7 Horse Shows Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

What started as Susan E. Harris's passion for horsemanship evolved into a detailed guide that goes beyond basic grooming to prepare your horse for the show ring. Drawing from her extensive experience as an international clinician and riding instructor, Harris walks you through grooming techniques including trimming, braiding, and presentation, emphasizing how these details impact your horse's performance and appearance at competitions. You'll find practical insights like chapter 7's focus on braiding styles for different disciplines and the importance of coat care tailored to show conditions. This book suits equestrians dedicated to elevating their horse's readiness and presentation, rather than casual riders looking for quick tips.

The methods Amazing Equestrian Log Book developed while focusing on horse owners and amateur trainers reveal a practical approach to tracking competition results and progress in equestrian sports. You learn to systematically record each show’s outcomes, judges’ feedback, and memorable moments, turning this journal into a reflective tool that captures growth over time. Its design balances functionality and keepsakes, making it useful for those who want to analyze performance trends or simply cherish their equestrian journey. If you’re deeply involved in horse shows and want to organize your experiences clearly, this book fits well, though it’s less about training techniques and more about detailed record-keeping.

This tailored horse shows mastery book explores every facet of excelling in competitive equestrian events, from grooming essentials to judging nuances and event management. It offers a personalized examination that matches your background, skill level, and specific interests within the horse show realm. By focusing closely on your goals, it reveals techniques and knowledge that bridge expert principles with your unique journey, allowing for deeper understanding and practical application. The book covers preparation, performance evaluation, show organization, and record keeping in a way that feels directly relevant to your needs. This approach creates an engaging learning experience that helps you master the complexities of horse showing with confidence and precision.

Drawing from Hallie McEvoy's extensive experience as a USA Equestrian-Licensed Recorded Judge, this book demystifies the path to becoming a horse show judge for beginners across both English and Western disciplines. You’ll learn the ins and outs of licensing requirements, application procedures, and the nuances of judging criteria that set apart proficient judges. The chapters guide you through practical aspects such as evaluating performance and understanding discipline-specific standards, making it a solid foundation if you aim to step into judging roles. This is particularly useful if you’re starting out and want a clear roadmap rather than vague advice or overwhelming jargon.

While organizing over 100 hunter/jumper shows, Elizabeth McCowan realized many aspiring horse show managers lacked practical guidance tailored to smaller events. Her book walks you through critical steps like creating a realistic budget, fostering sponsor relationships, and hiring key staff, all supported by worksheets and checklists. You’ll find candid stories that illustrate common pitfalls and effective solutions, making the complexities of show management approachable. Whether you’re launching your first show or refining an existing one, this guide offers grounded advice that speaks directly to your challenges and ambitions.

What started as a need to organize detailed model horse show data became Jenna Murphy's structured record book, providing a dedicated space to log essential details like tag IDs, resin and sculptor names, release years, and production numbers. This book equips you with a practical system to keep track of your model horse collection and show history in one place, making it easier to manage and reference over time. If you participate in model horse shows or collect extensively, this record book helps you maintain precise and accessible documentation, saving you from scattered notes and forgotten details. While it may not delve into show techniques, it serves as a focused tool for collectors and competitors who value meticulous record keeping.

This tailored book explores a step-by-step plan designed to accelerate your improvement in horse show performance. It presents a daily action-oriented pathway that matches your current skills and specific goals, revealing how focused practice and informed preparation can elevate your results. By tailoring the content to your interests, it covers essential aspects such as training routines, show-day readiness, and mental strategies that make a difference in the competitive arena. This personalized guide breaks down complex expert knowledge into manageable, targeted steps, ensuring you gain clarity and progress efficiently. Whether refining your techniques or boosting confidence, this book offers a customized route to measurable growth in your horse show endeavors.

What started as a blend of Samantha Kate's equestrian passion and creative writing became a unique planner tailored for horse show enthusiasts. This book offers you a practical space to organize your day, track key moments, or even vent frustrations with humor—like scribbling a "bad word" after a tough Showmanship class. It’s designed for anyone who spends time at horse shows and wants a companion that understands the highs and lows of the experience. You'll find it both a functional tool and a lighthearted nod to the realities of horse show competitions, making it more than just a notebook.

After analyzing common challenges faced by judges and learners in horse show competitions, Lyndsi Pratt developed this workbook to clarify scoring for pattern classes like showmanship and horsemanship. You learn how to apply the scoring system used by AQHA, APHA, and stock horse judges, including detailed point values for maneuvers and penalties, making it easier to judge or score accurately. The book includes ladder sheets for determining placings and example pages to support learning, ideal if you’re a judge, scribe, instructor, or participant in horse camps and 4-H activities. If you want a focused tool for understanding and applying horse show scoring methods, this workbook offers a practical approach without extraneous theory.