A good time to talk about horse shows and a show bill is in April because a lot of show series start in May.
If you’re working with a group of horseless horse kids, they’ll probably have a hard time understanding what a show is about unless they go to see one and see how they work. It would be a great idea to meet at a horse show too.
For the kids who are lucky enough to have a horse to show, get their parents involved in this lesson so they know what to do at the show too!
Start with the Show Bill
Everyone needs to understand what a show bill is and what everything on it means.
The parts of a show bill include:
- Organization putting on the show
- Show date
- Start time
- The Judge
- Rules
- Fees
- Class list
- Organization Putting On The Show
Organization Putting on the Horse Show
Lots of different organizations put on horse show like 4-H, horse and pony clubs, and non-profit horse related organizations like therapy facilities.
Show Date(s) and Location
This the date of the show. If it’s a multi-day show, then all the dates will be listed on the show bill. They will also have the show location listed on the page.
Start Time
It’s important to know what time the show starts so you know what time that you have to be ready by. Often times, the show will start with showmanship classes and it can take anywhere from 1-2 hours to get yourself and the horse ready.
The Judge
The judge or judges will always be listed on the show bill. Sometimes, people will decide not to go to a particular show because of a judge or they will make a special trip to a show if they like the way that a particular judge judges.
Rules
Each organization has their own set of rules. These are important to read through because they will tell you any special rules for the show grounds, whether or not dogs are allowed, what attire you should be wearing for the show, what show rules are being followed, and what to do if you encounter any problems. They might not have all these things included but if the information is on there, they expect you to read through it.
Fees
The most common fees are office fees, stall fees, and class fees. Sometimes there will be something like an annual membership fee that you have to pay once a year or an additional fee if you aren’t a member of the organization putting on the show. These prices can all vary depending on the show.
Class List
The biggest question I get asked is: What is a class?
The easiest way to explain it is a group of people who are doing the same thing.
For example, if the class is “walk trot western pleasure 3rd-5th grade”, then 3rd through 5th graders who ride walk trot in western pleasure would all take their horse into the ring at the same time.
Most classes last about five minutes but this will vary depending on what class it is and how many people are participating.
For a typical, local show, there’s usually around 50 classes. They are divided into the categories of:
- Halter
- Showmanship
- Driving
- English
- Western
- Trail
- Speed
Horsemanship and Equitation classes tend to run the longest because there’s a pattern that each horse and rider have to perform. Trail classes are also done one horse and rider at a time so those classes can take a long time too.
Keep the Show Bill Handy When You’re At the Show
You will probably be looking at your show bill quite often so make sure to keep it nearby. You can use it to figure out how much time you should have to get ready before your next class. The only caveat to doing that is that sometimes they combine classes for various reasons so you should always plan to be ready early.
The first time that someone picks up a show bill, it will look pretty daunting. As long as you explain it to the kids and their families ahead of time, they shouldn’t have a problem with it. Plus, it will get easier after each show.
More info about shows coming soon….
Click HERE for next month’s lesson!