Throughout this series, we’ll be hearing best practices from organizers who host a combined total of over 50 horse shows annually!
#LearnFromTheBest with tips from:
- Anna Mitchell of Mitchell Dressage Series
- Miranda Kettlewell of Commonwealth Dressage & Combined Training Association
- Liz Erwin of Potomac Valley Dressage Association
- Cynthia Brickley of Elysian Hills Training Center
Start Small: Save the Date!
Picking horse show dates can seem just as daunting as selecting a wedding date.
#StriderShowHack: Check the recognized show schedule in your Area/ Region/ Zone to see if you can select your date as a good lead-in to a bigger show.
That way, you’ll have riders attend your show who are gearing up for something bigger in upcoming weeks and want a bit of a warm-up outing.
#StriderShowHack: Communication is key. Once you have selected date(s), let riders know! Reach out via email or social media to keep interested riders in the loop.
Equestrians tend to plan their activities and their spending in advance. Use an automation platform like www.mailchimp.com to send out a Save-The-Date email blast.
Or, schedule social media posts to keep folks in-the-know. Be sure to include where folks will be able to find registration information once it’s ready.
Time:
Decide upon the hours you’re willing to run your show for. Select a start-time and end-time early-on, so that you can let judges, volunteers, etc. plan accordingly.
#StriderShowHack: Schedule breaks! his helps you keep judges & volunteers happy plus provides a buffer if things go awry. It only takes one rider falling off in show jumping for the class schedule to get mangled.
#StriderShowHack: Figure out approximately how long it will take a horse/ rider combination to get from the warm-up to the competition area. This will help you stick to your schedule on show-day.
Coming Up: #Location, Location, Location!
You’ve heard the phrase, “location is everything.” Want to know more?
Enter your email below to get blog updates about our #StriderShowHack Series throughout the year!
[activecampaign form=44]