Perseverance is key to showing horses

(AP)--Olympian Will Simpson got hooked on horses after his mom saw an ad for two-for-one riding lessons and signed him and his sister up.

Competing in the Olympics was always a dream.

"I just kept pursuing it and working at it and finally it became a realization and a reality," said Simpson, a member of the 2008 gold medal-winning U.S. show jumping team.

That's the same advice he gives to people thinking about riding competitively.

"It takes a long time," said Simpson, who started riding when he was 11. "You really have to persevere."

The rewards, he said, go way beyond medals and ribbons. "It's an amazing sense of accomplishment," he said. "It corresponds to every walk of life, that trust and that teamwork."

As with many sports, riding can provide camaraderie, and teach responsibility, a strong work ethic and the importance of helping others.

But unlike softball or soccer, it comes with a huge price tag, especially if you start competing in horse shows. You have to outfit horse and rider, cover trailer costs to transport the horse, and pay stall and entry fees. It's not unusual for a show tab to reach thousands of dollars.

That doesn't include the cost of owning or leasing a horse, including board and vet bills.

But Simpson, 49, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., said there are plenty of ways to work around the barn to help pay the bills.

"Everything's expensive--tennis lessons, piano lessons," he said.

What's important is hanging in there, even when it seems you're not making much progress. "It has to get in your blood," he said.

Getting started

Given competitive riding's cost and time commitment, it's not something to get into lightly.

"Horses are wonderful creatures but they require a lot of work," said Joanie Morris, a spokeswoman for the United States Equestrian Federation.

First-time riders are mostly young, she said.

They also tend to be female, said Frank Willard, owner and trainer at Deep River Farm in Oak Ridge, N.C. "All girls love horses and guys get tired of getting beat by the girls," he said. Most professional riders, however, are male, he said.

People start competing in horse shows for various reasons, Morris said, but one thing is constant: "I don't run into very many people, maybe a handful, who aren't crazy about horses."

For new riders, the most important thing is choosing a barn, Willard said.

There you can take group or individual lessons in the basics: walking, trotting, cantering or jumping a fence, for example. A rider must learn how to care for a horse, including cooling it off after a ride, grooming it and cleaning its tack. Only once those skills are mastered should someone consider the show ring.

"We're trying to have a partnership, or a dance with the horse that is based on mutual communication," said Miranda Scott, head trainer at Meadowbrook Stables in Chevy Chase, Md. "The horse has to understand what you're asking it to do and you're asking it to do all these weird, arbitrary things."

Competing

Many barns hold their own shows so students can get the feel of competing. Riders may start out with flat classes--walk, trot, canter--leaving jumps for later. The next level is "schooling shows," which let students test their skills and confidence in the ring against riders from other barns.

As riders become more accomplished, they can move on to the more competitive rated shows.

There are several disciplines in which a rider can compete.

In hunter classes, the horse's movements are judged on the flat and over jumps. In equitation, it is the rider's performance that is judged. Jumper classes are less subjective--judging is based on whether the horse clears the jumps within a specified time. Dressage is a series of exercises based on a horse's natural movements.

Trainers

Whatever the discipline, finding a good trainer is key.

What should you look for in a trainer? "Someone you feel comfortable with, who provides a safe environment for you to ride in and matches your goals," Morris said.

Sometimes you have to try a few before you find the right fit.

A trainer can help riders find the right horse for their skills and size. A child may start out on a small pony, for example, then move on to a larger one before graduating to a horse.

Gear

Then, there's the job of outfitting horse and rider.

There's a uniform of sorts for riders: show coat and shirt, breeches and tall boots. And don't forget the helmet. U.S. Equestrian Federation safety rules bar anyone from riding in Hunter, Jumper and Hunt Seat Equitation classes without proper headgear.

Most expensive is the saddle, which can range from $1,000 to $4,500, according to Berk Lee, a competitive rider and owner of the Tack Box store in Middleburg, Va. You also need a bridle, reins, martingale and bit, stirrups and leathers, and saddle pads.

"Fit is very important, especially with the tack for the horse," Lee said.

A consignment shop can be a good resource, Lee said, especially when shopping for children, who outgrow their stuff so quickly.

Put all the pieces together, and there's something magical about horse and rider working together in the show ring, Scott said.

"The real reward," she said, "is when that horse snuggles you."

Date: 2/16/09