ACADEMY SHOW TEAM 2025-----WHAT IS ACADEMY???

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If you are really enjoying your lessons and your time at the barn, perhaps you are ready to step it up a bit.  Why not join our Academy Show Team?  This is a fun way to meet new people, raise the bar of your riding skills through competition,  and prepare yourself for the next step, the horse purchase.  This program is for children and adults, and we have six outside shows that we participate through 2020 and you can pick all, some or one to participate.  These competitions are off-property, and we provide the horses and equipment to go to the shows.  Our students get the opportunity to take lesson horses the instructors feel would be the most competitive, yet safe, and get the quality show ring experience.  As the rider, however, you are in charge of discussing with your instructor your goals and then your instructor can provide the best guidelines on how we can meet them.

LESSON SCHEDULE OF THE ACADEMY RIDER.

The mandatory lesson schedule of the academy student is to be enrolled in at least two saddleseat lessons per week, one group and one private.  Group lessons provide a more well-rounded learning experience because it not only lets riders learn from what they are doing, but also from what other students are doing, thereby allowing themselves in a group setting similar to the show arena.  Private lessons enable the student to learn one-on-one and therefore better their riding skills because the focus for the private lesson is one-on-one.  We recommend this schedule March-October during the academy show season.

PRACTICE APPAREL OF THE ACADEMY RIDER.

As an advanced rider, having the proper attire when riding is a necessity.  You must wear clothes that are similar to what you would wear in the show arena.
  • Kentucky jodphurs (with underpasses)
  • Black paddock boots or jodhpur boots (no gym shoes, no tall boots)
  • Leather gloves
  • Whip (no crops)
  • Helmet
  • Stirrup leathers and irons

SHOW APPAREL OF THE ACADEMY RIDER.

For finding vests and shirts, we recommend going online to www.showringoutfitters.com or www.shopcommotion.com.  For other apparel needed, we recommend visiting www.ehorseshowequipment.com, a division of World Champion Horse Show Equipment, or www.hartmeyer.com.  You will find the best selection at these websites.  You will need the following:
 
  • Gloves (black leather only)
  • Boots (patent leather for girls, black leather for boys)
  • Kentucky jodphurs--jodphurs should be purchased in black and when buying them they should be snug around the waist and fall two inches below your heel and you must have underpasses with them.  If you are confused about what size you need,  please ask a PHRS staff member.   Our recommendations for the best show jods are American Jodphurs or Mod Jods, which can be ordered from their website.
  • Oxford shirt--the color of the shirt is optional to the rider.  You can go with a color other than white, but it has to be in good taste.  For example, no neon colors, and the pattern should not be too busy (a stripe or plaid print is fine), and the color should complement the color of your sweater vest or fitted vest.  For the best selection, you can visit www.showringfitters.com or www.shopcommotion.com for finding coordinating shirts and vests.
  • Fitted Vest--once again, the color is optional to the rider, but please keep your vest in a color that shows good taste.  No gaudy, neon colors, but pastels and dark colors are acceptable.  If you have any questions, then please show a staff member prior to the show to make sure that everything is a correct fit and color.
  • Whip--every rider needs to have their own whip to have when practicing and at shows.  No crops and make sure that it is a length that fits you.
  • Helmet--(if needed)--at the show, a black velvet helmet is required for all riders under the age of 10.  If you are older and you have discussed this with your instructor, you may show without, but you have to have a signed release slip that states that you are NOT wearing a helmet.
  • Number pins or magnets.
  • Tie bar.
  • Safety pins.
  • Electrical tape (used for taping the top of your boots and the tops of your gloves).
  • Extra pair of underpasses.
  • Extra requirements for girls:
    • Hair brush
    • Hair ties (same color as your hair)
    • Hair pins
    • Hair spray, extra hold, no pump bottles
    • Hair nets (color of hair, and the thinner hair net, not the heavy ones)
    • Barrette (only if you are not wearing a helmet)
  • No extra requirements for boys, but please make sure to have a haircut recently before the show, as you always want to present yourself in a neat, clean fashion.

SHOW EQUIPMENT OF THE ACADEMY RIDER.

  • Saddle--we do not require our academy riders to have their own saddles, as PHRS does have saddles to supply.  However, if you are planning on being an active participant in our academy program and have gone to academy shows in the past, we do encourage you to invest in getting your own saddle.  Please consult with Ms. Martha before a purchase, as if you purchase something which does not fit the rider, or our horses, or is a saddle that cannot be used, you cannot use the saddle.  We do not want you to waste your money.  This is an investment, and we want to make sure that you make the correct purchase.
  • Stirrup Leathers--we do require our students to purchase their own stirrup leathers and stirrups.  This will benefit our riders as you will consistently have stirrups that are the same length each and every time you practice and show. The PHRS staff can order them for you or help with your purchase.   The stirrup irons must also have a black, ridged stirrup pad.
  • Bridles--whether the horse wears a full bridle, Pelham, or snaffle bridle, the bridles are fitted to the horse and rider by the instructor.  Our riders do not need to supply their own.  If you do wish to purchase your own bridle, please consult with your instructor prior to purchase.


ACADEMY SHOWS FOR 2025....DON'T MISS OUT!!

If you are planning on attending any Academy Show, you must be a student in our lesson program and not be involved in another stable's lesson program.  A combination of private and group lessons is required and recommend that our riders take at least one private and one group class every week.  You must let the PHRS staff know if you are planning on going to a show at least a month beforehand, so we can arrange horses and riders accordingly.  All show fees must be paid prior to going to a horse show.  Please go to www.horseshowcalendar.com for information on facilities, directions, hotels, etc.

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A  PARENT'S VIEW

To start, it's important to know that horse shows can be stressful.  The students have been preparing for months and they do tend to put pressure on themselves.  A case of the nerves can hinder even the most prepared of riders, so the more prepared a rider is, the more relaxed they will be.  Preparation will come in two forms; saddle time and making sure that the rider is present at the horse show on time with all of the proper apparel and equipment needed for the show.  The instructor will tell you where the show is, and what time to be there.  We do recommend that you DO NOT pack everything for your child, but instead, let your child have the responsibility of packing what they need for themselves......chances are, they will have more of an understanding on what they need for the show arena.  Give yourself enough time to arrive at the show even if there is a possibility you might hit traffic.  Once at the show, relax and let the instructor handle your child.  The trainers and instructors are trained professionals and this is their job, so let them do it!  After your child has completed the class, remember that the trainers still have other students to watch in the show, so if you have any questions, please wait until the trainers have a free moment to recap the performance.  If the instructor does not have time to talk at at the show, you can guarantee that there will be time at the next lesson!  Remember that we all have your rider's best interests at heart and our common goal is to make sure that your rider will put out the best ride in the show arena.