My mom and I had talked a while ago about unspoken horse showing rules after my last horse show.
I don't show too often (small FFA/4H shows) and I've only shown five times total. Most of the time I show alone in the class and I tend to talk to my horse. Its more of a thing to make the whole thing light hearted and to keep the horse calm. (I've shown foals predominantly.) I try to make the horse think that its only a training session; especially my foals.
I have shown in classes with other horses/ponies, and its SO quiet. And here I am cracking jokes to my horse. (I'm being literal here. I tell jokes.....)
I've always thought that it seems that people aren't having fun. You know? I can't imagine being so quiet while handling my horse. To me it seems like everybody is SO serious. I'm obviously not being serious when I show. I get super stressed if I show and don't talk to my horse. Which is why I talk and crack jokes. I usually end up talking to the judge as well.
My mom mentioned to me that it seems to be an unspoken rule NOT to verbally socialize with your horse in the ring. (Not including kissy noises and verbal commands.)
Is that true? Because honestly, I better quit showing.
(Not happening, lol.)
How about to talk to other showers?
In one of the classes I did one of the QH's spooked on this one little kid. The horse calmed down and I asked him if he was okay. Nobody else did. Is it an unspoken rule NOT to talk to other showers?
So....is it bad to be anti-social while showing? To me it seems very harsh and serious. Even un-inviting!
I'm curious if there are any other unspoken rules about showing. I'm not familiar with show politics within the horse community.
Thanks, lol. Just one of my many random questions.
-Julia
I don't show too often (small FFA/4H shows) and I've only shown five times total. Most of the time I show alone in the class and I tend to talk to my horse. Its more of a thing to make the whole thing light hearted and to keep the horse calm. (I've shown foals predominantly.) I try to make the horse think that its only a training session; especially my foals.
I have shown in classes with other horses/ponies, and its SO quiet. And here I am cracking jokes to my horse. (I'm being literal here. I tell jokes.....)
I've always thought that it seems that people aren't having fun. You know? I can't imagine being so quiet while handling my horse. To me it seems like everybody is SO serious. I'm obviously not being serious when I show. I get super stressed if I show and don't talk to my horse. Which is why I talk and crack jokes. I usually end up talking to the judge as well.
My mom mentioned to me that it seems to be an unspoken rule NOT to verbally socialize with your horse in the ring. (Not including kissy noises and verbal commands.)
Is that true? Because honestly, I better quit showing.
How about to talk to other showers?
In one of the classes I did one of the QH's spooked on this one little kid. The horse calmed down and I asked him if he was okay. Nobody else did. Is it an unspoken rule NOT to talk to other showers?
So....is it bad to be anti-social while showing? To me it seems very harsh and serious. Even un-inviting!
I'm curious if there are any other unspoken rules about showing. I'm not familiar with show politics within the horse community.
Thanks, lol. Just one of my many random questions.
-Julia