| HORSE SHOW PARENTS |
Welcome Horse Show Parents to your special page! This page is designed to make your job a little
easier. We hope you find this information helpful and remember if you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to ask.
The role of Horse Show Mom and Horse Show Dad is one of great importance. Your positive
attitude, encouragement and ultimately your approval will demonstrate to your child that they
matter. Your involvement proves to them that their activity is important to you. They have worked
tirelessly to get to this point and you are there for them once again as their biggest fan.
The benefits to showing horses are not just in the obvious fun and pageantry. Horses and horse
shows specifically teach many lessons that will carry over into your young rider’s personal and
professional life. Watching your child’s transformation from the timid beginning rider to a show ring
ready competitor is a sight to behold. But, aside from the showiness of it all, are the life lessons and
the bond that is born between horse and rider.
Problem Solving, Patience, and Participation
Horse showing teaches your young rider to problem solve and think through issues when they arise
in the ring and in life. Every athlete goes through a slump - your horse may not be performing up to
par, increasing difficulty in patterns may be unsettling, there might be a mismatch between your
skills and that of your horse or any number of other problems. To horse show successfully, you have
to learn to solve those day by day, issue by issue. Horses, like people, have good days and not so
good days. A gifted rider will be bonded to their horse and know when to push and when to take it a
little slower for the greater good. Patience and understanding are two skills that will serve the young
show rider well. This is a hands on sport and participation is another key to your child’s success. If
your child rider does not participate, their ability to be successful will be compromised.
Determination and Perseverance
It will take a lot of hard work to horse show, whether your child is an entry level rider or a national
competitor. To have success even once in awhile takes determination and practice, to qualify for a
national show takes even more. It means getting up at 4:30 am to be in the ring by first light,
cleaning tack, and practicing patterns. It means long hours at the barn and riding many horses- not
just the show horse. Many times your child rider will ride two horses when the schedule allows.
That same determination and hard work will teach your young rider how to stay focused to achieve
A's in school and the ability to volunteer with a can do attitude.
Goal Setting and Planning
Setting goals is an important life skill and horse showing gives your child rider so many
opportunities to do just that. Setting goals like qualifying for certain events, getting in the ribbons,
winning a class, or riding through a difficult pattern will allow your child the opportunity to learn all
that they can achieve. We will meet together to set annual, individual and overall goals so that we
have adequate time to practice to reach for those goals. Your child will learn to plan his or her time
around horse showing, school and social events, and we will make choices as a team. Your child
rider will learn about fitness, preparation and remaining healthy so that they are fit to show. Young
show riders learn they can achieve goals sometimes and at other times we had to amend our
aspirations. Showing horses teaches how to adjust to life in so many ways.
Organizational Skills
Packing and preparing to hit the ring takes a great deal of planning. Remembering everything,
getting dressed, remaining calm and collected – it’s a tall order but certainly attainable. Everything
has a place and must be organized if you want to horse show without chaos. We at Foster Farm are
strict about organization and cleanliness in the barn area and there is no place for sloppiness at the
show. A good lesson that can also be applied at home! Think of the lists, the planning and packing,
unpacking and then repacking if you help out at the barn. Show clothes, hair nets, derbies, gloves,
and other key items have to be packed. High school classes have to be organized with homework
and tests managed for a show schedule. Your student rider’s grades must be kept up while showing
horses again providing an invaluable time management lesson.
Responsibility and Sacrifice
There are numerous responsibilities in caring for a horse that totally depends on humans for his
care. Scheduling lessons, practice riding and readying a horse for the show ring all take time and
are great experiences in responsibility. If your child rider cannot ride regularly, their skills will
diminish along with their confidence. Making sacrifices so that your child rider has adequate time in
the saddle will be required if success is expected. You would not expect your child to be in a play
without first rehearsing their lines and similarly horse shows also require that time is spent
practicing and honing their skills. Being responsible and having your child rider show up when
scheduled will ensure they do not fall behind in their work. We will not let your child rider delegate
all of the grooming, tacking and care of the horse to the trainer and the grooms. Remember part of
this should be about horsemanship so being responsible for your horse is a great life lesson.
Confidence and Poise
Horse showing will teach your child rider how to be a gracious winner and how to lose with dignity.
It is about learning a pattern and riding through adversity; think of an outdoor show in the wind,
rain, snow and mud. When your child gets his or her show horse to do what they want and their
efforts are rewarded with a win, it will build tremendous confidence. Losing with dignity and grace
teaches poise and sportsmanship. Not every ride will go perfectly and most of the real lessons are
from the rides that do not go your way. Losing can teach your child rider how to manage his or her
fears and stay on track to attain their goals.
Why We Show Horses
Horse showing will be a lot of fun but it will also be a sacrifice on your part. It is going to be hard
work for the whole family. Looking back, however, you will see the positive impact showing horses
will have on your child. This sport is not for everyone but it will have a lasting influence and will
provide you and your family with many fond memories.
easier. We hope you find this information helpful and remember if you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to ask.
