[QUOTE=KateKat;7654782]
I did HITS Thermal for the first time this year (as a rider, I’ve spectated before) and while it was an amazing experience and really fun, I don’t think I will ever ride there again.
Is it amazing being around such a large show with such a high caliber of rider and horse? Definitely. I mean a couple times I had some big name international riders in the ring with me and that was pretty cool. Also, the show was very well run and the back gate really kept people moving through in my rings however because there are SO many rings going on across hunter and jumper land, as well as SO many classes, one day I had about a 6 hour break between my divisions. Which made for a very long, hot day that I was not thrilled about.
But the things that you’re asking about-the waiting around, the huge divisions, etc I would definitely question if that’s something you want to deal with and if its worth your time/money given your horse and your goals. I was there during one of the slower weeks (right before the week break) and even then, many of my classes had 40+ people in them. The 1.20m and up were still pretty packed though-one my trainer did had about 80+ people in it. Also, I don’t show much and in general, I show for fun and not to be super competitive. Well, even in the lower divisions the classes were set pretty solid with tight time allowed so I only made it into the jump off in a handful, and didn’t place at all! :lol:
So based on my goals as a rider and especially if I had a young/green horse from now I will just stay local. There are so many good, well run facilities/shows where I could get miles. The cost of getting down to Thermal was about equivalent of doing two week long local shows for me.[/QUOTE]
I totally agree… It’s all about your goals. I took my horse there as a 4 year old (and in years after that) and it was a great experience for him… Because he was learning how to be a show horse on the circuit. He warmed up in the morning, went back to the barn for a bath, snack, and (depending on the classes for the day) to be braided. Then we’d go up when it was time to do our trips, come back and cool off again (a hose off and some hand grazing) and then head up for our flat (if we were doing the hunters or EQ). Were there days towards the end of the weeks when he thought he shouldn’t have to go up to hack because he preferred eating grass? Of course! But that was just part of him learning how to show and do his job. Ten years later, I know I can take him anywhere and he’s going to be patient, respectful, and try his best whether or not his classes are back to back or the first and last of the day 
Don’t get me wrong, the horse is spoiled rotten (the amount of fussing and fawning over him that goes on at the shows borders ridiculous sometimes), but it’s only because he’s such a good guy who does his job with no fuss.
Even a stall shower I think.