I was checking my analytics today and I noticed that I have recently gotten a large number of hits on search terms involving the western horse trainer Cleve Wells.  I became curious as to why he is suddenly such a hot topic and began to search around.  I was set on my heels by what I found.   This trainer, one that has been referred to as “a legend” on this very blog, was involved in a horrific horse abuse case a couple of years ago.  I was shocked and saddened to read about this.  I had absolutely no idea that any of this had taken place and I’m still a bit numb about it.  

I don’t know enough about what happened with this case to form an educated opinion.  I am finding out about it now, more than two years after everything happened.  What I do know is that there are some very nasty photos depicting the alleged abuse that can be found online.  I do know that the Professional Horsemen’s Council saw evidence to justify removing Cleve from the Association.  I also know that the AQHA saw fit to suspend him for one year, instate indefinite probation, and fine him $10,000.  Collectively, this seems like a lot of smoke, and where there’s smoke there’s usually fire. 

The flip side of this story is that I have to reconcile the photos and articles I’ve seen regarding this matter with the man I knew.  Anyone that knows me or my family knows we love our horses.  We would never intentionally put any of them at a training facility where they would be mistreated in any way.  Cleve Wells trained and showed our stallion back in 1990 and 1991, and I can say with the utmost confidence that this horse was not mistreated while he was in that training program.  The horse we got back was never spur shy or bit shy, had no scars or evidence of trauma, and he still had a heck of a lot of fight left in him.  He did not have the personality of a horse that had been forced to submit, either mentally or physically.  The praises I’ve sung for Cleve Wells have been based upon those experiences – the genuinely nice guy with a boatload of talent that took our little Appaloosa and nurtured his abilities.  It makes me sick to think that a man this gifted with horses sold out for a paycheck, which is certainly how it appears on the surface. 

There are two sides to every story, as there clearly must be in this case.  The NSBA chose not to suspend Cleve’s membership and I could find no evidence that the animal cruelty case that was pending had a criminal outcome.  Cleve has opted not to speak on the matter, as far as I can tell.  His training business seems to be thriving and his website announces that he has several horses for sale in the $25K to $125K range.  This seems to indicate that he still has supporters out there, at least to some degree.

I have opted to remove the posts in which I promoted his training techniques and called him a legend.  He may have been a legend at one time, maybe even still is, but I do not feel qualified to pass judgement enough to defend or recommend him to anyone at this point.  It certainly sounds like the Cleve that I knew is not the same person that has created this brand that we see today. 

If you would like to read more about this situation, please see the following links, or those in the text above.

Professional Horsemen’s Council response

AQHA response

You’ve ridden your horse diligently, practiced your event until you are prepared to excel, and you arrive at a horse show ready to be a star.  So what separates the shooting stars from the falling stars?  It’s all in the details.  I’ve learned a lot of things about competing over the years, but the way you present yourself might be one of the most important details to perfect.  Think about it:  regardless of your chosen discipline, a judge sees tens or hundreds of competitors in a given day or event.  What would make YOU stand out?  You are being judged from the moment you enter the ring and it is very important  for that judge to sit up and take notice from that instant forward. 

I gave Tiny a makeover recently to illustrate the difference between an acceptable presentation and a stellar one and we’ll talk a little about the changes I made to help her look her best.  The photo below demonstrates a clean and clipped horse.  She is perfectly acceptable to enter the ring as she is, and I’ve seen many horses appear just this way at local open or breed shows. 

While the photo above demonstrates “acceptable” presentation, do you want to be “acceptable” after all your hard work?  Not me – I want to be “Stellar.”  I want that judge to look at us and think “now THIS is a horse to watch.”  Look at the difference a few small changes can make:

Big difference, right?  Which horse would YOU pay more attention to if you were judging an event?  Like it or not, appearance matters in the show pen.  The rider that pays attention to the details of their horse’s presentation is often the rider that exhibits that same level of detail in their riding preparations.  However, it is important to remember that no amount of scrubbing or shine can cover up a lack of preparation.  Your image will only attract the judge to you in the first place – it is up to you to follow through in living up to that first impression.  So what changes did I make to improve Tiny’s appearance so much?

• Fit Matters!

