by Susan Dudasik
Finally, the waiting is almost over and show season is rapidly approaching. Now it’s time to get your horse tuned up and ready to go.
But there’s more to having a good season than just getting your horse ready. Planning ahead and getting organized can reduce many of the headaches that occur while showing.
Planning for a successful season should start six to eight weeks before the first show. To begin with, make an appointment with your veterinarian for shots and de-worming.
Don’t wait until the week before to have this done. Some horses may have an allergic reaction to shots and could swell up or go off their feed.
If hauling out of province, make sure your paperwork is in order.
Next, call the blacksmith and have your horse’s hooves taken care of. If you had his shoes pulled for the winter, his hooves may be cracked and split. By having the hooves checked early, there’s still time for them to grow in or be corrected. Early shoeing also allows your horse to re-adjust to wearing shoes.
Don’t forget your trailer. Haul it out and go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Check all floorboards, brakes, lights, latches, and tires. All snaps, release snaps, and butt chains should be checked for wear and lubricated. Be sure there’s air in the spare and a lug wrench that fits.
A first aid kit, extra halter, bucket, and five gallons of water should be in the tack compartment. A copy of your Coggins Test, health and registration papers should also be somewhere in your trailer.
Haul out last year’s show tack and harness and give it a good cleaning. Clean the blankets and day sheets. Re-fit all tack and harnesses ahead of time.
Most horses are fatter at the beginning of the season and youngsters tend to out-grow their show halters and harnesses. Re-adjusting tack at home can prevent frustration and missed classes.
Try out any new equipment before show day. I bought a pair of long fringed chaps and, not wanting to mess them up, put them on for the first time just before our class. My horse had never felt the fringe and it tickled her as I used my leg cues. Each time I cued her, she would flinch from them. After the first class, she was fine, but I blew that first class.
If you drive, go over your vehicle. Be sure all wheels are in good shape and not about to fall off. Check the shafts for cracks or other signs of wear. Recheck the repair kit and replace any missing parts. This can prevent a mishap at the show.
A pre-season check also applies for riders. We tend to gain weight over the winter, and children grow. Pull out your hats and boots and give them a good cleaning. Check all clothes for signs of wear, tears, and missing buttons. Trying on show clothes beforehand can prevent an embarrassing scene at the show.
Organize your grooming supplies. Be sure there’s plenty of shampoo, hoof polish, rub rags, and fly spray. Don’t wait until the night before to discover your bottle of hoof polish has dried out or your rub rags are dirty.
Double-check all club memberships and registration papers. Many clubs require membership to compete for year-end awards. Don’t wait until the last show of the season to discover that your club never received your membership cheque.
Make sure you have the correct papers on new horses and that they have been transferred into your name. This is your responsibility, not the show committee’s.
One good way to get a jump on the show season is to have an “end of season” day. When you finish showing for the year, set aside a weekend to pack up your equipment. Clean your hats and store them in hat boxes. Wash and check your clothes and tack.
This way you can use those boring winter days to leisurely make any necessary repairs. Also, by going over clothes and tack then, you’ll have all winter to comparison shop and take advantage of winter sales.
If you won’t be using your trailer over the winter, wash it out. Clean bins of grain and hay, lift all rubber mats and clean out the tack compartment. Empty all water jugs and move any grooming liquids and first aid supplies to a warm place, because they may freeze and explode. Another good way to save money and avoid the pre-season rush is by having mechanical and bodywork done over the winter.
By getting organized before the rush and excitement of show season, you can eliminate much of the stress and frustration of showing and have more time enjoying yourself and your horse.
