The downside of many attractive virtual competitions is they cost money! Some are more reasonably priced than others, but regardless it adds up. We recently had some (good) things come up that make us more budget conscious, so I'm looking really closely at which competitions I want to shell out cash for. What I need to keep in the forefront of my mind when thinking about choosing competitions is what I really want to accomplish with Zeke this year and if the competition is aligned with my true underlying intentions.
I started showing a lot in-hand because we have more confidence on the ground and Zeke's only gaits are walk and pace (an undesirable gait). Unfortunately I quickly found out that trotting/jogging is in almost EVERY in-hand pattern. In-hand competitions still gave us a chance to actually be competitive. Our confidence and partnership has definitely grown by competing in-hand in Virtual Obstacle Shows, Cowboy Dressage, Virtual Trail Rider Challenges, and Harmony Horsemanship.
However, the sparkling allure of the in-hand competitions is starting to tarnish for me. I feel like I want to ride more. The confidence in how well we did in-hand is really starting to transfer to the saddle! We even got 4th place in our first virtual riding competition for the first Harmony Horsemanship show. We are riding in most NATRC Competitive Trail Obstacle videos too, but some are still in-hand. I have no expectations of winning this, but look forward to the feedback to help us in Competitive Trail rides later. As I get in-hand obstacle patterns I check to see whether they are doable for us riding. Surprisingly most call for a canter/lope! |
Cowboy Dressage also offers in-hand, but I was quickly able to meet my major milestone goal of passing the Walk tests in the Liberty Division. However, in the remaining Walk/Jog tests we are penalized for gaiting when the directive asks for jog. There is a very slight chance we could still pass, but it is incredibly improbable. I can only hope for change in the rules. The shows are more costly and I've hit a progress roadblock, so this is the mostly likely competition I will choose to forgo. We may compete at our state's schooling show, but the big regional show is very expensive, so we will likely just volunteer. I really love the principles behind Cowboy Dressage (Soft Feel, kindness, partnership) and want to help it succeed so I can be a part of it for many years to come.
I've enjoyed competing in-hand in the Virtual Trail Rider Challenges, and we have done well. I also like supporting a local trainer and competing against people in my horse community. The VTRC #3 is offering a Walk Only Basic course, so I signed up for riding too. I think I will continue with these competitions throughout the year both in-hand and ridden (as long as the walk only option is available-because first things first is that he has to walk calmly and balanced before I ask him to gait). The feedback and prizes are great, and while I have the course set-up for in-hand I might as well use it for riding also. I do have concerns about how often he is asked to pace in-hand which I will discuss more later, but next year I may not do these competitions in-hand. |
I have already paid for all of the months of the NATRC (Competitive Trail) Obstacle Challenge that runs May-September, so I will continue with those videos. The ride schedule has been significantly impacted due to coronavirus, so there are only two rides in my state. Due to the costs and how new we are to the discipline, we don't plan on going to rides out of state. The first one in-state is in July. It is nearby and at a park with electric camp sites and pens. However, there isn't shade in the pens and Zeke and I aren't the most heat tolerant. He is fat and black, and I have struggled with heat ever since a faithful day when I overheated as a teenager. He is more heat tolerant than I am I have found! Then the other ride is in September at the same time as a big Cowboy Dressage show. The campground has limited pens and no water or electricity. The trails are very hilly, so require conditioning. As of now, Zeke and I still have work to do on confidence, relaxation, and balance on the trail. We need to make more progress in those areas before I feel comfortable competing. This and the costs (ride fee plus camping) is making me lean more toward volunteering this season and starting up as a competitor next year. I love trail riding, obstacles, camping, and improving. NATRC offers all of these at a ride! I also love the principles of the discipline that value partnership and valuing the horse above everything else.
One of my major milestone goals for the year is to compete in all in-hand Virtual Obstacle Shows. This I will stick to this year--likely next year also. The competition is fierce each show, so it pushes us to try to do better. However, Zeke is always at a disadvantage because he doesn't gait or transition to a gait well. Not only that, but in-hand the gait he offers is a pace. The pace is not only an undesirable gait, it puts him in a hollow posture that creates muscle memory that opposes relaxation and an even four-beat gait. I would really like to minimize the amount of time he is spent pacing. He will need to pace for soundness checks in competitive trail, but any other time I want him moving in wellness (one of my mission goals). Continuing Virtual Obstacle Shows is attractive for a few reasons: there are season awards and lifetime point prizes, each show is very affordable, the feedback is useful, it is something that can be done year round, and I can enter under saddle after seeing the pattern. I'll likely continue these as a way to add structure to our horsemanship throughout the year.
For example, Working Equitation claims to be gaited friendly (and many gaited riders are successful and greatly enjoy it), but they do penalize when a horse gaits rather than trots.
Western Dressage is tempting and gaited friendly (more so than Cowboy Dressage even!), but I have been kept away due to the culture of rigidity mixed with pomp & circumstance. I'm not a fancy person, and it just seems too fancy for me.
I have thought about endurance, but there are a few reasons why we haven't seriously looked into it. First off, Zeke isn't conditioned enough and competing wouldn't be fair for him. Second, there aren't any rides that close to me. Third, the competition is structured as a race and I don't think that Zeke will do well with that (yes, I know that "to finish is to win").
Other show events such as jumping, mounted shooting, ranch riding, reining, speed, pleasure, halter, etc are not something Zeke can really compete in at all since he is gaited and only paces (and doesn't lope/gallop). We could look into team sorting, but haven't at this time due to the hauling requirements.
What disciplines have you chosen to compete in? Why did you choose (or not choose) a particular discipline?