The first (and most important) thing I did was to adjust the fit of Tiny’s halter.  It doesn’t matter how much bling your equipment has, but cleanliness and fit are critical.  The properly fitted halter is far safer and serves to highlight Tiny’s face.  In addition, a long chain dangling down looks untidy and doesn’t serve a purpose in controlling your horse.  It is much better to run the chain under the chin and up the cheek to clip.  This gives you more control and looks better.  Finally, a bit of shine dabbed around the eyes, ears, and muzzle really sets the horse off and makes you look like a winner.

• Don’t Forget the Feet!

The horse’s legs and feet are often overlooked by competitors when attending horse shows.  The preparation begins at home, by keeping the horse on a regular farrier schedule and by keeping the feet strong and healthy.  It is also important to clip the horse’s legs about a week or two before the show season and keep them tidy throughout the season.  You can see the difference between Tiny’s untouched legs (first photo) and the neatness of the second photo.  Finally, add some shine to those feet!  It makes a huge difference in your final presentation if your horse has clean and shiny feet.  I used a sanding block to clean her hooves and then I painted them with some oil.  Voila!  Instant makeover.

•  Hair DO’s

One of the most dramatic changes you can make to your horse’s image is to add a tail extension, if your horse is lacking a tail like mine.  People sometimes complain the the ability to add an extension encourages people to slack off on caring for their horse’s tail.  As you can see, a long and full tail makes a HUGE difference in presentation and it is important for anyone that shows to do their best to care for the horse’s tail.  However, sometimes you might need some help.  Maybe you live in a state like mine, where the year round bug problem makes it difficult to maintain full tails.  Maybe your horse has a playful turnout buddy that likes to chew tails.  Maybe he got it caught on a bucket or stepped on it.  Any number of  things can result in a less than fabulous tail, but it doesn’t take much to correct with the simple addition of an extension.

• Band it Down

Finally, I recommend banding or braiding your horse’s mane and forelock, whichever is appropriate for your discipline.  It provides a neat and tidy appearance and really finishes off your look.  If you ride Western and choose to band your horse, you should thin and shorten your horse’s mane to a flattering length for his conformation. 

If  you follow these useful and easy tips you will take your image from Blah to Unforgettable.  It doesn’t matter if you show at a National level or a open fun show level – you should always present yourself and your mount to the best of your ability, down to the smallest detail.  Good luck and happy horse showing!

I left the balmy warmth of Florida  and arrived in Columbus, Ohio last Thursday to a dreary, cold day.  My dad had somehow managed to time his arrival by car (he traveled from his worksite in North Carolina) to meet me at the airport and we headed immediately off to the Ohio Expo Center at the Ohio State Fairgrounds to commence the horsing around.  Thursday was the day that Sharon Camarillo was doing a series of clinics on improving barrel racing horsemanship, and I was desperately hoping to make it in time to watch some of them.  Fate was once again on our side and we managed to get to the Fairgrounds, find parking, purchase our tickets, and make our way down the long, long stretch to the Cooper Arena just as the announcer finished his introductions.  Perfect timing! 

Food vendors lined the streets at Equine Affaire

 Thus began our four day weekend filled with clinics, seminars, shopping, and visiting with old friends.  As I’ve mentioned before, Columbus was a frequent horse haunt for my family when we lived in Pittsburgh.  The Quarter Horse Congress, as well as the Equine Affaire, were regular yearly trips where we stocked up on items we needed for the barn.  You can literally find anything horse related you could possibly want at these events.  As soon as we stepped through the gates, I was right back there.  The long road lined with food vendors welcomed us to the event, and the sights and smells continued to draw us further in.  It didn’t take long for us to find the vendor behind one of our fondest memories – the cinnamon bun stand!  I can still remember savoring a warm, gooey cinnamon bun while watching a class at the Congress or even while relaxing after one of my own classes during the years we had the App Nationals there. 

