48 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Virtual Obstacle Shows
By Lynn Witmer
To learn more about Virtual Obstacle Shows, visit our website at www.virtualobstacleshows.com or join our facebook page where riders are posting their videos and score cards. Hope to have you on
our next ride!
A Participant’s Perspective
Virtual Obstacle Shows were my best ‘find’ this year and I am so excited to look forward to 2019. I stumbled across them early in 2018 and started participating in the In-Hand division in February, and then later added the Novice and Advanced riding divisions. Why do I love them? They are FUN, you get excellent feedback from the judges on each and every obstacle, and it provides another way to spend time with your horses!
First a bit about Virtual Obstacle Shows. The shows are various ‘weeks’ throughout the year. On the Thursday of the show “week” the pattern is emailed to you. You set the course up at home, videotape it, upload to YouTube, and send the link to VOS. You have an entire week to submit your videos. All rides in each division are judged by the same judge for consistency and fairness. Within a few days of the end of the show, you receive the results and your scorecards. Plus, it’s affordable. There is a small registration fee for each rider and then very reasonable show entry fees for each class, with discounts after the first class.
The aspect I really would emphasize is the scorecards. Each obstacle receives a score for the horse and one for the rider, with comments supplied for every obstacle. This is so helpful in making adjustments and improvements for future rides (and you have the video to review). You don’t get this aspect at local shows, you only know if and where you placed, but usually not ‘why’. Plus, after the show, riders are encouraged (but not required) to share videos. This is also a great learning tool.
There are quite a variety of obstacles, many fun and some challenging, but that’s how you improve. Most are from common items around the barn (poles, straw or hay bales, bag filled with bottles to drag or carry) and some I made. We found the local “re-use-it” store great for this purpose. Found a cheap piece of pvc tubing to make the jousting pole (sponge attached to end) and used a piece of baseboard (attached to jump standard) to make a gate.
I also participate in local shows but VOS shows are great as there is no trailering involved and no waiting around for your class. Plus with a week to get the pattern done, you can pick the day, which was so important this year as our weather was terrible. I love that there are in-hand classes as I have one horse that had surgery and has a fused pastern. He can’t be ridden any longer but he loves doing these patterns. My other horse participated in all three divisions this year.
The shows are very flexible – you pick the classes you wish to do each show. Next year there will be a trial Beginner division, also. Still not sure or want some practice? You can purchase “Judge’s Critiques” for just $7. These are past patterns which you can have scored. Plus, quite the variety of prizes. After earning a select amount of points, you receive an embroidered jacket. Consider giving it a try!
adjustments and improvements for future rides (and you have the video to review). You don’t get this aspect at local shows, you only know if and where you placed, but usually not ‘why’. Plus, after the show, riders are encouraged (but not required) to share videos. This is also a great learning tool.
There are quite a variety of obstacles, many fun and some challenging, but that’s how you improve. Most are from common items around the barn (poles, straw or hay bales, bag filled with bottles to drag or carry) and some I made. We found the local “re-use-it” store great for this purpose. Found a cheap piece of pvc tubing to make the jousting pole (sponge attached to end) and used a piece of baseboard (attached to jump standard) to make a gate.
I also participate in local shows but VOS shows are great as there is no trailering involved and no waiting around for your class. Plus with a week to get the pattern done, you can pick the day, which was so important this year as our weather was terrible. I love that there are in-hand classes as I have one horse that had surgery and has a fused pastern. He can’t be ridden any longer but he loves doing these patterns. My other horse participated in all three divisions this year.
The shows are very flexible – you pick the classes you wish to do each show. Next year there will be a trial Beginner division, also. Still not sure or want some practice? You can purchase “Judge’s Critiques” for just $7. These are past patterns which you can have scored. Plus, quite the variety of prizes. After earning a select amount of points, you receive an embroidered jacket. Consider giving it a try!
longer but he loves doing these patterns. My other horse participated in all three divisions this year.
The shows are very flexible – you pick the classes you wish to do each show. Next year there will be a trial Beginner division, also. Still not sure or want some practice? You can purchase “Judge’s Critiques” for just $7. These are past patterns which you can have scored. Plus, quite the variety of prizes. After earning a select amount of points, you receive an embroidered jacket. Consider giving it a try!