02/11/2025
With show season starting here are some great tips!!!
Anytime you show, itโs crucial to think about what youโll do and how youโll do it ahead of your class, no matter the event. Here are my six tips for your preparation process anytime you compete in ranch riding, thanks to Ride TV coach Bud Lyon.
๐๐๐ฅ 1: ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐
"The patterns themselves are just guidelines. Ranch riding patterns have more room for ex*****on than something stricter like a reining pattern. You donโt have to perform it exactly as it says on the page. I advise paying more attention to the words describing the pattern than the drawing itself."
๐๐๐ฅ 2: ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐
"While your horse settles in, head to the arena where youโll show. With your pattern in mind, walk the arena to get a feel for where the elements will play out and how they best flow together."
๐๐๐ฅ 3: ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐จ
"Identify sponsor banners, panel connections, marks on the arena wall, and more that can indicate where to transition from one maneuver to the next. If youโre outside, find trees, shrubs, an outbuilding that can help remind you when to speed up, slow down, circle, and more."
๐๐๐ฅ 4: ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ
"Saddle up your horse, and head to the pen where youโll show. Walk and trot pieces of the pattern to get a feel for where elements will fall, where you can take your time when you might need to be quicker in your transitions, and how youโll approach each piece."
๐๐๐ฅ 5: ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐จ
"Instead, focus on doing small parts of the pattern. Separate the maneuvers or break the pattern into sections. If you do practice the entire pattern, only do it once or twice. Anything more than that can be problematic because your horse learns whatโs coming and then starts to think ahead of you."
๐๐๐ฅ 6: ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐
"Our standard of excellence in ranch riding is to complete transitions in two stridesโone stride is even better. Showing this skill to the judges can earn you credit when used correctly. The time you spend riding at home and showing gives you the ability to identify these strengths and capitalize on them."
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ'๐จ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ โก bit.ly/3W6GPrn
