Gypsy Horse Show Hints

Click HERE to see photos of Obstacle Building Day

The possible pattern for Oklahoma & Fort Worth Stock Show are explained here for you to practice.
Be very aware.  MOST shows do NOT tell you this information BEFORE the show.
Typically you arrive at the show and see the pattern posted on a wall somewhere.
And then you have to memorize the pattern right there as the judge will take off points
 if you do things in the wrong order.

Due to the inexperience of many new Gypsy Horse owners, and due to the fact that we are all in it for the fun,
your registry has agreed to share the possible obstacle patterns early.
Thank you, Gypsy Horse Registry ( formerly Gypsy Cob Society ).

The ORDER may change but the registry will make the pattern simple...like maybe just in a logical circle or oval.
For now, just practice the various things discussed and look for your pattern when you get to the show.
PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS JUST A GUIDELINE AND COULD VARY !

Whether "riding" or "in hand", you will enter the ring OFF of your horse, leading it.
Your first challenge will be "ground tying".    There will be a large circle made by a garden hose in a radius big enough for your horse to stand in. You must walk your horse into this circle and then your horse must STAY in the circle while you walk out of the circle to retrieve an item for the next challenge. Your horse can move a bit, but better not walk out of the circle.  Judges like it when your horse stays still. ( Practice standing your horse in one place while you take one step away.  If your horse follows you then return the horse to the original spot after saying WHOA or making some other noise. Just pull down on the halter and say loudly WHOA…. and S L O W L Y…..take one step back…while facing your horse.    And when your horse goes to take one step towards following you, just make the load   "AHHHH" noise (not sure how to spell that ..ha ha ) and then move their feet back to where they were standing and pull down on the halter again  and say WHOA.  Keep doing this over and over and in about five tries they will get it.  While practicing you can also just put your hand up and say WHOA….and then very slowly take one step back… ..then if he stays, take two steps, then three…..then PRAISE YOUR HORSE for being so good ! Try walking away again.  Repeat this pattern until you can walk far away from your horse who will eventually wait for your return. If your horse just will NOT stay put, then you will have no choice but to walk your horse over to the next "egg pickup" challenge and just pick up the egg.   The judge will take off a few points, but that's all OK.  You might make it up on the next challenge.) For the next challenge, you will now walk over to a small pile of "bird eggs" that have "fallen from the nest".  Pick up one egg and return to your horse for the next challenge. If you are riding, then mount your horse in the circle.  If "in hand" then walk your horse out of the circle. Holding the one egg in your hand.
Your second challenge will be to return ONE "bird egg" to the "poor Momma Bird's nest."  :) You will either ride up to or walk up to the "tree and shrubs" and put the egg back in the nest. Don't worry, the eggs aren't real. Or ARE they ?!        ;) ( The trick to this is to not have your horse freak out so you can't get close enough to the "tree" for you to put the egg back in the nest.   And don't knock the tree down or have your horse dancing around and stepping on the tree and shrubs. If your horse knocks anything over or down, just move to the next obstacle and someone will reset what you knocked down  for the next person.  Do NOT pick the fallen or moved obstacles up yourself.  Just move on.)
Good job, I think you are winning !
Your third challenge will be to walk over the "cobblestone bridge". You will either ride over or walk over the plywood painted to look like an English cobblestone bridge with sides. ( The trick to this is that your horse may not like to walk over something with a weird color pattern.  Also, the board will make a clop noise as the hooves go over it. And...the BIG SCARY...."Mortimer" the bridge troll will be guarding the bridge.  Don't worry, he won't be TOO close.)
			"Mortimer"
Your fourth challenge will be to back your horse through an "L" on the ground This "L" will be PVC pipes on the ground painted to look like "logs".  You will either ride your horse by backing up through the "L" or if in hand you will back your horse through the "L". You are allowed to step into the "L" yourself to back your horse.  The length of the outside pipes in the "L" is about 18 feet on one side with about four feet between the sides. (The trick to this is that your horse should not step on the logs while backing.  And this becomes a challenge when you get  to the turn in the "L".  You will begin this challenge by having your horse's backside lined up with the entrance to the "L". Many people try to hurry through this.  Don't do that or your horse won't have time to think through where his feet are. Take your time.  And back your horse throughout the "L" and all the way out the other end before you stop. When you practice this at home, use your horse's halter like you were "backing a trailer"  and "turn" your horses' head  to one side or the other when you need to make the turn in the "L". If your horse steps on the "logs" just continue backing.  But maybe stop for a second and regroup your thinking. If your horse steps completely out of the "L", make the decision if you can continue with this challenge...or if it is time to move on.  Don't move the logs around yourself while doing your challenge.)
