Looking for someone that shows

oleos93 · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:48 pm Post subject: Looking for someone that shows

Posting in different web sites so thought I would try here as well.

I am looking for a shower that can show two of our mares, one is a 7 yr old TB gray mare and one is a 7 yr old AQHA appendix sorrel mare.

Both have extensive flat work done. The TB would do best in English only but the QH would do well in Western or English.

For the QH I would like her to go in only AQHA approved shows and the TB can go in any open shows or anything for just TB's. I know they have that new program for TB showing but I am not to savvy on how it works.

We are located in north Idaho and not unsure how to work out the terms, so if anyone has done this before any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Laurierace · Grade II Winner Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1276

There is no such thing as a "shower" you need a trainer in your chosen discipline. If you think race horses are expensive, you are in for the shock of your life when you hear what these people charge. Look up the shows you are interested in competing in and search the previous year's results and find trainers that have been successful in the past and contact them about helping you.
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Crystal · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:58 am Post subject:

Where were you when I was looking for an OTTB to show at the TB Horse Show Association show last weekend!?! LOL

KBEquine · Grade III Winner Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 1015

You might be looking for 2 separate trainers & you might need to provide more information before getting good suggestions. Here's why:

First, if you want the QH mare to go to AQHA shows only, you are looking for a trainer who specializes in QHs (they call them trainers, not showers, so that's the terminology you should use when looking for one & when talking to one - they are training your horse to show).

Knowing the QH mare goes English & Western is not enough to help pick an AQHA trainer, however. Trainers tend to specialize in only 1 or 2 disciplines, and what your mare might excel at will depend on her bloodlines, her training (which she will get from the AQHA trainer), and her temperament. For example, some trainers will specialize in both English and Western Pleasure, but not Hunter Under Saddle or Halter. Or Reining. Halter and Showmanship often go hand-in-hand, but Halter and Jumpers rarely do. So you first need to analyze what type of English and what type of Western would suit your mare.

You might also want to look at results from shows you'd like your mare to attend to see which of the classes fill & which ones are cancelled. If you're paying all that money, you want your mare to be able to show several classes, not stand in her stall while other horses are showing the popular events. You will also see the names of trainers who show there & who do so successfully. That might help you figure out where to send your mare. [You can do the same with the English shows for the TB mare].

Her pedigree may help figure it out, too. And if you post it, we may be able to help. I'd suggest that if she is not on the sister website: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/ that you post her there & let us know her name, or provide a link.

Extensive flatwork is not necessarily enough to get a horse prepared for the show ring (in the AQHA, they often call it the show pen). She must move the way the judges want a horse in her discipline to move. That's why it is important to find the right trainer for what you want her to do.

Second - the TB mare will have to go to someone who specializes in one of the USEF disciplines, if you want her to get to some TB classes. You need to let us know when you say "English" do you mean hunters? Jumpers? Dressage? Eventing? Something else? Also, I know of exactly two all-TB shows & most of the USEF shows don't actually have TB-only classes, although the hunter breeding might still have TB and non-TB classes (back in the day, that was to give those poor warmbloods a chance to win because the TBs were the go-to horses for breeding hunters. Now it is to give those poor OTTBs a chance.)

But once you decide the discipline for her (again, post her pedigree and you might get some suggestions) you want to explore what year-end awards are offered & what you need to do to qualify.

For both mares - the AQHA offers various points & honors for horses who excel at USEF shows & you'll want to check the Jockey Club site for information on TBs for sport, too. There are other TB organizations whose function is to (collect fees and) offer year-end awards, special breed classes at Dressage at Devon, and the like.

Third, to get useful suggestions, it would help to know why you want these mares to show, how far you will send them (because you are not likely to find a trainer who will come to you, work with the horses, and take them to shows), and your budget.

After you decide the discipline, some additional questions are:

1. How far away are you willing to send them? Close enough that you could watch them train? Watch them show? Or to the best trainer for the horse, your philosophy & your budget?

2. Do you intend to show the horses yourself? Many people will have a horse in training & have the trainer show it in "Open" classes and show it themselves in amateur or limited classes (or have their kids show it in youth classes). That is particularly true of the AQHA, although some of the other show organizations limit who can ride the horse & at what levels/events at a show. If you plan to show the horse yourself, you may need to either look closer to home for a trainer, or find one who will work with you at a show, even though they don't give you lessons regularly. [An alternative if you are a good rider & want to show & if your trainer-of-choice is a reasonable distance away, would be to take clinics with the trainer, or trailer there for a weekend of intense work, then go back home & work on your own with your horse & then go back for more work with the trainer. Higher travel costs, but higher satisfaction and a lower outlay of cash. BUT it only works if all the stars align & you are honestly up to helping train your own horse . . . ]

3. What IS your budget? You will be paying a day-rate (or a monthly rate), for training (sometimes included in a day-rate), transportation to the show, meds, vet, farrier, possibly new show tack, and other misc. items.

