July 25, 2003, Newsletter Issue #135: Tips for Western Pleasure Classes

Tip of the Week

For the final week, I will talk about Tips for the Western Pleasure Rider, tips for a Winning Western Pleasure Tack and Clothing.

In Western Pleasure Rider classes at Horse Shows, your entire appearance and your presence is as important as your ride in the class. In Championship or Stake Classes or Hi-Point, your tack and clothing will be considered as well. This is a sad, but very true FACT of Western showing.

You have to choose your tack and your clothing for your horse as though it matters, because it does.

Take pictures of you, riding your horse outdoors, in an arena from the opposite rail; and then indoors from the opposite rail. In the Indoor photo, take the photos in good and bad light, as some arenas the lighting will be great and in others it will not be your asset nor friend.

Now in looking at your horse, and yourself in the reflection of these photos, I want you to think "WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO HAVE THE JUDGE NOTICE ME AND FOCUS ON ME, AND NO ONE ELSE?" HOW TO I CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION SO THAT THEY IN TURN FOCUS ON MY RIDE?"

A site that is great in helping you to plan, is www.hobbyhorseinc.com

Suzi has been working in the Business of Western Show Clothing for years, and her recommendations are the best. Review the site for the differences in the color of tack on diverse colors of horses as well. Your color selection for the tack is fairly certain, it is Circle "Y" Light Oil, Mahogany or Black; or Simco`s Red Oil; or Weaver`s Natural. All of the tack manufacturers pretty much keep to these colors. So choose SHOW TACK accordingly. What looks best on your horse? Not what is the color of tack that you like the best~!

If you can possibly afford to, you should have at least one qualifying outfit, and expand to a couple of slinkies to expand the selection; and a Championship outfit, with the expansion of that wardrobe to include fancy slinkies, and a Shorty Jacket. Hats need to be of the best affordable quality that you can get.

One parent was exceptionally resourceful and went to Value Village and bought Adult Leather pants for $8.00 and then made her daughter a pair of great "smoothie" chaps to wear for a couple of seasons until she outgrew them. So don`t let your Pride or Prestige shorten your vision, nor limit your resourcefulness~!

REMEMBER: Remember to have fun, and to wear a SMILE~!~!

In August, it will be Saddleseat Riding Tips.

Here’s hoping you have Good GO!s every outing with horses.

HAVE A LOT OF FUN~!~!

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