One of the most painfully true quotes I have found in the horse world is this: “The only way to make a small fortune with horses is to start with a large fortune.” Anyone else able to relate to this? Boarding, supplements, tack, farrier visits, entry fees, lessons, blankets, vet bills… the list of expenses for horse owners never seems to end. I started riding in middle school and got my own horse in high school. I was showing quite often at local shows and competed against girls whose parents paid for lessons with top trainers and bought them professionally trained show horses. There I was with my heart-of-gold mare, Crystal, often finding myself unable to place as well as I’d hoped. I was taking a heavy load of honors classes and didn’t have the time to work a job that might pay for lessons. So, I was forced to get creative with how I would improve my game. Here are some ways I did it…

Listen, Listen, Listen

I found horse shows to be a gold mine of quality advice – schooling shows especially.  With some judges, they would go up to each rider after every class and explain what they could improve on and provided a short explanation on their placing in the class.  I remember one show in particular where the judge began her day doing this.  At the end of every class, I listened intently on the advice she gave and spent my free time before the next class improving in this area (i.e. hand placement, horse’s collection, turning to/away from the rail, gait changes, etc.).  By the end of the day, two things had happened: my placings had progressively gone up as I had taken the judge’s advice, and I noticed that she was only coming to me and one or two other riders after each class.  Most of the other competitors were not improving throughout the day based on the advice she had given them, so she stopped coming to them.  The few gals who had been applying her suggestions were getting more of her time after each class.  A lesson I learned that day is to never think that you don’t need advice or that you can’t improve.  If I had to guess, I’d say that’s why a number of the competitors didn’t show improvements throughout the day: they felt as though they were already doing well and didn’t need to fix anything.  A side note on this: make sure you express your gratitude to judges who take the time to do this.  They have a thankless job, and sometimes a simple “thank you” will make their day – not to mention, they’ll continue coming back to you with suggestions on how to improve your riding!

Horse shows’ helpfulness doesn’t end there; a great wealth of knowledge also exists outside the ring.  Look for the people doing well and go out of your way to introduce yourself.  For me, this looked like chatting with people while we waited for classes.  I learned a lot just by sitting and listening.  I asked a few questions.  For the most part, people are competing because it’s their passion.  Getting them to share tips and suggestions is often fairly easy for this reason.  Watch the people who consistently do well.  What do you notice about their posture, their horse’s carriage, the gait transitions?  Be observant.

Become a Student

My passion for training was borne out of the desire to be able to get my mare to the same level as the horses against whom we were competing.  I didn’t have the funds to take lessons on a regular basis, and I certainly couldn’t afford to send Crystal off to a professional trainer.  Lucky for you and for I, there are thousands of resources available for DIY-minded horse owners.  Here are some examples:

• Go to your local library and check out what’s available in the horse section.  Magazines like Western Horseman are a great tool because they commonly offer articles with tips from renowned judges or successful competitors.
• Make YouTube your best friend.  You will find thousands of videos available, mostly posted by trainers or top competitors.  For those of who you are more auditory learners, this is an alternative if you’re not a fan of reading.  I was competing in western pleasure events at the time, and found all sorts of videos that helped me as a rider and gave me tips on how to work with Crystal.  I learned about collection, proper carriage for both my horse and myself, and much more.  I watched videos of world champions like this one where the judge explains what makes a winning ride.  When I started competing in gymkhana events, I found helpful videos posted by the pros such as this one about getting a tighter turn with world champion barrel racer Fallon Taylor.
• Buy used books on Amazon for cheap.  Over the last few years, I have been gaining an interest in natural horsemanship and developing a good foundation on a horse.  Books like True Horsemanship Through Feel by Bill Dorrance allow you to tap into the brains of people who have dedicated their lives to the horse.  There are books for just about anything you’d like to learn more about, from dressage to eventing to team roping.  I like having my own so that I can mark in the pages and refer to them any time I have a question.

When looking for resources on your specific niche, educate yourself on the pros in the field.  People who have renown in an industry have earned it.  They have a list of credentials and often a publication or two behind their names.  This way you can ensure you’re getting quality information.

Spend Time Around Horses

If money is tight but you really would like to take lessons, ask if you can clean stalls in exchange for lessons at a local barn.  I especially encourage this because any extra time around horses will help you become a better horseman, even if it’s while cleaning out stalls.  It makes us more aware of the subtle ways horses communicate when we’re able to be around them in such a casual setting.  Plus, you’ll be able to see how the barn operates and maybe even sit in on other people’s lessons in between cleanings.

And, lastly, this all brings me to a point I’ve made before and will say again: like my old boss used to say, the best way to learn how to ride is to stop talking about it and just get up there and do it.  Educate yourself, but always be thinking about what it will look like when you go to implement these new concepts.  Recognize that all horses are different and a training technique that worked for one won’t necessarily work with yours.  Experiment and find what is best for you and your horse.

But most importantly – enjoy the ride and remember: the only one you’re competing against is yourself.