Young riders perfect their technique

Once we made it past the food vendors, the fun really began.  There were clinics and seminars going on simulataneously in no less than eight arenas at a time.  The hardest part was choosing just one to watch.  Throughout the weekend, we caught clinics taught by Sharon Camarillo, John Lyons, and Tommy Garland and presentations on caring for senior horses and equine photography among other things.  There was an entire building devoted to representing various breeds of horse and  I enjoyed wandering through and learning about some horses I’d never seen or heard of before.  The trade show was spread over several different buildings and was just as expected – exhausting and exhilerating.  Any horse person would probably agree that the smell of a tack store is one of the defining aromas in the horse world.  This trade show was no exception – the rich leather, the tang of fly spray, the heady pine shavings.  I was in horsey heaven.  One of the things I love so much about Equine Affaire’s trade show is that it caters to horsepeople, not stock horse people or horse show people.  You can wander through tack stores with draft halters big enough for an adult to step through and peruse the tiny, glittery headstalls that are designed for the always adorable Minis.  Every breed, every discipline, and every horse person is represented there; and for someone like me, that means an awful lot to observe and learn about our four legged friends and the people who love them. 

Wood carving was just one of the crafts on display

Over the next week or so, I’m going to share with you some of the tips and tricks I learned in the clinics, talk about some of the cool new products I saw, and discuss the super exciting Extreme Cowboy Race that we watched.  That spawned some fantasies about a career change for Tiny and I, it looked like so much fun!  In addition, I will be sharing a lot about the BlogPaws convention that was being held simulataneously at the nearby Westin hotel on my other site, The Slobber Dog.  All in all, this was a fun and productive weekend and I’m so glad my dad and I had the opportunity to attend.

Once again, it’s time for Thankful Thursday! I hope this post inspires you to consider the things in your life that you are grateful for. If you have a blog, consider posting about it there and link back here. If you don’t have a blog, please feel welcome to comment here on what you are grateful for in your own life. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing, then just take a few moments to reflect on all that you have. If you’d like to tag other bloggers that participate, feel free to do that.

Just one drop can change everything…

Photo courtesy of maddogmarquis, Photobucket

Back in October ’09 I did a series of Thankful Thursday posts titled “Nostalgia” (you can read them here, here, and here).  I guess I’m feeling a bit sentimental again, because this week I have been thinking a lot about someone who made a big impact on my life many years ago.  He was the man that I credit with developing that competitive fire in me and showing me the fun and social side of horse shows. 

I don’t even remember how my family came to be involved with “Vern,” but I remember our first business meeting with him back in 1990 at a little restaurant in Ohio.  He agreed to bring his burgeoning training operation to the brand new horse farm that my parents were building in southwestern PA.  In a sense we started off together, although Vern had been an assistant trainer for several years and was involved with some very high profile people in the Appaloosa world.  Vern was really the one that steered my family, and me especially, into the national and world arenas of competition.  He was the one that found Tyler for me, the white wonder horse that made me fall in love with riding.  He was the one that brought Icy and Seeker to our show string – two equally dynamic, well known, and talented horses that my sister and I were very fortunate to have the opportunity to show.  I could even thank him for Tiny – because he was the one that chose Super (her dam) to be my very first game horse.  Vern introduced my family to so many people and because of him we got extremely involved in the horse show world.  We became active members of the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association, regional Appaloosa clubs, and 4H.  One of my favorite memories was when he and my parents brainstormed and created this incredibly huge Appaloosa show for the now-defunct Pennsylvania Appaloosa Association.  They had jackpot barrels and pleasure classes with money added, sponsors, you name it.  Back in the early 90′s it was quite a feat for a regional club to have such a successful show.  I truly believe that Vern was the catalyst that took us from casual horse lovers to serious and actively involved competitors, and he got the whole family involved in some fashion.  He even spearheaded an effort to have challenged riders classes added to show lists at all the shows so that disabled riders like my youngest sister could be involved too.

We spent five very exciting and productive years with Vern before he moved on to other things.  I wish I could say that I’ve kept in touch with him over the years, but as so often happens we have drifted away to separate lives.  I recently met up with an old friend of his at the Quarter Horse show in Tampa and he told me that Vern is healthy and happy and has a beautiful farm in the Pittsburgh area where he continues to coach youth riders and maintains a successful breeding operation.   I hope to reestablish contact with Vern, if for no other reason than to thank him for being such a great trainer, coach, and friend to me and all of my family during our formative years in the Appaloosa business.

Happy Thursday to all and please visit these other sites that frequently participate in Thankful Thursday:

Akal Ranch, Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch, The Pony Expression, and Tired Dog Ranch.

