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First Show.. HELP!

1K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Endless Journey Girl 
#1 ·
Ok so I entered my first schooling show in August, I'll be jumping 2ft, I entered two divisions, the 2ft division which consists of one under saddle class, and two over fences. I also entered the 2ft medal class. Can anyone tell me what to expect in the medal class? What kinds of things the judge will ask me to do? It's only at 2ft and it's a schooling show so I don't expect it to be extremely demanding but what are the usual things that are asked. Also any tips for showing? what to keep in mind while showing, I know equitation will be important because i'm in the hunder division. What is acceptable to wear to a schooling show and what isn't? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
#2 ·
I always dress in full attire no matter what show I go to. So you should dress appropriately (jacket, shirt, collar, stock tie - eh you dont NEED a stock tie, tall boots/short boots depending on age, if you have short boots you need garters, show helmet, gloves, wash and braid your horse.
 
#3 ·
Are you working with a trainer? Or know anyone who shows where you are? Schooling shows are different in different parts of the country so I'd try to find out what's considered normal at the shows by you. The schooling shows around here are on the more formal side. People wear either 1) Tall boots, breeches, show shirt, jacket, gloves. or if you're young enough 2) paddock boots, garters, jodhpurs, show shirt, jacket, gloves. Some shows are casual enough to allow half chaps, some aren't. Some shows expect braids, some don't. Some allow polo shirts instead of shirts/jackets but definitely not here!

As far as the medal class goes, this would be another place to ask a trainer! depends on the medal class. Some medal classes run like a classics class: you go in for your first round, they announce your score. then you go in for your second round, they announce your score. They take your average of the two and that's how they ribbon everyone. Most medal classes though, everyone has their first round. The judge calls back the top 6 or so riders for a "ride off". Generally the ride off is more complicated then then the first ride. Maybe the judge will ask you to halt on course, trot a fence, add an extra stride in a line, do a bending line or roll back. although I've been in some that were as simple as a stirrupless posting trot.
 
#4 ·
Ok great thanks, yea I think most of the girls wear paddock boots and half chaps, as long as they are cleaned up and looking nice. breeches, show shirt, and jacket although I don't think that gloves are mandatory. I think i'll ask my trainer about the show shirt and jacket though because i'd rather just do that instead of investing in a show shirt and jacket because I don't plan on doing a lot of showing. I also don't have a show helmet just a regular tipperary helmet think I'd get away with that? Maybe I could buy a cover for it if I need to?
 
#5 ·
I'd never even heard of a medal class before I entered it, I haven't got a clue what to expect and they've never had that division at the schooling shows at my barn before as far as I know. So I don't know what to expect, i'll have to ask my instructor about it I think. But can anyone tell me about some of the medal classes they've done and what they had to do?
 
#6 ·
I haven't done a medal class but I'll tell you about one. The one I'm thining of had a normal course at first. Everyone did that. Then the judge called back his top four riders. Not sure if it's like this in every state, but here, the order that the judge calls the riders in the arena is backwards from the order he is thinking of placing them. I.E. the rider he thinks he wants to place in 4th he calls in first the rider in 1st is called in last. Anyway, then the judge will read the "work off" instructions. This particular one went something like this:

- Pick up the canter and jump fence 8 (from the original course)
- Canter fences 3 and 6
- After fence 6 come down to a sitting trot and halt in front of the other riders
- After the halt walk slowly back to your place in line

The judge read the directions twice and that was that. The riders could not have any contact with their trainer at all. They sat in the arena in a line and watched their opponents go one by one. The medal classes are a bit tricky because the judges can ask for a variation of a lot of things including trotting fences, halting after fences, counter canter, etc. Good luck and have a good time. Let us know how it goes.
 
#7 ·
Thanks a lot for the help :) They had a July show as well but I only entered the August one, so I went and watched some of the July one. It was a lot like you said, some trotting over fences cantering stuff like that. The schooling shows at my barn.. at least the summer one's are really small, it's mostly for people who are in the riding school. I think more people trailer their horses to the fall one though.
 
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