How to Run a Horse Show Now that it’ s horse show season, I’ m being asked how to run a horse show.
For fourteen years, it was my privilege to manage the largest combination horse show and judging school in America. Out of this experience, I came to the conclusion that the philosophy, rather than the mechanics, is the most important thing.
The rule books— AHSA, state, and / or local— pretty much spell out the regulations governing the classes; and the numerous details relative to advertising, stabling, tickets, parking, concessions, etc. are much alike.
Here’ s my guiding philosophy: How to Kill a Horse Show 1. Conduct them to please the exhibitors— accede to all their demands and whims; the spectators“ be damned.”
2. Operate through committee action; always compromise, and never take a stand.
3. Don’ t hurry; never close the gate on a wealthy or influential patron, and let the show run for 3 to 4 hours— if they are true horse lovers they’ ll stay with you.
4. Give all halter and less glamourous classes a play in front of the big show; after all, some of these horses were brought great distances.
5. Provide free entertainment for all exhibitors; they’ ll be happier that way.
6. History pertains to the past; forget it from the standpoint of colorful classes.
7. Select judges who will please influential exhibitors. by
Dr. M. E. Ensminger, Ph. D. Clovis, California
Keys to a Successful Horse Show
1. Manager— He must know and have a flare for horse shows, and he must operate as a benevolent dictator— reach decisions and move.
2. Organization— The manager should prepare an organization chart and job descriptions; then select responsible people, delegate responsibility, and correlate the event.
3. Operate for spectators, and not for exhibitors; otherwise, you’ ll have an empty grandstand. To attract spectators, there must be—( 1) Color; as obtained through presenting the flag and playing the National Anthem; the use of a costumed buglar; formal dress of all officials in night shows; and through having colorful events like an Arabian Mounted Costume Class; Gay 90’ s Morgan Class; Appaloosa Indian Mounted Costume Class; Pillion Class; etc.( 2) Action; keep it moving.( 3) Timing; no show should be over 2Vz hours long.
( 4) Crowd appeal, which necessitates( a) eliminations in big classes( b) conduct of the less glamourous classes before a non-paying crowd, and( c) variety.
( 5) Special events that are unique.
4. Select judges of unquestioned honesty and integrity; and avoid those whose chief interests are wine, women and song.
5. Hold a judging school in conjunction with the horse show; operate them as twin events. This( 1) adds to the educational value and( 2) provides a logical way in which to handle the judging of halter classes. Where a judging school is held, use officials who can give good reasons.
Why Hold a Horse Judging School along With the Show? 1. To impart to horse owners sound information relative to the proper type, care, training, and showing of the mount.
2. To meet other people, both amateur and professional, who share in enthusiasm for horses.
3. To enable horse lovers to enjoy horse shows with informed appraisal.
4. To train horse owners in the practical art of selecting horses.
5. To train judges as officials for light horse shows.
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College Horse Programs
Most college horse programs passed out with the demise of the draft horse. Now I see little hope for their return, even though there is great interest in light horses.
It has been well said that it’ s easier to move a graveyard than to change a college curriculum. After spending 25 years as a college professor, I agree. But there are other obstacles, too. Among them— 1. Most college administrators are uneasy about horses. You’ ll have to put blinkers on them( not on the horses) if you ever get a horse program on the campus.
2. Good horsemen on college staffs are about as scarce as proverbial hen’ s teeth.
3. Colleges have gone scientific, and I’ m all for this. But I pass this question: Is not some of the so-called art pertaining to horses actually a science? Let me be more specific. Is developing and training of a stakes winner an art or a science?
4. The general decline in agricultural enrollment and financial support, with the result that money is hard to come by— particularly where new programs are involved. In my judgement, there is a crying, but unfilled, need for college light horse programs; embrac-
42 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse