A high quality equestrian program suited to your needs
2009 Horse Show Schedule
Ashwood Farm will be traveling to the following USEF shows as well as most of the NKHA and GPHA shows below.
January 21-February 1 WEF Weeks 3 & 4 February - March 2009 Arizona Winter Circuit April - trip to Europe April GO Spring H/J, Tulsa, OK May Spring Kentucky, Lexington, KY June 4-7, 10-14 Country Heir, Lexington, KY July Go Shows, Oklahoma City, OK August Kentucky Summer Classic & USEF Pony Finals, Lexington, KY
September - December to be determined
Photo by Ed Moore
A good day's work!
Early morning in the ring at Ashwood
While horsemanship and the love of the horse are the top priority at Ashwood Farm, our trainers and riders also enjoy the chance to compete against and learn from other horses and riders in both local and national level competitions.
Ashwood competes on two local circuits, Great Plains Hunter Association(GPHA) and Northeast Kansas Hunter Association(NKHA). GPHA usually has about eight shows each year and NKHA usually has around sixteen. Both associations offer fun awards banquets and year end prizes to reward riders for their hard work all year. These local shows are held in Manhattan, Topeka, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Bonner Springs, and the Kansas City area. NKHA has a website where more information about the organization and show dates can be found. It can be found at nkha.net. GPHA also has a website located at www.greatplainshunterassociation.com.
In addition to these shows, Ashwood shows at nationally recognized shows sanctioned by the United States Equestrian Federation(USEF). You can get more info about this organization at usef.org. USEF shows are held all over the country, and we travel with the horses to both coasts and all over the midwest to go to competitions. The USEF year starts December 1. That means that means that points begin to acrue December 1 until the following November 30. Riders are also considered to be the age they are on December 1 for the entire year.
A typical year finds us in California or Florida during January and/or February doing two to four weeks of showing to escape the cold Kansas winter and to start the year off on a good foot. Then, we take a little break and show locally and at midwestern USEF shows, usually in Oklahoma, during the spring. After that, we head off to Castle Rock, Colorado, for a couple of really fun horse show weeks in June. Early July finds us in St. Louis and then we leave for three or four weeks of shows in Lexington, Kentucky, our favorite place to show. We compete at Junior and Pony Finals as well. Many times our young riders get to also experience Breyerfest at the Kentucky Horse Park because it happens right at the horse show grounds in early August. After Kentucky, we get home and get ready to go back to school. We do quite a bit of local showing, and sometimes go to St. Louis and Oklahoma in the fall. Some years, we have horses qualified for Indoors, and we head back to the Pennslyvania National in Harrisburg and the Washington International in D.C. Then, it is home for the American Royal in early November. We try to start the points year off with a bang at the December St. Louis shows held the first two weekends in December. Then, we give it a rest until the next winter circuit time in January. While some students are hitting the road and travelling extensively, others are working hard for local show awards from March through October at shows in northeast Kansas either with Mary Ann or one of the assistant trainers or sometimes both!
Our goal at the horse shows, no matter the level, is to treat our horses fairly and learn from them. We want to have fun and practice good horsemanship, and we believe the awards will follow closely behind these practices.
RECOMMENDED READING FOR PARENTS:
The Horse Show Mom's Survival Guide by Susan S. Daniels
Emmalee and Rachelle getting ready for the costume pairs class at the final NKHA show of the season in Topeka
Abby and mom Mary Ann are the princess and the pea at NKHA's final show of 2006 in the costume pairs class
Look at those ponies' socks sparkle!!
Horse Show Clothing Guide
Show clothes appropriate for ages 12 and older
Show clothes appropriate for riders age 12 and under
In order to go to a show, a rider must not only have polished horseback riding skills, but the essential elements of the riding habit are also required. Below is a list that every rider needs to go to the show. Then, a list of items specific to an age group is given. At age 12, riders may switch from jodphur style pants and paddock boots to riding breeches and tall field boots.
All riders need:
ASTM approved helmet; recommended brands International Riding Helmet(IRH), GPA, Charles Owen. Go toward traditional styling of black velvet or the newer look of brushed black or charcoal with a center stripe. AVOID shiny plastic helmets if possible. Best to try on in a tack store for best fit.
Shirt: girls need a LONGSLEEVED ratcatcher shirt with a collar. The collar should be monogrammed with a small name or initial(s). Boys need a button up LONGSLEEVED shirt and tie.
Jacket: wool or wool/poly blend; many beautiful colors available and acceptable. DO NOT GET BLACK.
Gloves: black
Belt: your choice
Rider's hairnet for girls or bows if hair is braidable - NO SHOW BOWS(hairnet/bow combo)
Riders 12 and over
Breeches in khaki(greenish tan) or tan
Field boots(not dress boots), leather, never rubber
Riders 12 and under
Jodphur pants in khaki(greenish tan) or tan
paddock boots
garter straps at knee
elastic straps to hold pants down(go under boot sole)
Horse clothing for the show:
sheet
dress sheet
contour saddle pad
show halter and/or shipping halter
leg wraps
Places to buy horse show clothing and other horse equipment:
Smartpak Equine(internet) www.smartpakequine.com (free shipping with Smart Pak supplements)
Equestrian sports differ from once a week activities. To become a horseman, you must emerse yourself in horses and love the horse with all of your heart.
