Show me the way!
Showing your Spanish Horse
This year sees a greater number than ever of events at which to show your Spanish horse. Whether you have a youngster, part bred or you are looking for an introduction to show-riding or in-hand showing, the opportunities are endless. But, in this slightly cooler economic climate you may well be carefully considering just how far you will travel, as the price of a tank of diesel or petrol has now become a serious issue for most of us!
There is a growing recognition that the Spanish horse, especially in costume, makes for a wonderful attraction which entertains the public. Show secretaries are often unaware, until we arrive, just what an impact our horses make. Breeders may like to take this opportunity of a current swell of enthusiasm to generate an on-going interest in our horses. These shows are often the place where a non-Spanish horse person becomes excited at the beauty of the horses and decides to investigate further. Our British breeders are using these shows as a platform on which to show the quality of their stock.
There are guidelines, articles and excellent books, in addition to the information on the BAPSH website which will assist members who wish to show their horse in the correct tack and costume. The long-held traditions of the Spanish people regarding clothing and saddlery should be proudly preserved by anyone intending to emulate them. We must continue to work hard to ensure that our standards are as high in the U.K. as they are at the regional shows throughout Spain. Although there are no direct parallel examples of ‘showing classes’ in our traditional English way, the Spanish people take the business of displaying their horses very seriously and exhibit great attention to detail.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is usually very well attended, possessing the kudos of taking place on Her Majesty the Queen’s lawn. I have often wondered if there is the possibility that she may be ‘curtain twitching’…or worse still, actually peering over the top of her glasses at the side of the arena. To my knowledge, this has never occurred whilst I’ve been competing there, although I’ve had vivid nightmares in which I have spotted Her Majesty scrutinising my horse whilst he attempts to show his masculine credentials to all and sundry!
There is an obvious benefit of taking young or nervous horses (especially colts) to smaller, therefore quieter shows where they can be educated under less intimidating circumstances. This is possible at a show which includes Foreign breeds classes, usually both in-hand and ridden. On the other hand, (metaphorically speaking) the American horse shows offer the opportunity to show in a class where they positively encourage more ‘pizazz’. Again, we can use this to accustom a horse to an atmosphere in which the horse is unfamiliar but where exuberance won’t be disdainfully frowned upon. That is not to say real misbehaviour is tolerated. But for the handler or rider it is certainly less daunting. The viewers on the outside of the arena at American shows become very vocal, especially when all the horses are asked to canter and this often leads to unexpected explosions of ‘joie de vivre…’
On the whole, showing mares and geldings allows the rider to deal with less challenging behaviour, although not always. How refreshing it is to see the fairer sex and the less well-endowed proving their status in the final line-up at shows. A skilled judge will never fight shy of placing a mare or a gelding above a stallion in a mixed class, should the principles of that class demand it.