Knight and I had a great time a week ago at his third horse show. The first time we showed it was a bit of a fiasco, the second time we showed it got better. This was our best show to date. He was calm. I was calm. Everyone around us was calm. We entered an English Pleasure class which was interesting since I misinterpreted the judge’s instructions about cantering.
For newer blog readers unfamiliar with my horse or people who are not acquainted to the ways of the Thoroughbred, they’re lovely animals but can be sensitive (i.e., nervous/spooky/fast/prancing/headflipping/dancing).
Saying he was calm is saying a lot.
I rode in two equitation classes (flat) and was thrilled to get a second out of about five in the first one, especially since the judge hated us all and made us sit the trot for what felt like an eternity.
I don’t often sit the trot. It’s not very fun on this horse. Bouncy, bouncy.
I can manage for several strides and then I feel floppy and jarred like my boot or boots will dive through the stirrup–all the way to the heel. I don’t like that feeling so when I practice at home (not in a lesson) I trot for maybe 15 seconds and think, “That’s probably good enough,” and then I go to a glorious walk or maybe a fun canter.
The last class of the day was English pleasure. I have a faint memory of riding in this type of class when I was in 4-H back in the day. When Madonna was just starting her career and nobody that I knew had a computer at their house.
I know “pleasure” means the judge is looking at the horse, analyzing if the horse is a pleasure to ride. The judge won’t ask for a sitting trot (Hallelujah!) and I could bounce and flap around and as long as my horse looked good, it wouldn’t matter.
We began our class just fine tracking to the left. There were about five other riders. We walked in a relaxed fashion, then trotted and everything was great. The canter started perfectly until a man stationed at the rail about 20 feet from us took a picture using a flash and it caught my attention and Knight’s attention and he broke to a trot for a few strides.
Part of me wondered if the guy was intentionally trying to distract horses so his daughter or student could win. Who uses a flash on a sunny day in an outdoor arena?
(Seriously, if you’re a photographer reading this, why would someone use a flash on a sunny day outside?).
I hoped the judge saw the photographer’s shenanigans and realized my horse picked up his canter again with no trouble–such a pleasure to ride.
The announcer told us to walk and then, “Riders, walk on a loose rein.” So we did that. Knight stretched his head and neck down.
“Riders, reverse on a loose rein at the walk.” No problem. We did a half turn looping back to the rail to track right.
“Riders, canter please. Canter your horses.”
Let’s pause for a moment. What would you do in this situation?
I felt there were only two options:
1. pick up the reins to proper canter length and canter OR
2. canter on a loose rein because “loose rein” was in the judge’s last set of instructions.
I was confused but went for Option 2 and began to canter on a loose rein. I recalled that as I entered the arena my trainer said for me to sit tall and upright and to get Knight to travel long and low. He travels long and low when on a loose rein so I must be doing the right thing.
Okay, so I did pick up about an inch or two of rein before our canter departure, but the reins were still unnaturally long for an English-style horse.
I was confused, but having fun. As I rode past my trainer I asked, “Am I supposed to be cantering on a loose rein?” She said no.
I’m not sure why I found this funny, but after I gathered up my reins and kept striding down the long side past the judge, I began to crack up. Literally. I couldn’t help myself from laughing aloud. Not a soft giggle, but a full-fledged series of guffaws.
We were told to walk and line up and I had no visions of blue. Or red, or yellow. I got a white ribbon, 4th place out of five. Not bad considering the rider error and breaking the canter. It always feels good not coming in last place. Although I someday want to get 8th place because I really like brown ribbons. They’re pretty and remind me of chocolate.
Comments: Have you ever been in a horse show and misinterpreted what the announcer told you to do? Or maybe you have a non horse-related embarrassing moment you would be kind enough to share. Thank you for your support, and thanks for reading!
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I'm Susan and this is my horse Knight. We have been a blogging team since 2015 and we're glad you're here. Tally ho!
I don’t remember mishearing anything. But i’ve taken my ex racer in hand showing this year and he goes lovely and round, calm ect.
The problem I have is I can’t see over him to see/hear if the judge is calling us in or not! Had “the big chestnut” shouted at me a few times! And i’m 5″7, so not exactly short!!
That’s hilarious. “Big Chestnut!” I’m sure there are more of those in the same class with you.
So far at local shows we have been far the biggest! He is creeping towards 17h now I think!
Wow, only a strange person would photograph with the flash on in an outdoor arena. How bizarre. As far as show funnies, at my first jumper show I forgot the course but I wanted to make sure I didn’t cross my path so I took some weird out of ordinary way to remember my next jump. But hey, it worked!
As long as it worked and horse and rider stayed upright, it’s all good!
Love this. I’ve misheard the announcer before and not heard it at all once or twice. It’s annoying. I will forever think of the 8th place as the chocolate ribbon now. lol.
I think I might have earned a chocolate ribbon back in the 90s. I can’t remember. Too long ago. It’s time for more. Or real chocolate–even better.
aw sounds fun! and how nice to walk away from the show feeling like the biggest mistakes were actually pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things and could easily affect any horse/rider pair. glad Knight was so relaxed!! and yea… i’ve definitely made my share of errors in front of a judge – i feel like flat classes particularly lend themselves to the comedic effect haha
I was at a show once where it was super windy, which made it hard to hear the announcer call the instructions when at the far end of the arena. Apparently they called for a sitting trot but I (and about half the class) only vaguely heard the “trot” part of the instruction and did a posting trot. As we went around, I could see about half the class sitting the trot and had a sneaking suspicion that something was off. This was confirmed as we trotted past my trainer and I asked if we were supposed to be sitting trot. She said yes. Fortunately (or unfortunately!), so many people had misheard, they asked for posting trot and then had us sitting trot again.
Haha! So for the flash thing, there is a reason to use it. If it’s a very bright day and the thing you are shooting is very dark (like a dark horse), photographers will use a “fill flash”. This flash will help the harsh shadows of a high sun, and fill in the dark areas on their dark subject!
Thank you for clarifying. I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone trying to “play dirty” at a local schooling show, but I have heard crazy horse show stories from the 60s-70s in Chicago. People are nuts and go to terrible lengths when being competitive. Sometimes.
From the title, I really thought this was going to go somewhere along the lines of your ottb racing off. It’s nice to read about a nice, calm horse. I do wish the rules in hunter were more clear. I never feel like I know what I’m doing.
My gelding is so mellow. It’s wonderful. My previous TB was little nutty at times. On the hotter side.
I would have done the exact same thing! Sounds like Knight was extra knightly at the show 🙂 A OTTB cantering on a loose rein could be a recipe for disaster with some OTTBs!
I would of went with option 2 also so don’t feel bad 🙂
One time I did an entire equitation pattern sideways. Yep, SIDEWAYS.