I was wondering if anybody could give me some advice. I have been riding for many years and have competed with my horse on the hunter circuit, USAE, etc. I just recently purchased a nice QH mare (Bett Ohio/Impressive bred) and along with showing her in the hunters, I want to try out some QH circuit shows. Does anybody have any advice about what's a good way to get started, tips on things that are different, or any other useful info? Thanks so much!
Answers:
First off...welcome to the AQHA world!..First things first, get your membership (you must have a valid membership %26 have your horses valid papers listing you as the owner)...also make sure you have a current coggins..they are really starting to enforce that hard..read your rule book for the classes that you are going to be participating in..learn what the judges guidlines for judging are %26 what they are looking for to give you that little "extra something". Also learn what the big No No's are that will get you DQ'd or takin out of the placings. Pay close attention to your guidlines on tack..especially bits..AQHA is alot more restrictive on what bits you can use verses USAE shows. Another thing is go to a show before you haul in %26 just sit %26 watch your classes..see how they are run %26 judged. Go %26 talk to people too..introduce yourself so that you can recognize people %26 not feel so alone. Do your research too..go to AQHA's website %26 get caught up on whats going on within the breed...the more you know the more prepared you will be. Most importantly, have fun!..you are getting involved with a great breed %26 some great people. Kick back %26 enjoy your expierence..you might make some great friends in the process!..good luck with everything %26 if your at shows on the East Coast come look me up!
I have shown Paints for years at Open shows in both Western and English events. Last year I decided that I was going to go for the Paint Breed shows, so I sold my horses and bought a new one with the talent to go higher up.
Somehow I thought I could take the nice new horse and just head right off to the APHA shows, but it doesn't work that way. Almost everything about the right look at Breed level is just slightly different than at the Open show level. The headset, the gaits (I'm surprised how much slower they want an English trot at APHA shows than they do at Open shows) the way your present them, the way you groom them (The tail extensions take a bit of practice) I could not do it on my own, even though I'm a good rider and do train my own green horses and the new horse I bought already has been successful with her past owner.
So I would suggest for you one thing - find a GOOD AQHA trainer that shows on the QH circuit, and then haul your horse to them. Either put your horse in training with them briefly, and come to lessons as much as you can, or else haul your horse for lessons as frequently as possible. They can give you tips that you won't learn by just watching, and they'll save you alot of time, disappointment and worthless work! I have been hauling to a top AQHA trainer this month and the progess me and my horse have made is excellent.
Good luck and have fun. And don't be scared to try something new!
Heres a really good website...
http://www.aqha.com/showing/guidetoshowi...
You should really also consult this too
http://www.aqha.com/association/registra...
get a trainer. with out a trainer it is really hard to go anywhere on the quarter horse circuit. even if your horse is well trained and you ride well, a trainer will help you with all the little details that you would never think of, but really matter. A trainer is also good for political reasons, it is hard to place without a well known trainer. AQHA is very political, if you are with a well known trainer, you will do better.
make sure every detail of your presentation is perfect, if you arent with a trainer, go to some shows and look at what everyone else is doing, and copy them. trust me, if your hair is done wrong, or you are wearing the wrong thing, or some other little detail identifies you as being out of place, you will not do well. even something like having the wrong kind of helmet can get you ignored.
tips for huntseat-
-get a saddle pad with the number pockets
-wear your hair tucked under your helmet, if you absolutly cant do this, wear it in a neat little bun.
-your horse needs a fake tail.
-braid your horses mane in very neat, tiny braids. use yarn and a latch hook insted of rubber bands.
-tailored sportsmen breaches are a must.
-horses going at a really slow pace is very out of fashion right now, have your horse going at a forward pace, with its head down but not peanut rolling, and its nose should be slightly poked out, have light contact on your reins but not as much as you would for hunter/jumpers.
-have fun, quarter horse people can be vicious (like any type of show). if you do well people will say nasty things about you, if you dont do well people will be mean anyway. just ignore all the politics.
some bigger shows, like the congress, will have no problem kicking you out of the arena basicly the second you walk in if you look to be out of place or they find something questionable about you or your horse. At the congress there was a girl there that rode well but not great, her horse wasnt very fancy (she was like good 4-H rider, nothing more), they let her go around the arena once then opened the gait and sent her out... don't worry about this kind of thing at your local circuit shows, they arn't as strict. I'm just mentioning this so you know not to try bigger shows until you are ready.
So heres your best bet.Go watch some breed shows I think with your background and of course becoming a member and reading the rule( they are important so yes read them) you'll do just fine.
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