4. Why do you want these mares to show? To sell them? To improve their foals' value by saying they came from performing stock? For fun? Something else? I guess this question comes from knowing how expensive show horses can be, especially if you are looking for breed-specific classes or awards. And the question sort of goes back to "What is your budget?" because the value you would add to subsequent foals will be far outweighed by the cost of sending them to a professional to show & you could probably get equal value using a good local rider/trainer to teach them what they need to know (and get a few good pictures of them doing it). But if you are doing it because you simply will enjoy watching them compete, well, people often spend more for that because they aren't expecting a financial return.

Anyhow, I think the first step for you is exploring the AQHA and Jockey Club & USEF & USDF (if you are thinking dressage) websites for information on breed awards, and at the same time, figuring out what disciplines you wish to pursue.

oleos93 · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:49 pm Post subject:

Great information and sorry you had to go to all that witting...and maybe I should have put more info in but when I post I try to get to the point and not act like I am a no it all...I do not need a trainer, I do train and have trained both these horse, I am a certified trainer. But I don't show anymore and have not for over 20 years.....I personally don't like the drama.

But in saying that I still want my horses to have a life after the track and now is the best time. What I need is an amateur rider looking to show but does not have a horse to start out....sorry KB but everything you stated is based on top level showing and I never asked for that especially when neither horse has shown at all.

All AQHA shows have low levels and it is not as complicated as all you put out...been there, done that, got several ribbons.

My post was to seek out someone that does not have a horse to ride but the desire and want to show....the way you put it KB is why I got out of showing, you trumped it up way to much making it sound like it is hard and it is not and most people drop out that don't do well because they feel defeated...I did because there is way to much drama.....but if someone is determined and needs a mount, I have them.

When my now 22 year old daughter was 10 I bought her a $4500 show mare for exclusive AQHA showing....she did it all on her own...AQHA has AWESOME programs for youth, so it really is not all that hard, and who cares if you don't win or place your first year, it is an experience every new shower will love if feed the right formula. I never got that.

And yes my term shower is correct, because they are the ones showing and that is all they are doing. And as far as the horses capability, come on....they are HORSES, horses can do almost anything you ask them to. I put Western and English Pleasure as that means in the show world just that, it is all about flat work and this is what they would do best at their first year and every amateur can do basic flat work, it is basically doing a riding lesson but being judged.

karenkarenn · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:06 pm Post subject:

Hi Neighbor.
Your AQHA Show come here many times,You are right to look but what you can do is look at the AQHA trainers in Idaho. Go to the AQHA website and see who is listed.
We are started our showing here and I am sure in Idaho they are starting up by now with the weather acting like weird now.
Many AQHA trainers or riders or showers will train thoroughbreds just becarefull who you ask to.
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Laurierace · Grade II Winner Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1276

Shower may be correct for AQHA but would get you laughed in your face in English shows. If you are not looking for a trainer maybe you want a catch rider? Free lease?
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karenkarenn · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:41 pm Post subject:

You know I really don't think that she posted this to be ridiculed.
The people that do show on here knows what she is talking about.
Chill and if you know of anyone that is a trainer that shows or a rider that is looking for a mount then post. But don't make fun.
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Laurierace · Grade II Winner Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1276

I am not making fun, I am trying to keep her from looking like she has no idea what she is talking about. Kind of like if she went around the track looking for the key to the quarter pole.
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karenkarenn · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:43 pm Post subject:

Why?
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Laurierace · Grade II Winner Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1276

Why what?
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karenkarenn · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:44 pm Post subject:

why are you creating more drama into this post. She clearly didn't want that if you read what she said.
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Laurierace · Grade II Winner Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1276

What drama? Can she not speak for herself?
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karenkarenn · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject:

YOUR dramatic uncalled for criticism that somehow you feel that YOU need to add. She didn't ask to be corrected. It was a simple request. I have clearly stated that before. Please re read what she wants.

Oleos, I wish you nothing but good luck . It's a shame that people have the need to correct your good intentions. Don't listen to the criticism, and Thank You for putting your AQHA and OTTB to showing, it sounds like a good venture. And GOOD LUCK to you! Use the AQHA handbook or their online site to help you find someone. By the way the Jockey Club has incentives for TB shows if you do well. I haven't found any in the Idaho or Nevada side yet, but if I do there are others besides you that want to show in the series too.
There should be a group of threads entire for showing OTTBs and where to and results. I think that it would be good, since racing isn't just what OTTB do. Many people don't realize that their horses do go somewhere else like other occupations like showing. There has to be more out there for them on this site. They don't just race and then fall off of the earth.
AND ENOUGH of the criticism for people who are just trying to do good by their horses.!
GOOD LUCK to you.!
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Lisann · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject:

For your QH, try posting at Pleasure Horse Forum at Delphi Forums. A lot of traffic there.

For the h/j type, maybe try COTH?