AQHA MAGAZINE March / April 2020 AQHA March-April 2020 PRINT (1)High Res | Page 37

PG.35
ERROR: LACK OF CORRECT PREPARATION
AND PRESENTATION.
ERROR CONTROL & HANDLING
- 1. YOUR HORSE
Correct preparation of the horse and rider is essential.
Everything you do with your horse, prior to entering any
class, is included in that preparation and can affect your
horse’s performance, either positively or negatively.
That includes feeding, conditioning, rugging, training,
exercise, rest time and travel. Good routines at home will
help prepare your horse physically and mentally for the
classes you show in. Regular routines, exercise and rest
days will help keep your horse relaxed, and make him
easier to train and show. Become aware, so that if you do
change something even slightly, you’ll notice as quickly
as your horse does. If it’s a change for the better and you
get an improved result, then make sure it becomes part
of your routine.
ERROR CONTROL & HANDLING - 2. YOURSELF
Physically and mentally preparing yourself for your
classes is important, too. Don’t feel you can’t ask for
assistance or advice from someone more experienced
than yourself. Have an open mind and consider
any advice which may help you improve your show
performance.
Correct and legal presentation is a must if you have the
desire to be in the top placings, so always consult your
AQHA rulebook. Make sure you look the part, are well
groomed and colour coordinated. Knowing you and your
horse are correctly prepared will help you stay confident
in the show arena, and can decrease your chances of
making errors.
Before a show, mentally prepare yourself by revising the
rulebook and brushing up on things like rules, patterns,
credits and penalties for the classes you’re entering.
This will give you a better understanding of the classes
ahead and may help you focus for a better performance.
Positive self-talk is another great way to avoid making
common mistakes. Before you enter the arena, instead
of socialising, quietly talk yourself through your class or
your pattern.
ERROR: LACK OF RULEBOOK KNOWLEDGE.
ERROR CONTROL & HANDLING
One of the most common exhibitor errors is to not be in
possession of, or not studying a current rulebook. Make
sure you have your AQHA Rulebook handy at all times,
and regularly study the rules. Be aware there may be
official rule changes, so keep that in mind.
Don’t assume rules by following or asking someone else.
You could be making a huge mistake. Penalties can be
given in all classes. Understanding what penalties you
can receive in each class will help you become more
mentally aware each time you show.
ERROR: LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT YOUR HORSE.
ERROR CONTROL & HANDLING
Get to know your horse well, not only at home, but
at a show and inside the arena. Learn what areas of
performance he is capable in and what areas need work.
If he has great jog, learn how to really show that off in the
arena. On the other hand, if his lope or any other area
of his training needs work, focus on this at home and
not in the show warm up area right before your class.
Make the warm up area a comfortable place he likes, not
somewhere he’ll learn to build on any anxieties he may
have.
Noises in and around the arena can make some horses
uptight. Use ear plugs at the show by all means, but you
can also desensitize your horse at home by having a
radio playing close to his stable, even sometimes leaving
it tuned ‘just off the station’ to create a little static. The
music and people talking sounds very much like the
background of a show. The more he is exposed to these
things the easier it will become for him to accept and
handle them.
ERROR: LACK OF CORRECT POSITION.
ERROR CONTROL & HANDLING
In the show arena correct position is everything. Your
riding position needs to be correct. Constantly be aware
of this. If you realise you’re making a riding position
error, try not to draw attention to it. Quickly and quietly
assume the correct riding position and continue on.
After a while, correct riding position for you will become
common place.
Clever positioning in a rail class will highlight your
expertise in the arena. Positioning your horse in a busy
rail class is a skill that can only be learned through
errors. On the rail, you can be boxed in, hidden and
cut off. Become an arena aware, show smart exhibitor,
able to efficiently position yourself at all times. Knowing
what’s going on around you constantly will help you
avoid forced errors, which can sometimes also hurt your
performance.
Precise positioning in pattern classes is all about starting
and finishing in the right place, taking the correct line
and using markers correctly. A Western Horsemanship
or Equitation pattern requires perfect positioning. In a
Trail class, study your pattern well and learn to position
your horse correctly when approaching and leaving
obstacles.
MARCH/APRIL ISSUE 2020