Gulf Coast Quarter Horse show in Tampa, Florida

Recession?  What recession?  At least that’s how it appeared to this first time visitor to the Gold Coast Quarter Horse Show series held at the Florida State Fairgrounds.  The Gold Coast is part of the Winter Quarter Horse Circuit, consisting of the Gold Coast, Gulf Coast, and Fox Lea Winter show series.  TWENTY AQHA shows held between December 27, 2009 and January 17, 2010!  Talk about a horse lover’s dream! 

Trainer Rob Meneely taking a break from warming up his mount.

I stopped by the show this year to check it out as I’d never before gone.  Not knowing what to expect, I was shocked when I pulled into the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.  Row upon row of horse trailers, trucks, and cars.  Numerous vendor trailers displaying their wares; western attire laden with enormous crystals sparkling in the sun, saddle pads in all the colors of the rainbow, horse tail extensions bundled together like a wigmaker’s dream.  Horses and exhibitors in various stages of preparation meandered through the golf carts, dogs, and spectators.   I couldn’t believe the magnitude of the activity taking place.  Trainers admitted that entries were down in comparison to previous years, but this was by far the biggest horse show I’d ever been to in Florida.  Shows were run on a two day system – Day 1 consisted of hunter events (over fences and flat), cattle classes, and trail.  Day 2 was halter, western pleasure/horsemanship, western riding, and trail.  Each show repeated 3 times for the circuit, so exhibitors were alternating daily between hunter and western events.  Numerous awards were given out including overall high points for various divisions for the combined circuits, high points for individual circuits, and circuit awards to the top two in each class for each circuit.  Fees were steep though, with all day fees and office fees priced per judge, and drug testing fees priced per circuit.  An amateur showing one horse in the all around (typically at least 5 classes) would incur over $350 in entry fees, plus an additional $200 stall fee just for the Gold Coast.  These costs would repeat for the Gulf Coast and Fox Lea series and don’t include feed, bedding, trainer’s fees, etc.  As you can imagine, this resulted in an elite level of exhibitors and horses being presented.  The very best Quarter Horse trainers, exhibitors, and judges were in attendance and it was fun to observe and learn for the day.  Exhibitors were courteous and gracious and I saw no poor sportsmanship or mistreatment of horses while I was there. 

Vendors line the streets at the horse show

I enjoyed wandering between the main show arena where the western pleasure was being held, and the indoor trail course where horse and rider expertly navigated a series of obstacles, including a gate, bridge, and multiple lope- and trot-overs.  Outdoor practice areas were filled with hunters bounding over fences and western riders effortlessly changing leads.  Spurs jingled and it was Christmas for me all over again!  I was like a kid in a candy store, not knowing which way to turn next.  I spent the whole day there and would have gone back the next if I had been able.  If you enjoy horse shows, especially stock breeds, and are even slightly close to the central Florida area, I would recommend putting this event on your calendar for next year.  It’s a great place to meet people, see horses, and stock up on supplies, and you can even make a vacation of it.  Maybe I’ll see you there in 2011!

Scenes from the Gold Cost QH show

I have been debating about whether to post on this topic or not, as Billie has done such a fantastic job of covering the issue on her site Camera-Obscura.  In the end, I decided to mention it as I know I have some readers that don’t generally follow blogs and so may have missed the story.  I really believe that more people need to become aware of the issue and the resulting flurry of activity, and hopefully join the legions of people that are calling for change.  Please visit Billie’s site for all the details and for the excellent coverage that she continues to provide on the subject.

I’m no expert in dressage and I’m not going to pretend to have a complete understanding of the topic, but here is my attempt at a brief overview for those (like me) who are relatively new to the idea of rollkur.  I would like to invite those who are more educated to jump in and correct/add to my explanation.

Basically, rollkur is a highly controversial training technique that is increasingly common in dressage style riding.  It is also called hyperflexion, and consists of the horse being ridden for extended periods of time “behind the bit” – often to the point where the nose/mouth is held to the chest as the horse is driven forward.  Proponents of the technique claim that it stretches the horse’s back muscles.  Opponents say it’s horse abuse.  From what I’ve read, I certainly tend toward the latter sentiment, but I’m no expert and encourage you to educate yourself and formulate your own opinions.  If you Google “Rollkur” you’ll get no shortage of information and images to study.  Either way, riders who utilize the technique are apparently winning at high levels in dressage competition, which makes it difficult to enact change.

