• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Care
  • News
  • Fun
  • Heartwarming
  • Videos
  • Rescue
  • Horse Fun
  • Tips For Riders
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Care
    • News
    • Fun
    • Heartwarming
    • Videos
    • Rescue
    • Horse Fun
    • Tips For Riders
    • Fun Facts
    • Stories
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Uncategorized

    5 Tips For Choosing The Best Shows To Attend This Year

    Modified: May 20, 2016 by ihearthorses · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Horse shows will be starting up any time now. If you love to compete, then you’ll need to carefully choose the shows that you wish to attend each year. Can’t decide which shows are right for you and your horse? Check out these tips for some help.

    Consider the Competition

    Image source: Kaur Lives via Flickr.com
    Image source: Kaur Lives via Flickr.com

    It’s important to pick a show which offers an appropriate competition level for you and your horse. There might be a local show with great classes, but which is so popular that the competition is stiff. In this case, traveling a bit to a different show might give you and your horse a better chance at success. Talk with your trainer about the competition levels at each show that you’re considering.

    Decide How Far You Want to Travel

    Image source: Joe Nuxoll via Flickr.com
    Image source: Joe Nuxoll via Flickr.com

    Next, decide how far you are willing to travel to a show. This factor will depend on whether you own your own horse trailer, your work schedule, your budget, and your competition goals.

    Remember, the farther a show is from your home, the more expensive it’s likely to be. A long trip requires extra gas to get there, as well as extra time. If the show is a multi-day show, you will need to pay for lodging for both your horse and yourself, which can significantly increase the cost.

    Look at the Dates

    Image source: Man Alive! via Flickr.com
    Image source: Man Alive! via Flickr.com

    Check the dates of the shows that you’re interested in against each other. Do you have conflicts with any of the dates, and will you have time to get your horse into shape before the first show? It’s best not to attend a show every weekend, since this can tire both you and your horse out. Try to establish a well-balanced schedule so that you can both enjoy the shows.

    Check Pricing

    Image source: Margaret Napier via Flickr.com
    Image source: Margaret Napier via Flickr.com

    Don’t forget to compare the pricing of each show against the others. Some shows may be quite affordable, while others may have higher entry fees, meaning that you can’t enter as many classes. Try to develop a show budget and make sure that you can stay within that budget as you choose your shows.

    Pick a Circuit

    Image source: bowdenartist via Flickr.com
    Image source: bowdenartist via Flickr.com

    One of the simplest ways to outline the shows that you will attend this year is to choose a show circuit and attend the shows offered. You can accumulate points toward year-end awards and will have a schedule of shows created automatically for you. Of course, you can also pick and choose which shows you want to attend, and may also want to try out multiple circuits. Just be sure to give your horse plenty of recovery time between shows so that he doesn’t get tired or burnt out.

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    How do you choose the horse shows that you’ll attend each year?

    More Uncategorized

    • Hand holding a carrot to horse
      40+ Tasty Fruits and Veggies That Are Safe to Feed Your Horse
    • The Proper Way To Sit On A Horse And Why It's Important
    • Single horse in the outback, in Brisbane - Queensland.
      7 Early Warning Signs of Laminitis in Horses
    • Nice thoroughbred horses in the stable. Youngsters in the barn
      The Legal Work Involved In Selling A Horse

    Sharing is caring!

    552 shares
    • Share552
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 10 Top YouTube Channels for Horse Lovers
    • 11 Horse Gadgets and Apps for Tech Lovers
    • 11 Surprising Christmas Ideas for Horse Lovers
    • 6 Of The Best Places to See Wild Horses in the US
    • 7 Top Podcasts for Horse Lovers (Trending Now)

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    552 shares
    • 552

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy