10/14/2026
🐴 Trainer Tuesday | Preparing for a Horse Show! 🏆
With fall shows approaching, we've been preparing our riders and horses for competition!
From practicing positions and transitions to setting up courses and developing consistency, there's a lot that goes into getting ready for show day.
But one of the most important decisions happens before we ever enter the ring: Which classes should we enter?
At Slow Twist Equestrian Center, we encourage our riders to follow a simple guideline:
⭐ School at one level, show at one level below.
Why? Because riding confidently at home and performing in a show environment are two different experiences!
New surroundings, unfamiliar horses, distractions, and competition-day excitement can all influence how both horse and rider perform.
When preparing for a show, we focus on a few important things:
🐴 Practice with purpose. Work on the skills required for your classes, including transitions, rhythm, balance, accuracy, and control.
🐴 Build consistency. Performing a skill successfully once doesn't mean you've mastered it. We want our riders to demonstrate those skills confidently and consistently before moving up.
🐴 Choose appropriate classes. Enter classes that are comfortably within both horse and rider's abilities. Showing one level below what you're consistently schooling helps set everyone up for success.
🐴 Prepare for the unexpected. Practice riding through distractions, making adjustments, and maintaining focus when things don't go exactly as planned.
🐴 Set realistic goals. Success might mean completing a course with a steady rhythm, riding an accurate pattern, or simply having a positive experience in a new environment.
🏆 Remember, a successful horse show isn't always measured by ribbons!
The goal is to build confidence, demonstrate the skills you've developed, and gain experience that helps you continue progressing.
We don't move up simply because we can. We move up when we're ready.
That's how we build confident, capable riders and happy horses!
Learn. Ride. Grow. 🐴
