Before the Show
The preparation for a horse show starts well before you load the trailer. Your trainer will have been building toward this in your daily training, working on the specific skills and courses you will encounter in the ring. By the time show day arrives, the goal is for everything to feel familiar.
The week before, your horse should be in peak condition. Clipping, braiding, and tack cleaning are all part of the process. If you are in a full training program, your team will handle much of this. If you are newer to showing, talk to your trainer about what is expected and what help is available.
Show Day Logistics
Arrive early. Shows run on tight schedules and you will need time to settle your horse, walk the course, and warm up properly. Your trainer will tell you what time to be at the barn or at the show grounds.
Walking the course is one of the most important parts of your day. This is where you study the track, count strides between fences, and plan your ride. Your trainer will walk it with you and help you develop a strategy for each line and turn.
In the Ring
When your number is called, the goal is to ride the plan you and your trainer discussed. Equitation classes are about demonstrating your skills clearly and consistently. Stay focused on your rhythm, your position, and your track. Trust your preparation.
Things will not always go perfectly, and that is expected. How you handle a difficult moment in the ring tells the judge as much about your riding as a clean trip does. Stay composed, make adjustments, and finish strong.
After Your Round
Win or learn. Every round teaches you something. Your trainer will debrief with you, talking through what went well and what to work on next. The best riders treat every class as information, not just a result.
At Sorella Farm, show preparation is built into the training program. Ireland Swenson works with each rider on course strategy, ring craft, and the mental side of competition so that show day feels like an extension of everyday training, not a separate experience.
To learn about showing with Sorella Farm, call (909) 851-2008.