Lakeview Farm Horse Show

Important Participant & Parent Information

Please find the following helpful hints, tips and info for packing and preparing to attend a 3 phase event and/or hunter show with Shannon Loven.  Not all events will include all 3 phases of dressage, cross country and stadium jumping, so please be sure to know which events and levels you will be entered in before you attend.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Knowing your dressage test is your responsibility.

Equipment & clothing for each competition phase:

Dressage:

• Beige or White riding pants
• Simple leather belt either black or dark brown to match your boots
• Tall boots/paddock boots with garters, some may wear the half chaps with the approval from Miss Shannon
• Hair nets and a Velvet helmet or velvet helmet cover
• Short sleeve white show shirt with stock tie (regular tie for boys)
• Simple Stock pin
• Black Show Jacket
• Black Show gloves
• Black or White square saddle pad
• Short Dressage whip
• Make sure you have a snaffle bit for the dressage phase
• *Martingales are not allowed for dressage

Cross Country:

Cross-Country Colors are optional but most riders have them.  Choose a color scheme and apply it to your helmet cover, saddle pad, collared shirt, bell boots (if your pony wears shoes), splint boots, etc.

• Cross-Country vest
• Jumping bat (Short crop)
• Running Martingale if needed
• Cross-Country emergency armband (ask at Atlanta saddlery)
• This must be attached to each rider on course
• Stronger bit if needed

Stadium Jumping:

• Beige riding pants
• Lakeview Farm Polo Shirt or your white show shirt, stock tie and black coat.(Ask Shannon at the show)
• Belt
• Tall boots, paddock boots with garters or half chaps
• Hair nets and a Velvet Helmet
• Jumping Bat (short whip)
• Running martingale if needed

Hunter Show:

• Beige or Khaki riding pants
• Paddock boots with proper Jodhpur pants, elastics and garters.
• Breeches are to only be worn with tall boots
• Pastel colored short or long sleeve show shirt (white is acceptable)
• Simple leather belt to match boots
• Hunt coat- any color that compliments rider and pony (black is acceptable)
• Collar of shirt must have either initials or simple stock pin (no stock tie)
• Black gloves
• Simple black crop (no colored crops with designs!)
• Black velvet helmet
• Hair- neatly inside helmet with a hairnet or in 2 neat braids with ribbons
• Pony: Brown tack is preferred in the hunter ring
• Fitted fleece pad that is appropriate for the size of your saddle
• Standing martingales are only for jumping classes (no running martingales)

Ponies must be very clean. Be ready with tail brush and rags in hand to clean pony and rider before each class.

Other Gear:

• Swim gear, towel and sunscreen–depending on location and time of year (overnight only!)
• Be sure your child has plenty of cold Gatorade (no dark colored drinks) and bottled water. Soda is not allowed the day before or the day of a show.
• Money for food and/or snacks
• Lakeview Farm Polo shirt for schooling cross-country the day before and/or for wearing around the show grounds.
  Contact Miss Shannon if you need one.
• Chairs
• Umbrella
• Rain gear, including mud boots
• Comfortable barn shoes

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you borrow anything from Miss Shannon or any other rider, please remember to take care of it like it was your own.  Borrowed item checklist:

1. Clean the borrowed item,
2. Return promptly, Sunday evening, long before Monday morning lessons.

Horse Care, Your Tack Trunk and Supplies:

Although some of these items could be deemed optional, please remember that other riders have gone to the expense of purchasing and maintaining their show trunks.  Borrow only with permission because some riders prefer not to share.  Although many riders are glad to share in a pinch, none appreciate having their trunk raided when they are not around.  Borrow only with permission.

