However, having a pro habituate a young or green one to showing can be so valuable, especially if its ammy owner has show nerves themselves, or wants the horse to get in the ring for some really confidence-building rounds. Or maybe the greenness is little too much for everyone at first. Again, because we are ammies and we do ammy things sometimes.

One of the things that I appreciated about both of my current guys is that they came to me as still young and somewhat green but had been shown by a pro (they were sales horses) extensively over the previous year or so. Consequently both have always been great at shows because they were produced as show horses and they know the job. I have benefitted from this so many times- especially with my newest guy as he is a complete airhead by nature and I don’t need extra things to deal with at shows outside of his normal “I see dead people and they are trying to murder me” routine!

Anyway, again: everyone has different comfort levels, different skill levels, different horses, and different everything. None of us knows exactly what other situations are but our own. I can promise you, though, that when I’m in the middle of big combination and my horse is trying to run away from whatever monsters he sees, I’m sometimes wishing someone else was up there instead of me!

[endlessclimb]

@fivestrideline

Trail access - even haul in - is a luxury in many parts of the country!

This makes me sad. I know people will haul hours to a show because it’s fun for them, the human. Are they willing to haul the same distance/time for a trail ride, because it’s good for their horse? I’d hope so, but I’m guessing like you said, just going to shows is pretty common.

[albytb]

In my opinion, the majority of these horses that are “wild” off property are often poorly managed/suffering from welfare issues at home.

[skydy]

I’d tell her just what you said here. “I feel my horse goes better when you have ridden vs assistant. Will you please do the rides at the upcoming show? Show is expensive and I really want my horse and myself to get the best experience from it.”

If unavailable, ask about rescheduling for a show where she can ride, if it is very important to you. You are a paying customer. Good luck!

[TWilson]

@Madison

I am baffled as to why so many people on this thread want to foist their preferred approach on others. You do you, and if you are happy, great. But there is no one size fits all solution, and (generally) no reason to judge what works best for someone else and their horse even if it wouldn’t be your preferred way.

Exactly. Some people here are going to lose their everloving minds when they find out that there are people out there who buy horses and don’t ride them themselves AT ALL, and instead pay professionals to ride and show them ALL THE TIME, EVERY TIME. Oh, the horrors!!

[findeight]

I trail rode my show Hunters around the home barns 200 acres and galloped around most of the KHP CC course on non show days, with trainers blessing. She said “don’t jump anything but look at whats on the landing side before you do it anyway” .

I still had a Pro do a Low before the first class of my Division for a little fine tuning for horse and confidence boost for moi. Not only do I ride differently at home then at the show, I ride differently from outside the ring at the show to inside the show ring. Over fences anyway. Flat I don’t need any help and trainer often was within watching distance but not ringside, I got put on other horses for just flat classes sometimes, that I was good at with no nerves.

Whatever works for you and that horse is the best choice and there is no need to defend whatever you choose.

[SonnysMom]

I started my riding at about age 12. It was a “Fun on Horseback” program. It was run by a foxhunter. All the horses were TBs. No ponies. Ring was 1/2 a mile to the barn. The hack there was the warm-up/cool-down. About 1/2 way through the summer the lessons were all on trails including small jumps, some man-made, some wind-falls.
That being my back-round I am very confident trail riding, and jumping non-related distances cross-county. Jumping show hunter with related distances in a ring is a totally different animal for me. I really hate hunter warm-ups. I am better at eventing warm-ups.
I personally think it is good for my horse to have different people ride him, both schooling at home, and showing away from home. I think it helps them develop a tolerance to difference types of riding in case I have to ever sell him or re-home him.
Different strokes for different folks.