Photo Credit James Bernard

_{I am proud of the things I do myself.  I am proud to speak to strangers and make them feel welcome shows, and am sorry if I ever say anything to people that doesn't make them feel that way.  Horse shows are about fun and your personal goals.  Don't let the thought of where you "should" be distract you from that!}

I have spent most of my life around various kinds of horse people.  My horses are at the center of everything I do, and most of my friends have became my friends through one aspect of the industry or another.  In my thirty some years of various conversation, the topic of the lack of welcoming at various levels of horse shows has come up more than once.

I've heard so many people say that breed show people are rude.  Open show people are nicer.  You don't need fancy clothes.  You don't need to wash your horse.  You don't HAVE to do anything at open shows.  Well the fact is, you don't HAVE to do any of those things - EVER.  People don't HAVE to be nicer anywhere - EVER.

Last weekend at an open show just a few miles from the house I own, I had my filly that I have mostly trained myself (she has lived at the trainer's though, and had professional training, just not the BULK of it!), a 17 year old Harris saddle, a used Kathy's halter that I bought from eBay 3 years ago, a work bridle (I do not own a show headstall), and a show pad I paid $50 for.  My filly's mane was banded, she'd been washed, and I hung her tail extension (that was given to me for Christmas by my mom who is a dealer).  I was wearing a hat I bought in 1999, a shirt I got at Goodwill for $3, and a pair of chaps that were given to me by a good friend.

I was told by one person very early in the day that I looked like I belonged at an AQHA show, not at this open show.  My shirt had no bling, was not a show shirt, and my ponytail was sticking straight away from my head.  The last place I wanted to be was an AQHA show.  Yet the words stung a bit.  I didn't fit in here....but without a trainer or more expensive outfits and tack, I didn't feel like I belonged at QH shows either.  But her mane was banded because I wanted it to be.  I like the way it looks!  The same goes for her tail extension.  I put on my chaps because I like the way it looks and I feel like it is respectful to do so.  I am not trying to be better than my open show friends.  I am just trying to be what I want to be

So with all this information and background...what's my point?  My point is that I don't let these "should be's" and stereotypes ruin my day.  I love my filly.  She tries and pleases me in almost every way.  My placings ranged from blue ribbons to a DQ, and I loved every minute of it.  Not one time did my filly not TRY to please me.  Our hold ups were lack of proper communication on my part, and I am constantly striving to fix those things.  I had a good time that day.  And last year when we went to the Turkey Circuit all alone (an AQHA show), I felt the same way. I am proud of the things I do myself.  I am proud to speak to strangers and make them feel welcome shows, and am sorry if I ever say anything to people that doesn't make them feel that way.  Horse shows are about fun and your personal goals.  Don't let the thought of where you "should" be distract you from that!

Like my blog?  Sign up for my newsletter!  It's a much smaller version that comes a few times a month and includes helpful tidbits on any topic I feel I know something about!

fun at horse shows

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you comment below and then subscribe to my RSS feed!