by Kristi Rensby

I've been writing for a while now, trying to compile a series of good information for the new horse show person. Seeing as I'm heading off to Alberta this weekend, I figured it was a good time to pull them out and start the series.


Terms to know for a horse show newbie
Might as well begin here, so we're not confusing anyone new to showing with the terms we throw about during the next several columns in the series.

Rail - the fence along the outside of the arena in question. Riders in pleasure classes follow the fence, or *stay on the rail*.

Rein Back - back up your horse. Some judges will specify a number of steps (each front foot moving counts as a step), or a number of strides (count one front foot each time it moves), or they may just leave it up to you, in which case backing a horse length or about 10 feet is appropriate.

Line Up - when all the entries in a rail class turn off the rail and line up in front of the ring steward (or sometimes judge, listen carefully to the announcer).

Maiden - a maiden entry is one that has not won a first in that type of class (ie, a Maiden English Pleasure horse has not won a 1st place in any English Pleasure class).

Novice - a novice entry is one that has not won three 1sts in that type of class (ie, a Maiden Western Pleasure horse has not won three 1st places in any Western Pleasure class).

Whipper In - the person who checks you into the arena when it is your turn to show (no whips used!)

Ring Steward - the person who goes with the judge and relays their instructions to the riders. Questions to the judge must be addressed to the ring steward.

Hors Concours (pron. O-con-core) - non-competitive. If hors concours is allowed, it means you can enter a class for the experience and not be judged (ie, no ribbon). Hors concours is most often used for pleasure classes, for instance to see if your walk-jog horse is ready to try a lope class. It can also be used sometimes in pattern classes such as seeing if your dressage horse is ready for a level jump, but some shows won't allow hors concours in patterned classes as each extra rider makes the show last that much longer.

No Cross Entry - means that a horse/rider combination entering a No Cross Entry class may not enter another class of the same type. Each club may have slightly different rules about cross entry, so be sure to read carefully.

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by Kristi Rensby

To accustom your horse to fly spray, you need to teach him to stand for the spray. Similar to sacking out, the best way to approach this is slowly and by watching his body language. You may want to start with a water-filled spray bottle to cut down on wasting expensive fly spray.

I find it easiest to start on the neck and shoulder area - this seems to be the least threatening area, maybe because we do so much in that region. Spray once and then pause, reassuring the horse with your voice and hands. Each time you pause it helps teach the horse that the hissing and spray feeling of spray landing on his coat will stop.

If the horse starts moving (usually around you in a circle, as you are holding one end of the leadrope) I will usually keep holding the bottle up and out where they can see it, until they stop moving, then I will lower it as soon as they stop. You can tie a horse but some will pull back frantically to escape and can get hurt. By lowering it when they stop, it encourages them to stop and stand. Once they are standing again, I'll spray again and wait for them to stop again. It seems like doing this over a series of days works so that they are much more tolerant of flyspray.

I also think that the round penning work I talked about will make a difference to how we handle these sorts of things, as your horse will be used to being chased out when he is doing it *wrong* and standing quietly with you when he is *right*.

If you absolutely can't get your horse to let you put fly spray on (and we used to have one like that!), you can try wipes. Wipes can also be used when doing sensitive areas such as your horses face - near his eyes and ears are especially important as they are fly favourites. Instead of spraying near these, wipe your spray on with a rag, using a roll-on product, or using a fly wipe - these are towelettes like baby wipes moistened with repellent. In a pinch you can use your hands to smear the fly spray on these areas, but be sure to wash well with soapy water immediately afterwards

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• Hoskins Ford
• Reimer Ranch

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