Just Starting Out
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I get by with a little help from my friends ~ John Lennon and Paul McCartney, 1967
By Delores Kuhlwein
After more than 15 years out of the show pen, I can’t tell you how nervous I was. It was one of my first Showmanship classes at a big show, Sun & Surf. My knees were shaking so visibly that I’m sure all the judges could tell, reminisces Larisa Affeldt, an AQHA amateur from Spokane, Washington.
Larisa’s words are echoed by so many exhibitors new to breed shows or those just returning from a long absence. Eventually, Larisa made the journey towards gaining renewed confidence like so many before her. What helped her along the way? Larisa and APHA amateur Lacey Armstrong of Indianapolis, Indiana, and AQHA amateur Bonnie Sheren of Studio City, California, say factors like friendly competitors and a proper support structure can go a long way in easing that transition. Read on as they reveal what helped the most when they were first starting out and give their suggestions for encouraging and welcoming new exhibitors to the industry.
What It’s Like…
Returning to the ring or starting anew at the breed level can be daunting for anyone. Just like Larisa, Lacey Armstrong recently started showing again after a long hiatus. After 16 years spent establishing her career, she returned to the show pen only to experience the feeling of being “the new kid at a new school.”
“When I returned to the show pen a little over a year ago, I had the same butterflies I did as a youth but for different reasons. I wasn’t sure if I had maintained my skills from my youth years and, if not, would I be able to develop them to the same level I had in the past? I found myself to be my own worst critic,” Lacey says.
Likewise, Bonnie experienced that same phenomenon when she took a break from showing horses for more than 10 years. “Prior to coming back to riding and showing a few years ago, the last time I showed was around [the year] 2000,” she explains. “Even though I wasn’t a complete newcomer to the Quarter Horse world, it seemed to me that a lot had changed in the styles and even in the horses themselves.”
Welcome!
Each of these competitors point to factors like friendly exhibitors and the formation of a “show family” as extremely important milestones that helped along the way.
“I couldn’t have achieved any of my success as a youth (and now novice amateur) without the support and encouragement from my family, friends, and trainers,” Lacey says.
For Bonnie, the encouragement she experienced was simple but powerful. “I remember when I was just starting out showing at some of the California shows,” she says. “A couple of very well-known exhibitors congratulated me by name when I did well in my class. The very idea that they knew my name really made a difference.”
Larisa knew right up front that she would need a social safety net, something she never sought as a youth competitor, so she met the challenge head-on when returning as an amateur. “As a youth, I was always so focused, serious, and competitive. I never took the time to look around, smile, and make friends,” she says. Larisa made up her mind to introduce herself to as many people as she can, and it’s paid off in a big way, resulting in a large network of people she considers to be her horse show family. “I’m so glad that I stepped out and just started smiling and saying hello to everyone I was near or standing next to in a Horsemanship class or lineup. I just wanted to get to know the people around me. Surprisingly, almost everyone I’ve met along the way has been so nice. It has made it so much easier for me to feel like I truly am with my horse show family. Whether it’s the people in my barn or the friends I compete with, I really do have a lot of great friends and people in my life now due to showing horses,” Larisa says.
Part of an equestrian’s show family might also include mentors who provide words to live by and helpful advice along the way.
Lacey still applies a maxim she learned long ago from a past mentor. “My initial breed show was with my first APHA horse, Norfleet Exposure, aka Sly. I will never forget what my trainer (at that time) Avis Schnur said to me. ‘Everyone is feeling the same pressure you are. Just have fun and enjoy the moment!’ Those words have stuck with me even during my 16-year gap out of the show arena. When I started competing again in 2014, I sometimes need to remind myself of the value of staying in the moment.”
“Luckily, I had a great friend who had been showing for many years and really helped me when I decided to come back,” Bonnie adds. “Some of the challenges were finding the right trainer and the right horse. I was very lucky to have the advice of a seasoned AQHA competitor. If I had to do it without that help, I probably would have made some wrong decisions. I can certainly sympathize with a newcomer who doesn’t know anyone from whom they can get advice!”
Provide Professional Support
Horse trainers, also part of the horse show family, become an importance piece of a competitor’s overall support system. Bonnie knows the value of having help from a professional because of her positive exposure to breed shows with Kerri McKay, Lyn McArthur, and Highpoint Performance Horses.
