Horse Shows

If you know me very well, then you know several things about me. You know that I tend to be very imaginative, I tend to be very competitive and I like to show horses. From 1996 to 2001, my mom and I showed horses pretty much non-stop all spring and summer long. There were several years in college when we showed a lot too. Its hard to believe that it was 15 years ago when we started showing minis.

When I moved the ponies to Pennsylvania, I intended on starting to show them. However, despite being only about 30 miles from one of the biggest Shetland and mini trainers in the country, there is a shortage of horse shows to go to. In the Midwest, you were only limited by the number of miles you were willing to drive and the number of weekends you could get off.

When I found a horse show in reasonable distance from here, I got pretty excited. I had already been working on getting Nell driving and now I had a reason to step up my training. And purchase a cart.

However, when I got the show bill for the one day show on August 7^th, I was sorely disappointed. There were no jumping or obstacle classes. This meant that I wasn’t going to take Cody. Cody’s conformation is lacking and he essentially would be a waste to show in halter. I’m not going to pad someone else’s points. I could show Nell in halter but there’s not really any point since she already is in the HOF for that. So that leaves me with color, costume and driving classes-there are about three or four.

Okay, so how am I going to get the horses to this show four hours away? BF said I could borrow his horse trailer. So I would need a hitch for my car (this is assuming that my car could pull BF’s trailer, though he seems to think it can.). A trailer hitch runs about $35.

Then the show entries-four to five classes-$88-100 plus office fee $5. We can show out of the trailer and if Nell is the only one, an extra bag of shavings (about $7) will provide a comfortable bed in the back. If Joe wants to show, I’ll have to get him an ASPC membership which will be about $75 or $80.

Then there are the other things that we would need to bring with us-hay and grain-I’ll borrow that from the barn. A jug for water which apparently isn’t in my store-but runs about $10. Then a water bucket ($4) and grooming supplies-hoof polish ($9), show sheen ($9), whitening shampoo ($11), baby powder ($2), baby oil ($3), hair gel ($4), Just for Men hair dye ($8). I think I have most if not all of the other stuff I would need. Except clippers. I really need clippers ($200).

If I show in halter, I will need a show halter. I can show in a nylon one but its pretty much frowned on. A show halter runs about $75-$100. I’m not really planning on showing in halter. If I put Nell in color, I can and will use a nylon one for that. And I still need some parts for my harness-a cavesson ($22-$44), an overcheck ($20) and maybe some longer reins ($36). Of course, Nell has never driven with an overcheck. And she actually has only been hitched twice. Hmmm…

And the cart. Well, the cart is literally a wreck. Joe thinks he can get it fixed in a week. Some sand paper, varnish, foam padding, velvet for the seat, some buttons, some spray paint. I figure probably $100 will do it. Hopefully, $100 and one week.

If I decide on entering the costume class, I would need to make a costume. Luckily, I finally thought of one. A fish (the pony) and a fisherman. I figure if I dress as the fisherman, I can borrow Meg’s fishing stuff and just wear my own stuff underneath. Cost for that-free! Then I need to make the pony a costume. Other than time, I think I can probably get it done for about $30. And maybe I can do a little costume for the dog (a corgi) too. Either another littler fish or fisherman.

And of course, we’d have to bring some food and stuff. Plus gas. So I figure probably $120 for those.

So what’s the final tally here? Like just under $700. Providing that Joe doesn’t want to show (which he probably will then get cold feet) and we don’t get the expensive cavesson or reins. Okay, so essentially, it will be impossible for us to go to this horse show. There just isn’t any money. Slowly, I think we can prepare for a show next spring or summer. Pick up the clippers here (I guess I could borrow some), fix up the cart there, some grooming supplies here and there. It just isn’t going to happen, much to my disappointment.

Well, at least I know that I won’t make Joe made with my competitive edge and that I won’t kill myself in the cart trying to get Nell ready too fast.