The Big Fall Shows--On Your Radar?
This is the time of year when various breeds and equestrian sports have their major championship shows. The calendar's overloaded with such events as the U.S. Arabian Nationals, Morgan World Show, Appaloosa World Show, AQHA World Show, the NRHA (reining) and NCHA (cutting) Futurities, and so forth.
My question: Do you attend any of these shows, either as a competitor or as a spectator? If not, do you follow one or more of them via on-line broadcast--an option nowadays?
Or, do they not matter in your everyday scheme of things?
I'm just curious enough to want to take your pulse on this subject. And one more thing: If you were to win a sweepstakes and got to pick a major event to attend, all expenses paid, would you go to one? Which one?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 9:52 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Speaking of shows reminds me of an article I read a while back. It is told by a father of a show girl to her boyfriend. It talks about how basically the boyfriend is a slave for the show "queen", fetch water, hold the horse while she runs around and of course the clean-up. I have 8 and 12yr old daughters and everytime we go to a youth rodeo or show I end up working like a fool taking care of 2 horses and the tack, and I just laugh to myself thinking about this article. They do help but I let them have fun too. If you or any of your readers have access to this article I would love to print it out and hang at the barn. Thank you, Dave Affolter.
I'd pick The Road to the Horse.
I'm an antique as far as show people go. The bloom is off my rose in more ways than one! As I've gotten older, my focus has turned more to training and understanding my animals. Since many of my friends have gone the same way, I've got to postulate that there's a paradigm shift at some point during which the rows of ribbons on the wall seem to fade and "there must be something more" pops up. I do like to watch demonstrations of well-trained horses in any discipline, but I've lost interest in anyone's opinion of which of a pack is better than the rest.
Of course, that doesn't preclude my playing Show Mom when my adult daughter is in the ring!
Joanne,
I think you will be interested in the article I wrote for December's upcoming issue of H&R--"End of the (Show) Trail." It addresses the subject of losing interest in showing, and moving on to other interests. Your comments are echoed by the readers I quoted.
--Juli
I do attend, as a spectator, the NRCHA Snaffle bit Futurity every year and haven't missed one in 23 years. I couldn't tell you who was last years super bowl champion, but I can sure tell you who won the SBF!
It's always awesome and exciting, and to think these horses are only 3 year olds! WOW...to me working cow horse is one of the toughest events going, the horse has to be good at three events, and the riders are masters! I love that show...I've managed to make it all these years because it is held in my hometown. I make sure I go come hell or high water, and this year I took a day off work to go to finals. To me going to the SBF is like Christmas morning!
I would LOVE to go someday to the NRHA Futurity and the Derby, reining is my thing, but I just can't afford too, or do I have time to go. Now if there was an all expense paid trip that's a different story... Juli would that include a care taker to stay at my place while I'm gone? :)
I wish some of the horse networks would broadcast more of the big events...it seems the only thing they show is highlights, they don't even show a full run. Sometimes ESPN will cover the finals at Spruce Meadows...how about giving us the finals in full to some of the other prestigous events! The horse industry clocks in at 13 billion dollars a year. I would think if ESPN, or even some of the horse networks would stick their perverbial advertsing neck on the line it would be very lucrative.
Oh, I follow so many it isn't even funny. I attend any NCHA events I can but the superstakes in Fort Worth is my favorite. I got to go once and would love to go again.
Oh wow, definitely the NRHA futurity. Been to the NCHA Super Stakes, the World Show (AQHA), the NRBC,and they were fun, but the Futurity would be the ultimate. I usually learn something at each show and pick a future stallion to breed to. You can find some excellent junior stallions that won't break your bank and carry wonderful bloodlines. One day, just one day, I'll have one of my colts at a big show. Ah, to dream...
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