Would you take a horse to a show knowing full well they had no chance of placing?

[Elsiecat]

What about competing when you know YOU full well you have no chance of placing?
I don't do showing but we have been known to go to dressage for a nice day out. It's a lovely hack there, we get to get poshed up and we like the chips at the show ground. We probably look a right mess, from arriving dressed as a radioactive banana, to entering the ring doing our (not very convincing) impression of someone who looks smart. I don't expect to place, I've half considered not bothering to collect our score sheet, but Grace likes shows, I like dressing up, we both like exploring and we both like chips. Win win win win!

 

[Hen]

Go for it, it's all good experience if it's a positive one. And sometimes just being at in a show environment can bring out the hidden 'show horse' - I took a gelding to a season's shows thinking we'd just trundle along for the fun of it and he loved it, brought out all his charisma and 'look at me' side of his nature and we did really well, it was a great laugh!

 

[Fjord]

I've frequently entered dressage knowing full well we'd come last! As long as I stay on and can leave the arena smiling I consider it a bonus. I have apologised to the judge on the way out before now, she was wetting herself laughing at my little mare's temper tantrum right in front of her.

We went to a small SJ comp once, I nearly hyperventilated before I went in, they stopped counting the faults and I got a 'well done for getting round' when we eventually finished. We were dreadful but I'm glad we did it.

Go, smile lots and enjoy yourselves, no matter where you come.

 

[ConnieLove]

I pretty much know I'm not going to get placed, but I set goals on going clear or just good behavior. I know, low standards, but I'd get super competitive if I'd let myself, then it would ruin the fun part for me and my OH just going out and about.

Admittedly, I still can be a diva at times though

 

[TelH]

I'm not sure.

(I cant get over this, sorry, but - I once got placed behind an arab in mountain and moorland. I also got asked BY THE JUDGE if my new forest was a section b, when I said "no shes new forest" she asked me where she was from.. there was no polite way of replying "the new forest..")

A judge told me my Forester was a sec B once She is Forest bred from the Mockbeggar line and is branded with the letter B in a circle on her saddle area. A judge once told me that meant she was a Welsh sec B and he knew that cos he bred sec Bs

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Because I have that many different ones to show, if I am only taking one then I will pop a youngster in the box for the day out. I'm not a huge fan of entering if I know the result before I go so I save my money on an entry fee, the pony gets an education and my other one that is there competes. I regularly abuse my shetlands and chuck them in the box to keep the tb's quiet. Though there really is nothing more infuriating that when your tb goes absolutely foot perfect but gets put way down the line due to dodgy judging and the shetland saves the day by being entered in a random class for the lack of other entries in it, winning and usually getting a bloomin championship placing to boot! Lol! It's always the ones you least expect to do well that do at local level lol!

 

[Hippona]

I once got placed down the line because my D didn't have a flashy enough action.
Fair point.
Except it was a Highland....
Gave up on local/club level showing at that point...
I now have an arab that has done county in the past. Might enter him in a M&M and see what happens lol

 

[cambrica]

The lottery of local showing - you never know! Especially in the M&M classes. I've seen NF and welsh C's mixed up, rarely can judges tell the difference between Dales and Fell and one judge commented quite loudly "Oooh I do like my Section A's (after placing them 1,2 &3)
The worst comment I had years back with my old sec D was that had there of been a class for the horse that looks most like its owner I would have won as we had the same colour hair
Its great experience for any horse though and I thoroughly enjoy it so give it a go

 

[Kallibear]

Does this look like a rossette winning horses?! He looked so scrawny having not long arrived from Ireland, where he lived rough like cattle.

We go for the experience. Showing is a great chance for them to see the world even if showing isn't your eventual aim. It's a more sedate affair than taking them to say a jumping comp for experience and even good prep for going hunting etc. There's so much useful stuff they can learn during the whole process, inc bathing, loading and travelling, standing tied up, other horses, strange people the list goes on and on.

 

[flirtygerty]

I think that's a unamious yes, years ago I bred Manx cats, one I had just had to turn up to win 1st, one memorable time on the journey, she messed in her basket, cue bathing a cat in a services wash basin, she still won, it got boring.
This year I intend to get my lad to a show, he's no particular breed, but I think he's gorgeous and so does he, so it should be fun, he loves going to new places and nothing phases him so why not

 

[noodle_]

Yes of course I would, and I do Youngsters have to start somewhere and even if the pony isn't up to the calibre it will be great experience for it.

this ^^^


ive been told my youngster would be good for showing - i honestly cba with the prep etc (and totally admire those that do it all)! but im taking her anyhow for some experience...!

my last horse was NOT a show horse but i dont go to win - i go to have a good time!! good time we did when i regularly came 4 out of 4!..

 

[YorksG]

Absolutely worth a go, my girl loves a party She doesn't get dressage, as she is convinced that we should always gallop down the long side in an indoor school I spent a fortune this summer, hired a waggon, paid for the diesel to get it home (about 50 miles) then paid for the diesel to get to the venue (about 70 miles away) entries etc, just for the day out I had no expectation of anything, just hoped that the girl would behave. We got a first and a second and the judge asked us to make sure that we went back in to the championship, but we had to come home as they were running so late. I am sure she did so well as she decided that I had finally worked it out and let her gallop down the long side

 

[Moomin1]

Absolutely!!

A day out at a show is a good day!

I took my girl to our first show together last summer, fully expecting not to get one frilly, and she did really well!

 

[MileAMinute]

My pony isn't bred well (Beeston reject!) and I know he isn't the same as all these prefixed show ponies out there but I took him to his first 2 shows last year and he managed to do me proud - we weren't in the red but I couldn't give a damn.

He was only just 3 and tried his very best so he was a winner in my eyes