Surviving the Horse Show Hangover, EC Blog by: Kina Tavary

EC Blog by: Kina Tavary

Hello to all my fellow Equine Chronicle readers! I’m very honored to once again get the opportunity to relay my experiences from another horse show. Today is the third day after the completion of my most recent horse show, the Oregon Summer Classic in Medford, Oregon. I’m a firm believer that by the third day your “horse show hangover” is almost over. I’m not sure about you guys, but the first day after a horse show has ended, I am, for a lack of better words, worthless. All of the adrenaline has worn off and my body and mind finally have the time to let me know they’re exhausted, sore, and sleep deprived. The second day, I replay the videos of my classes over and over and dissect what I could’ve done better, or hopefully what I did right. Sometimes, I even like to play those really great parts on repeat!

After flying back to Las Vegas from Medford (on a very early flight with a 2.5 hour layover in Salt Lake City and running on two hours of sleep), I went into a horse show coma. Yesterday, after arising from said coma, I watched every pattern or class about 10 times. I’d originally went into Medford with a very positive attitude, but also knowing that neither my horses nor I had ever been to the show. I was uncertain as to what the outcome would be, but I was hopeful that my goals of clean, solid classes would go as planned. This was also my first horse show with my horse from Down Under, RRD Who Invited You, aka “Murphy.” A week previously, I had practiced in Washington and was excited to get him in the show ring, but also aware that he’s still very green. Pass The Black Gold, aka “Speedy,” is seasoned, and I don’t have to worry much about him in the show pen. However, I do have to worry about the amount of treats he consumes (I contribute to this) and the destruction of his Lick-it toy, which happens in a blink of an eye.

Showmanship was my first class and ran on Wednesday and Saturday. As I said before, this was my first time at this particular show. I’d heard about the weather conditions, but for some reason I wasn’t alarmed until I was in my heavy showmanship jacket, running around in 100+ degree heat. I think most everyone at the show suffered from a near heat stroke or lighting strike (I’ll get to that later). I think that in itself warrants the expression “horse crazy.” We all do whatever it takes to be in that show pen, come hell or high water, which, let me note, we experienced both at that horse show!

Back to Showmanship, Murphy was a little nervous, but very locked in. He’s a smart, emotional, and quick learning horse. His will and desire to please is what makes him a great candidate for a Showmanship horse, not to mention I think he’s striking at 16.1 hands with a golden buckskin color. Our very first class, Level 1 Amateur Showmanship was a straight forward pattern with trotting, backing, and a 270 degree turn. Murphy exceeded my expectations, and I think the heat helped my nerves, because I couldn’t focus on the fact that this was his first time in the pen. I was busy concentrating on the sweat dripping down my back… We had a clean, cohesive pattern and placed 1,2,2,5. I was so proud of my Australian boy that I burst into tears. It was so special that he was able to find something he enjoys and is so good at. Other beautiful runs in the class were Sierra Bennett with her horse, A Lil Bit Purdy, and my fellow barn-mate Rachel Mundell with Buster Brown’s A Star.

The youth classes were very large and competitive. For once in my life, I was very glad I was not younger… After the initial confidence boost of my first class, the show seemed to go increasingly well for me. As we all know, horse showing is very unpredictable. Sometimes you can be off, and sometimes you’re just on. At this show, I was on! Speedy and I ended up winning first under all four judges in our Trail class, which was a huge accomplishment. I think he was very pleased to be done with the pattern because there was a scary side of the arena he wasn’t too fond of. But, we managed to keep it together. Through all the sweat, dust, and countless gallons of water the humans and horses consumed, we somehow all managed to get through the show.

On the final day, after my last class, L1 Amateur Western Pleasure, I took Speedy back to his stall, took off his saddle, tail, and gave him a bag of treats. (I know I have a problem). Then, the sky began to rumble and Niagra Falls somehow began dumping down over Medford, Oregon. Lightning struck and thunder was rumbling, so I jumped in my golf cart and headed to the arena as my trainer Genny was there. We both share an equal fear of lightning, so I figured we should be together. I bolted to the arena and found that not only were the classes stopped, all of the power had gone out right before Junior Western Pleasure was about to go in. I was completely shocked that the horses were under control. I, on the other hand, was not. Every time the lightning would crash down, I would scream. I somehow got nestled near the judges, and I can’t help but think they probably thought I was crazy. I even looked crazy with ripped up jeans, converse sneakers, a tank top, and my western pleasure rhinestone adorned hat on as well as red lipstick smeared across my face.

The judges were so close to being done, but Mother Nature had other plans. I was thankful that mostly trainers were riding around in the show pen; because, had it been me, the scene might not have been so under control. After about 15 minutes, and a crack of lightning on the arena, the power came on. As they say, the show went on. Oh and I survived…

Speedy and Murphy were surprisingly calm, so I decided to take them to the Don Trout Photography area and document my successes with a picture. I ended up Circuit Champion L1 in Horsemanship, L1 Trail, and L1 Western pleasure with Speedy. With tears in my eyes, I’m able to write that I was Circuit Champion in L1 Showmanship with Murphy. I feel beyond thankful, excited, and proud to be able to walk away from a horse show with four belt buckles and many learning experiences and memories I will never forget. Congratulations to everyone at the horse show on your hard work, wins, battling the elements, and growing with your horses. I wish everyone a happy horse show hangover. I’ll see you all next time, in two days at the EMO Summer celebration show in Las Vegas!