How much training until your first show?

This is a question for everyone...How much training did have until you competed in your first show? By "show", I mean something small, as in on-site or a local fair. I start riding again in a couple of months, and instead of riding English like I used to, I'm going Western to switch things up. I haven't ridden Western since I was maybe 11 years old, and I'm 23 now, so I'm basically starting from scratch. If I do enter any shows though, it would purely be for the fun of it. I don't care about ribbons and trophies, and I don't plan on going to the big leagues

I did my first western show 2 months after I started getting professional lessons. I rode western already on my farm, but I decided I wanted to start showing. Just be prepared for anything at shows. Get your horse used to the show atmosphere would be my best tip.
I trained a lot for my first local show. I rode or practiced showmanship everyday. I wanted everything to be perfect but it was a disaster. The mare I was showing spooked at a noise in the arena, and started running around me and rearing.
But don't let that put you off. Just train a lot, make sure you are competent cause its easy to over-estimate your skill level and have fun.

I'd been riding for 4 years before I started to show.

I didn't show until I had been riding for almost 20 years. I did some fun shows and gymkhana when I was much younger but no real shows until I was already in my 20's and I have been riding my whole life.

I think that you should be able to show whenever you feel that you're ready. You can only improve by getting in the ring and learning what it is you need to work on.

I showed a lot when I was young, my mom just threw me in the ring and I learned from our mistakes (mostly because we couldn't afford a trainer and it was just 4H shows). However, I think you learn quicker that way too - and then you've got something to keep you busy to practice with until the next show!

I think that's how I'm going to go about doing it too. Being thrown into situations, whether I was ready for them or not, has always been the best method for me. Thanks

Getting out there and just doing it is a great way to get experience. But make sure you at least have a knowledge of the classes, and how to deal with sticky situations. Other than that, have fun and tell us how you go.

Whether I win or lose horribly, I'll be just as excited haha I'll definitely be on here sharing my experiences

my very first schooling show i had ridden the horse for like 2 years. i had no desire to show. on jasper i rode him 2 months bought him and 2 days later we went to a fair