PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL HORSE SHOW

There is no doubt that hosting a horse show will lead to some long days of planning, organizing, and scheduling, and even longer days of managing during the competition. The more details you look after before the show starts, the more prepared you’ll be to conquer any issue that comes your way during the actual event.

Initial considerations to planning your competition are deciding the type of show and classes you will offer. What venue or facility will you use? Have you purchased insurance, and is it adequate? Who will be your officials and are they credible, fair and professional? Finally, who will you be sanctioning your competition with?

A sanctioned show is one where the hosts and organizers adhere to a set of conditions and rules in order to be “approved” and authorized by the sanctioning body. Hundreds of horse shows are held across the province each year. While some are sanctioned by the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) or Equestrian Canada (EC), others are hosted by another entity, such as a