THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I’ve worked with riders whose goal is to show and win. I’ve given them lessons, trained their horses, taken them to shows, and done what I can to prepare them for the show pen.
Some were successful and others weren’t—and among the latter have been riders with the most money, the fanciest horses, and the biggest goals. What makes the difference?
My answer is that learning to show is a process, not a purchase. It takes time, sweat, sometimes tears, and I don’t know of anyone who’s learned to show well without commitment to it.
To succeed, you must develop and build on a complex set of skills, not just one or two; the ability to guide your horse through a pattern, or to walk, jog, and…
