The excitement for our show season is building. Buds are popping on trees, horses are shedding ~10 pounds of hair a day, and we’re doing inventory about how much new stuff we need to buy for Riloh and Nik. Here in Minnesota, winters are lonnggg. The indoor arena at our barn is nice and big, so we have a good space to ride during our ridiculous number of cold months, but there’s still nothing better than a summer evening in the outdoor arena.
We’re part of a great regional horse show association called Red Pine Horse Show Association (RPHSA), which provides excellent quality schooling shows for riders and horses to learn and build confidence in the show ring. We’ve learned a lot competing in this circuit during the past two summers. As newbies, schooling shows are an excellent place to learn, and compared to rated shows, the fees are lower, the pressure is lower, the rules are a little looser, and the fun is still as great as you make it! We’re not really newbies anymore, but Riloh still wants to do mostly Red Pine shows this summer because of the community and camaraderie. We might do a rated show or two, but she not pushing to do that yet/ever, so we’re going to stay where we’re having fun.
Fun is always the goal. It can be hard to remember that when the alarm is going off at 4am and we’re facing another long day in 95 degree temps. Nikki might be in a mood (or Riloh might be in a mood)… or any of 1,000+ things could happen that could alter the course of a show day. But we keep putting in the work (and money) because of the fun parts and how great it feels to experience that fun with our horse friends.
Thought I’d post a few things from my horse to-do list and things I’m thinking about for show season…
- You need to register to be a member of RPHSA to be eligible for points and awards. You can be a junior, amateur or professional rider. Here’s the RPHSA show calendar.
- Riloh is a HOT person, so she wears a short sleeve white show shirt and a mesh blue blazer. She’s also very, errrr, “particular” about fit/feel… in other words, we’ve tried on A LOT of brands and styles. Her favorites are: Ariat Aptos show shirt and AA® Platinum Ladies’ MotionLite competition jacket. I’m also a fan of both; look great, fit great, wash great.
- Buy two fluffy white saddle pads. Last year I ordered a new one in April; shipping was delayed, so I bought another one locally. By the end of the summer I was very glad we started with two because one went missing. Also, put your name on stuff (duh). But, white — new white is so nice. Related, I discovered a soap that works amazing in my own washing machine. Yea, some weeks I do the horse laundry at home because sanity. Here’s how I do it:
- Get these things — Saddler’s Blanket Wash and Harrison Howard XL laundry bag.
- Use a dog brush to get most of the horse hair off the saddle pad. (Riloh’s job; AT BARN.)
- Put the pad in the laundry bag and a small amount of the soap in the bag. Zip it.
- Add the rest of the soap to the washing machine soap drawer/cup as usual. Do not use too much! TRUST ME.
- Air dry pad on a rack or outside in the sunshine. Make sure you lay the pad flat or hang over rail so it dries nicely.
- I’ve washed the fluffy white pads, colored pads, and a girth with this soap/bag. (I only put one pad in the bag at a time.) All have come out great. My washer is still in good shape too.
Fun links:
