First show this summer--need help!

So I have ny first show this summer at fair. Western on my gaited Paso Fino. I have a few questions.....do you salute the judges or acnowledge them in any way for Easy-Gaited Western Pleasure or Trail Class? How do you remember trail class patterns? If the judge asks you to reverse in WP, do you bring the horse down to a walk to reverse, and do you reverse to the inside or the outside? How soon after the judge gives the command? Thanks! I'm sure I'll think of more
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Can not help you with everything since I do not know about gaited rail classes so things might be different.

No saluting in rail classes.
In trail you do not salute so much as acknowledge the judge when they have excused you at the end and/or given you the ok to start (if that is the case with how your trail class is set up, if the ring master is taking care of those things then not necessary). A simple nod of the head works.

Remembering any pattern can be a challenge. You simply have to break it down into pieces and find a way that helps you remember where you are going and what you have to do where. Once you are there and the obstacles are all out I am guessing it will be easy for you.

Reversing is done at whatever gait you are doing when the judge asks you to reverse.
In most rail classes you always reverse to the inside. You reverse as soon as is safe for you to do so. Do not rush to reverse so it causes you to not make a smooth arc and return to the rail, but obviously you do not want to be going the wrong way when everyone else has completed their reverse.

Thanks. And how close should I stay to the rail?
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Where the normal track is.

Okay. Thanks!
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This depends on my horse's speed in relation to other horses in the class. We show a lot in Open shows, so you can get a variety of horses and paces within a gait. If we are traveling at the same pace or slower, I will keep my horse near the rail to let the faster horses go by on the inside. If we are one of the faster paced horses, I keep a little more away from the rail so we don't get boxed in and have to break gait. I have been in several classes with well over 20 riders and it can get very conjested at times. Think of it like a 6 lane freeway with the faster horses towards the inside of the arena. You need to find which "lane" you and your horse can maintain a consistent speed and not get into too much traffic so it causes problems.