Your fifth challenge will be to walk "through the water". You will either ride over or walk over the blue tarp.  You may walk on the tarp with your horse. The judge likes it when your horse doesn't balk and just walks right over the tarp. ( Again, the trick to this is that your horse may not like to walk over something with a different color pattern.  This is easy to practice when you are feeling patient and let your horse smell and look at your tarp and take just one step at a time...again, patience is a virtue. There is one warning.....there will be a LOCH NESS MONSTER near the water in the show ring. After all, Nessie lives in the UK. :)   )
Your sixth challenge will be to go over a "jump". Don't worry, the jump is about 6 inches high. You will either ride over or trot alongside your horse over the "jump" at a pace fast enough for your horse  to JUMP over the "fake log".  YOU don't walk over the log, you run alongside and your horse "jumps over the log". Unless of course you are riding, then you go over together.  Of course. ( To practice this, just trot your horse over a log or PVC pipe at home.  Remember, YOU RUN ALONG SIDE  and only your horse jumps over the log, not you.   Trot up to it and maintain your pace. At HOME, you might find your horse DOES appreciate seeing you go over the log first.   Then they can see that it won't bite them and they won't fall off the earth.  But again, at the SHOW, you run along side. The "log" is placed between the greenery at the show so the horse's tail doesn't knock it off.   There is a big difference between your horse's feet knocking it off and the tail just sliding it a bit in the judge's eyes.)
The "fake logs" will sit on the greenery you see above.	"Makin' a plan."		Before they were painted, but this is the height.  The "log" is bigger as seen left.
Oh, you are doing SO well, I see Olympic Trials in your future ! But no time for a swelled head, just move on to the next obstacle/challenge, please.
Your seventh challenge will be to "drag soda cans" along your trail and deposit the bag into a trash can. Any good trail person would know not to leave "trash soda cans" behind.  So we will demonstrate that our horses are okay with us dragging a sack full of empty soda cans and depositing it in it's proper receptacle. ( Two things are possible issues here for your horse.  One, the cans make noise.  So practice by shaking a bag with empty soda cans and let your horse get used to the noise.   Second thing, whether riding or walking, your horse might not like something being dragged close to it's feet.  Another easy thing to practice at home. )
Now head back across the start/finish line exactly where you started. The crowd will likely applaud so be prepared for that sudden burst of noise which might scare your horse. And give your horse a big kiss for doing so well.....whether they did or not ! It's a scary new environment for most of the horses so DO NOT stress them out if they miss a few. That is the perfect way for them to decide this isn't any fun and NEVER want to do it again. If you didn't do too well this time, just consider this a "schooling show" so you know what you have to practice at home.
Some important hints: 1.  You can practice and practice at home and then when you get to a new place, sometimes your horse just doesn't want to deal with one of the obstacles.  The judge will allow you a few failed attempts and then it is time to move on to the next obstacle.  Usually the number of attempts is three.  And if you take too long and it appears your horse isn't interested in performing at that obstacle, the judge may ask you to move on to the next obstacle. If you think you aren't doing well and have taken too much time on one obstacle, look at your judge.... He/she may be telling you to move on. There is no shame in this and just smile and move to the next obstacle. 2.  Although these obstacles are not timed, your points plus and minus will be determined by the judge based on the "accuracy, smoothness, and ease" which with you and your horse move along the course. If your horse isn't doing what is expected, do not EVER yell, hit, or generally overly correct your horse while on the course.  The public is watching and any missed behavior by the horse is accepted.  But aggressive behavior on the part of the owner/handler is COMPLETELY unacceptable and unsportsmanlike. This is not the time to correct and educate your horse.
Good work......Here's your ribbon !