Our family only shows driving shows, so our son started driving at age 6 at a local driving fun show, hence the lack of "show clothes". Dad carried the whip for him there. They even won a class!
Kyle started showing in American Driving Society shows last year at 7. He showed in 3 shows.
This year, he helped Dad groom for our Tandem in one show and showed in Novice Driver at Villa Louis, where he went Reserve showing with 13 other adults! Kyle's horse show friends are his best friends! Too bad they live far away and he only gets to see them at shows and other driving events!
The ADS shows are very Jr. friendly around here.
I agree, it totally depends on the kid. Kyle complains a little bit about the hot show clothes, but he has finally learned that some sacrifice has to be made to get something good. After he won his Turnout class, he didn't nearly complain as much as he did last year! And it helped that the Ring Steward walked by us in line up as Kyle was whining to me how hot he was. The RS turned and looked straight at Kyle and said, "I know how you feel, Buddy!"
Kyle lightened up after that when he realized everyone else is in the same boat! (Next year, I think I am going to try to find him a khaki coat instead of the black!)
It is VERY important that parents and grandparents not try to live vicariously through their children. Children will ultimately resent this, and it makes for a rotten, bitter show. We have decided a long time ago that if Kyle doesn't want to show, he stays home with Grandma while we show. However, a bit of "peer pressure" comes into play when his "show friends" are showing, too! I CAN'T STAND parents that are SO hung up in their child winning that they become "not so fun" people to be around! I go to shows to have fun, not listen to some parent whine and complain about the judging especially when their "parent-blindness" comes into play and they can't see that their child really isn't as good as they think!
I also don't like it when parents put the child and everyone else in a dangerous situation by "over-horsing" the child. The right combo of the right horse, a prepared child, and the right attitude go a long way!