For Larisa, it was the combination of the right horse and the trainer that was her quest. “You need to have both,” she says. “Also, you need to have complete trust in your trainer. I needed to find someone who believed in my potential and was capable of helping me achieve my dreams and ambitions in this crazy horse world that I love so much. I’m so thankful I found Nancy Renfro. Because I had shown as a youth, I kind of had an idea of what that would look like, and I was just waiting for the right time in my life when I would be able to commit the energy and time that it takes to get it done at this level.”
“If you want to be competitive and successful, I believe you should invest in a quality horse and trainer,” Lacey agrees. “I strongly believe that in order to compete at this level, your horse should be in a full-time regimented program where you consistently take lessons and strengthen your skills as a team. I would be remiss not to mention my wonderful trainers, Garth, Sonessa, and Austin Gooding, who have taught me so much and always provide unconditional support.”
Give Them a Place to Start
The importance and value of having introductory classes and a leveled show structure where newcomers can compete with their peers is near the top of the list, too.
“I love the Leveling now that they have at AQHA shows,” Larisa says. “I was actually so surprised to learn, when I started showing again, that I was going to be [classified as] a novice. If I wouldn’t have been able to be in novice again, after all my years away from it, I don’t think my experience would’ve been as good. It really allowed me to get my confidence back and show at the level that I needed to be. I’m so thankful for that.”
Keeping the new exhibitor or returning exhibitor in mind was one of the inspirations for creating the AQHA Leveling program, and continual development is suggested by Larisa. “I do think it’s a big jump from novice to amateur. I know they have been trying to fix that with the Level 2 classes, but it seems like the novice classes are so huge that there should be a way to have beginner novices and then a separate Level 2 and Level 3. I hope that’s the direction AQHA is going with Leveling. I do know that has made my experience going to these big breed shows much more enjoyable. I definitely think they’re heading in the right direction, but I hope they continue to work on it,” she concludes.
Although the show structure itself is often a focus for giving new exhibitors a more comfortable place to compete, Bonnie also suggests a mentor-type structure that could be provided by shows, organizations, or clubs. “It might be helpful if there was some kind of avenue for newcomers to ask questions of other amateurs or youth. Maybe there should be a list of people who would be willing to respond privately to emails from potential exhibitors,” she proposes.
Offer Good Advice
Not surprisingly, each amateur gained newfound confidence from advice they learned from others, and as a result are now able to offer some of their own advice to beginners.
Bonnie encourages exhibitors to put themselves in the shoes of others and welcome newcomers, regardless of level or experience. “I think if we, the more experienced people, could just acknowledge a newcomer by name, it would be very beneficial. Even saying to someone, “nice ride,” or “your horse is cute,” can make someone feel more welcome. I know everyone is very busy at the shows, but it really doesn’t take much time to just smile and say hello. Just be friendly. It can start by complimenting someone in your class at your very next show,” she says.
Lacey agrees with that approach. “I definitely try to be friendlier and more inclusive to any new exhibitors I meet because I remember how intimidating it can be when you first start out. We all want to win, but remember why you’re doing this in the first place. Also, don’t forget to focus on fun, not results,” she says.
Although they know the significance of reaching out to others for help, sometimes all it takes is the passage of time to ease the transition.
“One thing I would say I’ve learned over the years in the horse show industry is, if you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask! If you’re unsure about a rule, pattern, or even where the show office is, someone is always more than willing to help. Chances are someone else has had the same question you do,” Lacey says.
“The best advice I can give is to get out there and do it often. Keep showing until it becomes comfortable and you get your confidence. Keep doing it, because eventually your knees stop shaking! Believe in yourself, and believe in your horse. Find a great trainer that you work well with. Work hard, stay focused, and never give up on your dreams,” Larisa says.
Focus on the Journey, not the Destination
Now that these three amateurs have completed the transition from newbie to experienced competitor, you might be wondering how it all worked out and how they plan on paying it forward. Their words of reflection say it all.
“I’m still making an effort to be friendly, despite the hectic atmosphere of a show, because we were all newcomers once!” Bonnie says.
“I’m still smiling at people I don’t know,” Larisa says. “Sometimes I’m not sure if they’re new or if I’m still the new one and just haven’t met them yet! I also try to stay confident and always remember that tomorrow is another day. I will always have another chance to compete. I also try to be true to myself and focus on the fact that I always want to do my personal best and leave the ring feeling great about my horse and my ride. I might not be at the same place as everyone else, but I always want to strive to do my personal best each time out.”
“It’s amazing how many things change, yet stay the same after a 16-year break from showing horses. I still get the same rush of excitement when I smell, see, and enter the show pen,” Lacey says. “I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love.”
