How to Run a Horse Show Now that it ’ s horse show season , I ’ m being asked how to run a horse show .
For fourteen years , it was my privilege to manage the largest combination horse show and judging school in America . Out of this experience , I came to the conclusion that the philosophy , rather than the mechanics , is the most important thing .
The rule books — AHSA , state , and / or local — pretty much spell out the regulations governing the classes ; and the numerous details relative to advertising , stabling , tickets , parking , concessions , etc . are much alike .
Here ’ s my guiding philosophy : How to Kill a Horse Show 1 . Conduct them to please the exhibitors — accede to all their demands and whims ; the spectators “ be damned .”
2 . Operate through committee action ; always compromise , and never take a stand .
3 . Don ’ t hurry ; never close the gate on a wealthy or influential patron , and let the show run for 3 to 4 hours — if they are true horse lovers they ’ ll stay with you .
4 . Give all halter and less glamourous classes a play in front of the big show ; after all , some of these horses were brought great distances .
5 . Provide free entertainment for all exhibitors ; they ’ ll be happier that way .
6 . History pertains to the past ; forget it from the standpoint of colorful classes .
7 . Select judges who will please influential exhibitors . by
Dr . M . E . Ensminger , Ph . D . Clovis , California
Keys to a Successful Horse Show
1 . Manager — He must know and have a flare for horse shows , and he must operate as a benevolent dictator — reach decisions and move .
2 . Organization — The manager should prepare an organization chart and job descriptions ; then select responsible people , delegate responsibility , and correlate the event .
3 . Operate for spectators , and not for exhibitors ; otherwise , you ’ ll have an empty grandstand . To attract spectators , there must be — ( 1 ) Color ; as obtained through presenting the flag and playing the National Anthem ; the use of a costumed buglar ; formal dress of all officials in night shows ; and through having colorful events like an Arabian Mounted Costume Class ; Gay 90 ’ s Morgan Class ; Appaloosa Indian Mounted Costume Class ; Pillion Class ; etc . ( 2 ) Action ; keep it moving . ( 3 ) Timing ; no show should be over 2Vz hours long .
( 4 ) Crowd appeal , which necessitates ( a ) eliminations in big classes ( b ) conduct of the less glamourous classes before a non-paying crowd , and ( c ) variety .
( 5 ) Special events that are unique .
4 . Select judges of unquestioned honesty and integrity ; and avoid those whose chief interests are wine , women and song .
5 . Hold a judging school in conjunction with the horse show ; operate them as twin events . This ( 1 ) adds to the educational value and ( 2 ) provides a logical way in which to handle the judging of halter classes . Where a judging school is held , use officials who can give good reasons .
Why Hold a Horse Judging School along With the Show ? 1 . To impart to horse owners sound information relative to the proper type , care , training , and showing of the mount .
2 . To meet other people , both amateur and professional , who share in enthusiasm for horses .
3 . To enable horse lovers to enjoy horse shows with informed appraisal .
4 . To train horse owners in the practical art of selecting horses .
5 . To train judges as officials for light horse shows .
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College Horse Programs
Most college horse programs passed out with the demise of the draft horse . Now I see little hope for their return , even though there is great interest in light horses .
It has been well said that it ’ s easier to move a graveyard than to change a college curriculum . After spending 25 years as a college professor , I agree . But there are other obstacles , too . Among them — 1 . Most college administrators are uneasy about horses . You ’ ll have to put blinkers on them ( not on the horses ) if you ever get a horse program on the campus .
2 . Good horsemen on college staffs are about as scarce as proverbial hen ’ s teeth .
3 . Colleges have gone scientific , and I ’ m all for this . But I pass this question : Is not some of the so-called art pertaining to horses actually a science ? Let me be more specific . Is developing and training of a stakes winner an art or a science ?
4 . The general decline in agricultural enrollment and financial support , with the result that money is hard to come by — particularly where new programs are involved . In my judgement , there is a crying , but unfilled , need for college light horse programs ; embrac-
42 VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse