Recognized Show Bingo

In case we've ever forgotten, I've never shown at a recognized show of any sort.  Attended? Yes. Volunteered? Oh yeah.  Shown? Nope.

To be fair, I understand and can translate the information for the eventing (USEA) recognized shows easily.  Unfortunately, those aren't on my radar between now and the end of the year.  The plan was to hit some schooling shows (dressage and one Pine Hiller) and then aim for the Halloween HDS recognized show.

So today I was looking through the dressage entries again.  I've got myself and my horses registered with USDF, USEF, USEA, HDS, NTEA and GHCTA.  Simon is also with the TIPS program and Jade of course in FHANA.  Enough acronyms for you?  Me too.  Can't wait to repay all those memberships again.  *sigh

So I've got all my numbers and I'm reading the prize list.  This fee for that, this fee for this, blah blah blah.  I'm just blacking out reading the fees and all these qualifiers so I decide to streamline it: check out the online registration.  Many times just seeing the choices can make me get it.  So I do that and check it out:

SO MANY CHOICES!!!!

Also, you'll notice that that is NOT the Halloween show, but the bigger show earlier in October.  After looking at the Sept shows and realizing that its almost halfway through Sept and that I'm either going to show this weekend OR next, I decided to check out the October shows.  I believe I can do this Championship show series (except be entered in the "nonchampionship" classes of course) and its awesome because I realized I could show on Thursday/Friday and be home to teach on Saturday. 

I like showing on weekdays.

So I'm digging this show but there are SO MANY CHOICES of classes.  I realized I have a lesson with Lurena this weekend so I just decided to rein in things and ask her on Saturday.  Entries close on the 14th so I have time.  Entries for the Halloween show open on the 15th so it looks like I'm going to be shelling out plenty of $$ for this but whatever. 

Aside from the timing issue on the schooling shows, I google earthed the locations and I felt a bit twitchy about the parking/stalling scenario and I don't get performance stressed more or less at shows of any size so whatever.  I believe we can get our qualifying scores for the qualifiers (still learning about these) so it won't be too embarrassing.  It also gives me time to work on our canter (the thing I've deemed needing the most work between now and then and its not THAT bad) so I feel better about this.  I DO need to get a coat (mine's a smidge too small right now) plus a "real" show shirt but I did find a super cool stock tie shop and ordered that from there.  I'm questioning my "tall boots" as they're Ariat Sport Vs but we'll see.

Maybe ok?

Spiff, no?

So we have some spiff going on and shouldn't crash and burn.  The only nagging thought I have about schooling show vs recognized show is having a "bad score" on my record but honestly, I don't give a crap and doubt we'll do that badly so ne'er.  Hopefully I'm not wrong but if I am, I'm adult enough to amateur the crap out of it and move onward.

Besides, I'm hoping to have Jade at the Halloween show in Intro sooooo we might be eating our scores there :P

I'll be happy to exist on Centerline Scores!