Everything HORSES!

Who said horse back riding was easy? This is the first year I have been surrounded by a group of talented and dedicated equestrians, who have a passion for all things "horses". 

This section of our blog will be dedicated to them and their love of this graceful, yet powerful creature. Please join me in celebrating their hard work and writing, as we see the world through the eyes of an equestrian. 

Best in Show

By: Jodie 

              Have you ever yearned for the thrill in riding in a horse show? I’m very lucky and able to compete at various shows often. A horse show is an event in which horses and ponies compete, whether jumping, modeling, or showing on the flat. When I say modeling, I mean when the rider takes off the horse’s saddle and wraps, and then trots the horse or pony into the ring to show off his or her conformation. The judge checks for health, shininess of its coat, and lots more. You do not ride in a model class. When you show on the flat, it means you go in the ring and walk, trot, and canter in both directions in front of the judge. In a flat class, there are usually 10-30 competitors… It just depends on the competition.

            In the beginning of February, I took part in the HITS (Horse Shows in the Sun) Thermal Desert Circuit Two. I didn’t go to school on Friday (sorry Mrs. Coro!!) and drove a little past Palm Springs where the showground was. It had been raining VERY hard on the day and the days before the show, and we were a little nervous that it would be too slippery to ride. We arrived at the show at about 2:00 P.M. and soon realized that my first class was in 15 minutes! I rushed to change and only had a few minutes to warm up! I might not have ridden, except I strongly felt that it would be good practice if I didn’t make the time frame. Soaked to the skin in my drenched riding jacket, my new velvet helmet getting matted down, the conditions weren’t great but it proved to be amazing! Show attire consists of show pants, a long, silky, specified show shirt, and a riding coat which is generally black or gray. You must tuck in your shirt with a belt. One of the most embarrassing things is when you forget to tuck it in and it makes you look sloppy.

                  It proved to be a good idea that I decided to take part of the competition of Friday, because I pulled away with a champion ribbon, two blue ribbons, some other places, and my name in a magazine! My champion was in the Schooling Pony Hunters. There are three major parts of Hunter/Jumper shows. There is the Hunter division, the Jumper division, and the equitation division. The hunter division is based on if your horse has impeccable conformation, immaculate grooming done, and the distance you choose to jump the jump. The Jumper division is not if your horse is pretty or not, it is judged on how many faults you pick up and your time. Equitation is based on if you have good form as a rider, if you have heavy or light hands, and your attire. Trust me, they do not judge easily! On Saturday, I was just ok. I picked up a couple of good ribbons, and I was proud of my perfect pony, Milka, that she didn’t go crazy that rain was pounding in her face and all over her. Practically everyone that was at the show was cramped under this little tent to prevent themselves from getting soaked! Sunday dawned cold and gloomy, but it was not raining! I showed in the USEF (United Stated Equestrian Federation) Pony Medal and won it! That qualifies me for the USEF Pony Medal Finals at the end of the show season. Also, during the show I qualified myself for the Pony Finals in Kentucky during the summer! I just have a feeling that I’m not going, but I’ll have to see.

                       I hope that it doesn’t sound like I’m bragging, and I also hope that you have learned a lot and have been motivated to start riding yourself! Thanks to my mom for making my show career happen!