📅 The Week Before
Confirm entry fees paid and class list printedDouble-check times, check-in requirements, and any coggins/health cert needs.
Pull and inspect all tackSnaffle bit, shanks, mecate, hobbles — anything cracked, worn, or squeaky needs attention now.
Clean and condition all leatherBridle, saddle, breast collar, back cinch — don't wait until night before.
Review pattern / class rulesWalk through the pattern mentally. Know your transitions. Know the penalties.
School horse lightly on show movementsCircles, lead changes, stops. Keep it positive. Don't overdo it — you want a fresh, confident horse.
Bathe and clip horse (if needed)Bridle path, ears (check association rules), legs, fetlocks, muzzle whiskers.
Check trailer — lights, floor, bedding, water
Vet check and current coggins / health papersMake a copy. Keep originals in truck, copies in trailer.
🌙 Night Before
Lay out show outfit (shirt, hat, chaps, boots)
Pack tack trunk / hay bag for trailer
Braid or bag tail (if needed for your class)
Apply ShowSheen to mane and tail
Pack hay, grain, supplements, and water buckets
Charge phone / headlamp
Set alarm — earlier than you think
Print directions / GPS the grounds
Pack lunch and water for yourself
Get a good night's sleep — no exceptions
☀️ Show Day Morning
Feed and water horse earlyAllow time to digest. No heavy grain right before competing.
Groom — body brush, face, legsWipe face with damp cloth. Check eyes and nose. Use a soft brush around ears.
Apply hoof polish or conditionerClear or black depending on hoof color. Let dry before moving.
Saddle and bridle — check all billets, ties, keepers
Put on splint boots and skid boots (if applicable)
Check-in at office — get numberKnow where numbers go. Pin securely. Bring extra safety pins.
Walk the arena (before classes start)Feel the ground, find the markers, note the cattle pen location.
💡 Tip: Arrive at least 90 minutes before your class. You need time to check in, warm up, watch a go-around, and settle your horse down before you ever enter the pen.
🐴 Warm-Up Pen Protocol
Walk, trot, lope both directions — let the horse see everythingDon't go straight to hard stops. Let them settle first.
2–3 light stops, then buildFeel where your horse's feet are. Don't over-drill.
Lead changes — check both directions lightly
Ride quiet — stay out of other riders' wayCall out your circles. Watch your speed. Be courteous.
Stop schooling 10–15 min before your runLet the horse relax. Stand quietly. Review the pattern in your head.
💡 Warm-up pen reality: It's loud, crowded, and your horse will notice. The goal is not to drill — it's to find your horse's mind and get it focused on you.
🧰 Trailer Tack Room — Don't Leave Without These
Fly spray
First aid kit (for horse + rider)
Safety pins × 12
Entry confirmation / class sheet
Coggins / health certificate
Cash for office fees / shavings
Camera or phone mount
Extra clothes (for all-day shows)
🧠 Mental Game — The Part Nobody Talks About
Walk the pattern in your head the night beforeNot just the movements — the feel. What does the first stop feel like? The first change?
Breathe before you enter the penThree slow breaths. Your horse reads your body. Calm hands come from a calm mind.
Don't ride the last competitor's runWhat the horse before you did doesn't matter. Ride your own run.
Find one thing to be grateful for, win or loseYou showed up. Your horse tried. That's the game right there.