At Cyr Point Stable, our horse show experience is family oriented and we work together as a team to ensure our riders, ponies, horses and parents have a fun. We attend local schooling shows in Central Florida and also AA Circuit shows throughout Florida and the East Coast. Please see our Horse Show Schedule for upcoming dates and locations.
Here’s what to expect during your child’s first few horse shows!
1. What do I need to buy?
Every barn’s show program is different and typically requires similar gear to start your child’s show career. In our beginner program, we have our children purchase their show clothes while we provide the quality tack and horses. Every child is required to use a high-quality helmet to ride and show with us; this offers the best head protection. Brands we love are One K Defender and Samshield. While rhinestones are fun, our sport prefers the plain black conservative look. It is not required, but recommended to look into protective safety vest or airbag vests. Dover Saddlery carries several lines of protective gear, but please speak to Robin on all details.
For smaller children, we recommend a black or brown paddock boot and garter strap rather than tall boots. Because children grow so quickly, we advise waiting before purchasing tall boots. Each child will need tan breeches or jodhpurs, belt, black gloves, long-sleeved white show shirt, and a black or navy show jacket. Tailored Sportsman is the go-to brand for riding breeches, and there are other options perfectly suitable for children just starting out! Some children will be asked to buy spurs and or a small riding crop.
We are very lucky to be conveniently located to Dover Saddlery of Winter Park. Parents can bring the children in to be sized and get further questions answered.
2. What is expected of me during the horse show?
We have a lot of highly successful go-getter parents showing with us. Their number one job at the shows is to support their child and let us do our jobs as the trainers. In the beginning, parents jump out of their chairs with every announcement made. Don’t worry. We’ve got this. Your child is already checked in and is not going to miss anything. Sit back and help your child with snacks, water, and last-minute hair adjustments while we do the rest! Enjoy participating in your child’s passion.
Horse show judges are not referees and this is not a hockey game. It is never appropriate to approach judges for any reason, no matter how unfair you think their decision might have been. Your trainer will be more than happy to explain the reasoning behind class placings. Sometimes we find parents are more disappointed with class placings than the children who are just proud of their “personal best” accomplishment, flush with the success of competing in their first shows. Remember, there’s a lot more
to horse showing than the color of the ribbon.
We expect all of our parents and children to practice good sportsmanship. This includes supporting the competition and accepting that there are winning days and not so great days too. Shaping the next generation to be professional and kind is of great importance to us here at Cyr Point Stable. Let us be the first ones to help another barn, trainer, or child who might be struggling with a difficult situation.
Great effort goes into making your child as successful as they can be in their show careers. Our parents play the most vital role in achieving this goal by supporting and dedicating the time needed. Trainers and parents have frequent conversations about how to best suit a child’s needs as situations develop. During show day, it is as simple as showing up as a loving and supportive parent and ready to devote the day to their child’s passion! We do the rest.
3. What time exactly will my child be riding? The whole family wants to come
watch!
By far this is the most frequently asked question, and the urge to ask it 20 times a day can be most difficult for the dads. Our answer will always be the same: we don’t know exactly what time but we can make an estimate. Let’s go over some of the reasons for this.
Horse showing is not a soccer game that will run at 3pm sharp and be canceled the night before if it rains. We show rain or shine, allowing for delays during weather issues, especially lightning. (This is Florida, after all.) Shows start in the morning at an exact time, but unforeseen situations might push a start time back. Several classes group together to make a division, and there could be 15 divisions to go for the day. The number of participants will determine how quickly the show will run and when the show will end. A class with 6 riders will finish more quickly than one with 25 riders. We can’t just put your child in the first division to make it easier for your family. Each division is
different, and your child needs to be in the most appropriate one no matter how far down the list it is.
Also, when dealing with horses and children, things don’t always go exactly according to plan. The footing might have gotten too deep and the arena needs to be dragged. Maybe the jumps need to be reset. Or perhaps the ring steward is holding the arena for other riders who aren’t prepared and the event is moving very slowly.
Assume your child’s first few shows will be all-day events. Consider how attendees will handle being outdoors all day. (Some show venues have pretty nice bathroom facilities and a full food setup; some are more rustic and won’t have these niceties.) Maybe family members would rather just watch the video! In time, our parents learn to enjoy all the waiting as it’s all a part of the journey.
4. Is that all my child is going to do today?
After a long day of hurry up and wait, it might seem that your child only rode for a few minutes. You might wonder why they are showing at a level below what they do at home. You came to the show to see some action after all!
Your child might very well be cantering around a course of jumps at home, but at the first show, they might only be showing in the walk/trot division. This is a very common practice. Your child’s first few shows are going to produce some anxiety, mostly because they are new at it, and there are a lot of strangers watching. Also, because we’re working with sensitive animals, it’s in everyone’s best interest to give your child a very easy task for their first time out.
Setting children up for success is always the best approach. There are divisions for every level. Allowing your child to show in the walk division is a wonderful opportunity. Olympic riders did not start showing at the Olympic level; most of them started in lead line.
Horses are the most important part of horse showing, and we feel that this can be quickly forgotten by novice parents and families who don’t yet own their own horse. One division is plenty for the day; our farm horses will never be asked to do all of the divisions simply because a child wants more ribbons. We will not overwork our horses. Our horses are treated with respect and given quality care. Some families are able to provide their child with multiple horses to show and others struggle to make one horse available. This is a conversation to have with your child so they understand what’s realistic for them and what is not.
We do our best to make your child’s dream come true no matter what the budget is, and we caution everyone to be realistic. There will always be more waiting than riding at horse shows, and most parents learn to enjoy the time spent with other parents, shopping, and watching other riders. The children run around together and build memories that last a lifetime!
Give your child the opportunity to learn the sport, practice good sportsmanship, take good care of their horses, and enjoy the day. Reach out to Robin Cyr at 407-810-6293 for more information about the Lesson Programs and your horse show goals for the season.