The role of Horse Show Mom and Horse Show Dad is one of great importance. Your positive
attitude, encouragement and ultimately your approval will demonstrate to your child that they
matter. Your involvement proves to them that their activity is important to you. They have worked
tirelessly to get to this point and you are there for them once again as their biggest fan.
The benefits to showing horses are not just in the obvious fun and pageantry. Horses and horse
shows specifically teach many lessons that will carry over into your young rider’s personal and
professional life. Watching your child’s transformation from the timid beginning rider to a show ring
ready competitor is a sight to behold. But, aside from the showiness of it all, are the life lessons and
the bond that is born between horse and rider.
Problem Solving, Patience, and Participation
Horse showing teaches your young rider to problem solve and think through issues when they arise
in the ring and in life. Every athlete goes through a slump - your horse may not be performing up to
par, increasing difficulty in patterns may be unsettling, there might be a mismatch between your
skills and that of your horse or any number of other problems. To horse show successfully, you have
to learn to solve those day by day, issue by issue. Horses, like people, have good days and not so
good days. A gifted rider will be bonded to their horse and know when to push and when to take it a
little slower for the greater good. Patience and understanding are two skills that will serve the young
show rider well. This is a hands on sport and participation is another key to your child’s success. If
your child rider does not participate, their ability to be successful will be compromised.
Determination and Perseverance
It will take a lot of hard work to horse show, whether your child is an entry level rider or a national
competitor. To have success even once in awhile takes determination and practice, to qualify for a
national show takes even more. It means getting up at 4:30 am to be in the ring by first light,
cleaning tack, and practicing patterns. It means long hours at the barn and riding many horses- not
just the show horse. Many times your child rider will ride two horses when the schedule allows.
That same determination and hard work will teach your young rider how to stay focused to achieve
A's in school and the ability to volunteer with a can do attitude.
Goal Setting and Planning
Setting goals is an important life skill and horse showing gives your child rider so many
opportunities to do just that. Setting goals like qualifying for certain events, getting in the ribbons,
winning a class, or riding through a difficult pattern will allow your child the opportunity to learn all
that they can achieve. We will meet together to set annual, individual and overall goals so that we
have adequate time to practice to reach for those goals. Your child will learn to plan his or her time
around horse showing, school and social events, and we will make choices as a team. Your child
rider will learn about fitness, preparation and remaining healthy so that they are fit to show. Young
show riders learn they can achieve goals sometimes and at other times we had to amend our
aspirations. Showing horses teaches how to adjust to life in so many ways.
Organizational Skills
Packing and preparing to hit the ring takes a great deal of planning. Remembering everything,
getting dressed, remaining calm and collected – it’s a tall order but certainly attainable. Everything
has a place and must be organized if you want to horse show without chaos. We at Foster Farm are
strict about organization and cleanliness in the barn area and there is no place for sloppiness at the
show. A good lesson that can also be applied at home! Think of the lists, the planning and packing,
unpacking and then repacking if you help out at the barn. Show clothes, hair nets, derbies, gloves,
and other key items have to be packed. High school classes have to be organized with homework
and tests managed for a show schedule. Your student rider’s grades must be kept up while showing
horses again providing an invaluable time management lesson.
Responsibility and Sacrifice
There are numerous responsibilities in caring for a horse that totally depends on humans for his
care. Scheduling lessons, practice riding and readying a horse for the show ring all take time and
are great experiences in responsibility. If your child rider cannot ride regularly, their skills will
diminish along with their confidence. Making sacrifices so that your child rider has adequate time in
the saddle will be required if success is expected. You would not expect your child to be in a play
without first rehearsing their lines and similarly horse shows also require that time is spent
practicing and honing their skills. Being responsible and having your child rider show up when
scheduled will ensure they do not fall behind in their work. We will not let your child rider delegate
all of the grooming, tacking and care of the horse to the trainer and the grooms. Remember part of
this should be about horsemanship so being responsible for your horse is a great life lesson.
Confidence and Poise
Horse showing will teach your child rider how to be a gracious winner and how to lose with dignity.
It is about learning a pattern and riding through adversity; think of an outdoor show in the wind,
rain, snow and mud. When your child gets his or her show horse to do what they want and their
efforts are rewarded with a win, it will build tremendous confidence. Losing with dignity and grace
teaches poise and sportsmanship. Not every ride will go perfectly and most of the real lessons are
from the rides that do not go your way. Losing can teach your child rider how to manage his or her
fears and stay on track to attain their goals.
Why We Show Horses
Horse showing will be a lot of fun but it will also be a sacrifice on your part. It is going to be hard
work for the whole family. Looking back, however, you will see the positive impact showing horses
will have on your child. This sport is not for everyone but it will have a lasting influence and will
provide you and your family with many fond memories.
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