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HI Spy: What are your competitive goals?

There are numerous reasons why riders choose to compete in horse shows and other events. One of the most common reasons is to give yourself something to work toward as a rider.



Goals can be as lofty as making the Olympic team or as modest as simply overcoming nerves to make it through a class at the local schooling show. No matter where your personal goals fall on that spectrum, working towards them keeps you motivated and gives your training sessions purpose.



Even if showing isn’t your thing, equestrians of all types participate in a variety of competitive events, many of which have very little to do with the glitz and glamour of the A-circuit. Endurance and competitive trail offer a competitive outlet for dedicated trail riders. Cattle events give talented ranch horses a stage to test their skills. Hunter paces are fun, casual events in open country for English riders. If you and your horse are especially multi-talented, you can even opt to compete in an Extreme Cowboy Race.

Show season is just around the corner. We want to know, what are your competitive goals for this season? Are you chasing points with your old campaigner? Hoping to complete your first endurance event? Or maybe you’ve never shown before and want to make 2010 the year you finally get in the ring. Share your goals with other horseillustrated.com readers by clicking “Submit a Comment” below. Some of the answers may appear in an upcoming issue of Horse Illustrated.

One selected response may be selected by the editors to win a monthly prize! If you would like to be eligible for the prize, please include your email address in the comment form (email addresses are not publicly displayed.)

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  • To get my horse listening to me. Like, picking up a trot when I ask (the first time), and keeping his gait no matter if we're on a line or on a circle. This is so that we can pass our dressage test.

  • I hope to be able to finally show my mare. She has had a long tough rode to travel down. She is coming along beautifully and I can't wait to finally show her off. Hopefully we will get a blue or two.

  • My goal this show season is to simply make it to at least one show! I have been "barn-hoppping" for a while and i need to settle down somewhere where I can lease a horse and just have fun showing.

  • My goal this year is to start barrel racing my horse, Pebbles. I had her well started late last year on barrels, and I hope to have her able to compete this year. So, if winter will ever end, we will be working towards our goal!

  • I would love to get a blue ribbon or two if we make it to at least one show this year. Otherwise, I want to get more practice so I can ride better.

  • My goal is to do a hunter jumper class with the horse I'm afraid to ride right now. I don't care if we get a ribbon or not, I just want to do the class.

  • My competitive goal is to be a jockey and to be one of the best female jockeys there ever was! far fetched but why not dream big.

  • I've just gotten into the show ring, and it's hard competing with other people who have the time and the money to put into this sport. I've always been the underdog in everything I do. It's my goal this year to really knock them off their feet! I love the horse I'm using, and we've got a long way to go, but we've come so far. I think we can do it! :)

  • My goals for the summer are to spend lots of time loving on my boy! He has navicular and arthritis, so our goals are to get him feeling better than he ever has!

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