Monthly Column by Carol Dean-Porter |
GOALS
Now is a good time of year for every rider to
set some goals. Year end awards are one goal which can be fun to work towards. There are
national, state, regional and local organizations which offer high point awards for the
champions in various divisions.
Equitation riders may have medal finals as a
goal. Medal classes are equitation classes generally judged over a course of fences,
usually with a work-off among the top entries. Some medal finals have a flat phase, some
have tests incorporated into the course. Some medal classes require a certain number of
wins or points to qualify the rider for the finals. Each organization offers their own
medal classes as well as the more well known National finals for the American Horse Shows
Association medal(held at Harrisburg), the ASPCA/Maclay finals (held at the National Horse
Show in New York) and the USET finals (west and east coast versions).
Jumper riders can qualify for Young Riders team competitions, Marshalls and Sterling
Championships, National Grand Prix league championships and a host of other high point
systems. Some riders try to qualify for the International classes and shows held in
Monterrey, Mexico and Spruce Meadows at Calgary, Canada.
Hunter riders work to qualify their horses for the very prestigious big shows such as
Devon, Harrisburg, Washington and New York, and well as the World Hunter championship
awards, Marshalls and Sterling championships, not to mention National Pony finals.
Whatever level you ride and show at, setting some goals is a good way to start the New
Year. Your goal may be as simple as learning to jump a course of fences without a chip or
a wrong lead! Good luck to all competitors and here's wishing you a great show season for
1999!
Carol's
Monthly Columns