• Fly spray- a pony who is bothered by flies is a distracted mount
• Shampoo for your pony in case he gets dirty again
• Sweat scraper
• Water for you
• 3 Water buckets with snaps and rope to tie it up with
• Feed for your pony (ask Shannon if she has already packed it)
• Extra stirrup rubber bands (can’t ride if you loose one)
• Extra Jodhpur elastics unless you have tall boots
• Extra shirts, socks, and riding pants in case yours get dirty or torn
• Pony Club pin on your coat if you are a member
• Back-up gloves in case you loose one or they get torn
• Hole punch if you own your own tack
• Baby wipes for dirty kid and horse faces- remember a dirty face does not show well.  Leather wipes to quickly clean boots outside of arena.
• Pony grooming needs such as brushes, comb, hoof pick, rags, etc.
• Lots of Snacks for rider
• Extra copies of your riders Dressage tests
• Current Coggins in your tack box
• Emergency phone numbers taped to the top of the trunk if you are not staying with your child
• Bug spray for you
• Sunscreen for you
• Clean towels
• Hat to keep sun off face
• Extra hair pins for your hair net
• Fan ,2 bungee cords, small extension cord (some overnight shows allow us to use these)
• Wind pants, pajama pants and over-sized t-shirts are all good to throw over your show clothes when grooming and bathing your pony (remind you child they must stay clean until the end of the show!!)
• Comb, hairspray, rider hair rubber bands-black or tan and whatever is needed to keep your hair neatly secured under your helmet.
• Personal items such as tissues, headache medicine, chap stick etc.
• Extra money in case you need a quick trip to the store
• Always bring your check book to the shows-just in case your entry was not correct
• Hay bag with your name on it.  Must be placed full of hay by the driveway ready to be loaded with you horse.  Shannon will not be filling these for you.
• Roll of duct tape
• Saddle rack
• Bridle rack
• Safety pins
• Tack cleaner and sponge for last minute wipe downs

Parents:  if you have any questions about this list (What’s crucial, what’s optional, etc.), please do not hesitate to ask one of the seasoned riders or their parents.  Everyone went as a “newbie” once and understands that there are many questions prior to a big show.  Almost all are glad to help.

Helpers/grooms: Most shows a helper will come with.  Miss Shannon does not pay these helpers, they work for tips.  Please tip them at the end of the day if they have been a help to you.  Example: warm-up your pony, help you saddle, carry water for your pony, help you walk the course, etc.  We want them to keep coming to help so please don’t forget.

Pre-departure Schedule: You are responsible for preparing your pony for the show.

Riders and or parents are expected and required to bathe, groom, clip your pony (no you may not use my clippers for this purpose), pull mane, clean all tack, prepare your hay net, and help load items in the truck/trailer. If you cannot do this prior to the departure time please give Miss Shannon seven (7) days notice and she will be happy to do all or part of this for you for a fee ($$).  Do not assume that it will be done for you if you do not show up.  I will not allow dirty ponies, unclipped ponies, ponies with long manes or dirty tack to enter the show arena and I mean it.  You are all an extension of Miss Shannon and Lakeview Farm.  I want to be proud when you enter the arena. No sloppiness will be tolerated this year.

Final Notes:

• Everyone is required to take all of you own tack and equipment for the show.  The truck and trailer are for hauling horses and feed, not your tack.  If you will not be arriving at the same time as your horse then you may leave your bucket with snaps next to your hay bag to go on the trailer.
• Parents are in charge of your child arriving at the warm-up arena on time.  We had quite the problem last year of students arriving late.  This does not give them enough time to get prepared as they should and then Miss Shannon can not do her job properly.  Do not come running up to Miss Shannon 5 min before you are to enter the arena asking me to tie your stock tie.
• When I am coaching your child please don’t talk to them.  They need to concentrate on one person when at the show not mom, dad, and Miss Shannon.
• If they fall please let me go to them first and I will call you in if needed.  Thank you for your consideration and help with all of these instructions.
• Everyone is in charge of keeping your own stall clean.  Miss Shannon will feed the horses but you are in charge of watering them. Most shows require us to clean stalls before we leave as well.
• You will find a sign up sheet hanging in the barn one (1) month prior to each show with fees attached.  Please sign you name and leave a check for schooling and hauling (if needed) at that time.  If you are signed up and have not left your checks, then your spot could be given to someone else.
• Don’t forget to have all entries in on time and always ask to be stabled with Shannon Loven.
• I expect all kids to show good sportsmanship win or lose. If they don’t get a ribbon, I still expect them to congratulate those that did.  Sometimes the judges are unfair.  No need to complain it’s just the way horse shows are at times.

These are long, grueling and exciting days.  You and your rider should be well rested, mentally prepared for the expectations and responsibilities of showing a horse.  Each rider needs to know the dressage test that they will be conducting.  Know what test you are doing and study it.

Dressage scores can make or break a ribbon.

One final point to keep in mind is that almost all these shows are run by volunteers.  Please be nice to everyone and offer to help where possible.