TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU SUCCEED

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Collation of Photos of Success in the Ring with Bergman Equestrian Horses

Photographs by Author with the exception of top right photo ©Mary-Anne Noble and top left photo ©Equi-graphics (Used with Permission) First impressions are so important and so is showmanship. Both you and the horse must present and perform well. If you practice and practice at home, then you will deliver a polished performance in the ring. I cannot emphasize this enough. Even 20 minutes a day or every second day helps to achieve flawless routines and the horse will know what is expected. Preparation at home also includes grooming, rugging and feeding your horse correctly as it all contributes to the way your horse is presented. Helpful links: Grooming advice: https://whiteroseequestrian.com/grooming-a-horse/ Rugging advice: https://activeequine.com.au/blogs/blog/rugging-horses-in-australia-selecting-the-right-rugs-for-the-right-conditions All your gear (tack) should be clean but it also must fit your horse properly. I have a rule that every horse must have saddles fitted by a qualified saddle fitter. If your horse has been fitted properly with a saddle then it will be comfortable and it won't cause pain, (which I have seen result in a horse that doesn't buck, then buck in the arena). Your gear must be in line with the rules of the particular event you are competing in. For example, in Hunter (English show) or Hunter Under Saddle (Western show) classes you must have a plain browband on your bridle, but in hacking classes you can have a fancy browband. The same goes for what you need to wear in different disciplines and classes, so please check the particular rule book. I will explain a pretty wacky example ... if you are at a western show and it is run under Australian Quarter Horse Association rules you have to wear a black or white shirt only in Hunter In Hand classes, however, at a western show run under the Paint Horse Association of Australia, they use the same rules as agricultural shows and you can wear any colour shirt in Hunter In Hand classes. So please consult the rules that the event is being run under as you don't want to practice hard and get to an event and then be disqualified from the class because you have the incorrect coloured shirt on. Make sure if you are wearing a competitor number on the back of your shirt/jacket, that your hair doesn't get in the way of the judge reading the number. If you are showing more than one horse, make sure you walk into the class with the correct number on you or your horse otherwise you will be eliminated. If you are unsure of rules for events you are nominated in, please contact the Show Secretary for assistance or on the day, the Ring Steward.