One of the challenges of our sport is that rated competitions are rarely close to our homes. For some of us, spending multiple weeks and/or months on the road is just not possible due to other lifestyle conflicts. We must therefore prioritize what we are trying to extract from each horse show in order to plan which one(s) to attend.

My Amateur Priorities
Last fall, if you asked me my schedule for 2017, my answer would have been to compete in the amateur hunters in picturesque Wilsonville, Oregon, near Portland during the summer and fall. At that time, my goal was to gain mileage in the amateur hunter rings. Since my time and money is limited, my list of priorities is finite.

• Distance: located within a one day haul
• Operations: offices and rings run efficiently
• Grounds: provide well maintained footing, stalls and wash racks 
• Hospitality: offer amenities that cater to riders, horses and spectators including food and comfortable viewing areas. It is amazing what complimentary coffee and granola bars will do for a competitor feeling appreciated! 
• Lodging/Activities: A location that offers nearby accommodations as well as activities away from the horse show  
• Timing: Dates must fit into the schedule of competing obligations outside of horses                                                                                 

In our region, I have found that Team Northwest Equestrian Sports horse show management spends the extra time on details to create a positive experience for all attendees and therefore I gravitate towards their events.  I love their professional signage, beautiful jumps, pretty flowers and the overall aesthetically pleasing atmosphere of their Wilsonville show grounds. Not to mention, the restaurants in nearby Portland are a fabulous treat to frequent with your barn friends.

Professional Mileage
As we all know, the best-laid plans are subject to change. Because my horse, Sazerac, underwent colic surgery last January, possibly attributed to a cold inversion during his first year in Idaho, we tried to minimize risk and sent him for the winter to Becky Warner of Morning Shadows Farm (MSF) located in temperate Arizona. One of our biggest complications when choosing where to compete when living in remote areas like Idaho is transport due to weather, time on trailer and cost of hauling. MSF already was scheduled to attend four shows within a few hours of the barn during the late fall and it made sense to add him to the travel list to gain professional mileage. The net result was that I did attend one show to spectate and school in the new program and I could see that this particular horse benefitted in becoming a better amateur horse through professional rides in different environments.

Based on this observation, my husband and I made a tough choice to leave Sazerac in Arizona for the entire year. I love riding almost every day, weather permitting, but we both realized the long-term benefits that will result for him staying at MSF. This decision changed our 2017 horse show calendar because the new priorities are to gain solid professional mileage that will ultimately benefit me in the amateur division and also develop Sazerac as an open USHJA Derby horse. Shows were chosen by the following factors:  

• Competition: USHJA rated winter shows where the competition is moderate due to his limited experience
• Challenging Courses: The courses are well designed, and the obstacles are challenging and include options, like banks (obstacles I don't want to school over for the first time!)  
• Travel:  Expenses are reasonable and can be split between multiple horses.  The distance traveled should not exceed one day as we are only sending him for experience, not attending an event he has qualified for (ex. Capital Challenge, KY, etc.) 
• Class List/Prize Money: A good selection of open hunter divisions complete with sponsored “special” classics and derbies that offer prize money   
• Stabling: Indoor stalls in case of inclement winter weather and footing that can hold up to rain                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

As you can see, the three biggest differences between choosing shows as to where I am as an amateur versus gaining professional mileage include course design/elements, open class lists/prize money and timing on calendar.  These elements are different for everyone based on their horse show goals and lifestyle conflicts.