What I do know is this:  the current frenzy on this topic originated after Epona TV aired a video of Patrik Kittel riding a horse during a warm up period for a show and utilizing this technique.  The video goes on for what feels like forever, and shows the horse’s blue tongue lolling out of his mouth, as he rides around and around in this restricted position.  You can watch other riders casually going by, no one giving this guy a second look despite the obvious distress his horse is exhibiting.  Due to the public outrage following the release of this video, a firestorm of petitions has made its way through the system and people are calling for change.  Although I am not a dressage rider, I feel that this is important because it makes a statement about winning at any cost.  I think that many of us who compete at a high level in any discipline have witnessed questionable training practices that result in winners.  We all know how hard it is to compete against an ideal that is not natural and is not naturally created.  This is our chance to take that first step towards encouraging healthy, fair competition that does not result in or encourage animal abuse.  Even if you are not a “horse person” I ask you to check out Billie’s site and educate yourself.  She has tons of information and multiple ways to get involved, including online petitions, Facebook groups, and contact information for organizations that can enact change.

In August I had the chance to visit one of my old stomping grounds – the Ocala Equestrian Complex, located in Ocala, Florida.  The Central Florida Appaloosa Horse Club was hosting their Fun in the Sun show and I thought I’d drop by to check it out.  Although the weather wasn’t too cooperative, it was still a great day in Appaloosa country as exhibitors from all over Florida engaged in friendly competition.  The show marked one of the last opportunities for competitors to gain the points needed to qualify for this year’s 2009 Appaloosa World Championships. 

Covered arena; view of arena from outdoor holding area

This showgrounds is right in the heart of horse country.  If you’re looking for convenience, this is one show facility that’s hard to top.  Access is extremely easy from I75, which is the main artery from Georgia all the way to Naples.  Hotels, gas stations (with diesel), and food options are plentiful and close by.  Another bonus is the large number of feed and tack stores right in the proximity of the grounds.  Need some hay or bedding?  Break or forget a piece of equipment?  Less than a 5 minute drive from the grounds are several options.  Another perk of the location is that there are several horse trailer dealerships, as well as a repair shop for horse trailers within a 5 minute drive.  I wasn’t kidding when I said this place was convenient! 

As far as the facility goes, there is ample parking with plenty of room for big rigs.  The covered arena has a concession and lots of bleacher seating for spectators.  There are three outdoor arenas and a large outdoor holding area.  There is also a narrow, covered holding area attached to the covered arena that is frequently used for longeing and show prep, especially in inclement weather.  The restrooms are clean and well kept, although I don’t recall seeing a shower on the premises for overnight campers.  There is an indoor barn and plenty of temporary type stalls under a permanent enclosure. 

Outdoor arena and view of one barn; Trailer parking after severe thunderstorm

There aren’t many cons to this facility, but there are a couple of areas worth mentioning.  Trailer parking is FAR from the barn areas.  It is well worth getting a tack stall, especially if you show in all around events.  In addition, access to the barns with trailers (especially large ones) is limited.  There is room for a trailer or two to unload at the same time, but there are often backups to get close.  Also, if you’re not comfortable reversing your trailer in tight spots, you may want to avoid unloading here.  I always find it easier to just unload in the parking area, put my gear in the truck and haul it over to the barns that way.  Another point worthy of mention is that one of the outdoor arenas has some sort of mulch type footing.  It’s probably fine for most events, but App shows tend to run the speed events in that ring and it can be a little slick.  Also, there are lights for the outdoor riding areas, but they are paltry.  At a show that I attended in March, they actually postponed the last few events of the day until the following morning because it had gotten so dark and the lights were not bright enough to ensure safe runs. 

With all of these great bonuses and fairly minimal complaints about the facility, it’s definitely worth checking out.  There are a number of events that they host and they get some really large barrel races there.  I have also attended a few clinics and even a haunted house!   Ocala is a great place for horse lovers so come by, enjoy a show, and check out the town!

Photo courtesy of Dee Q8, Flickr

As September rolls on, I have observed a great deal of excitement about the fall season.  Excitement about fall traditions, like cider and local festivals, is contagious.  Mother Nature is giving us her own signs:  lower humidity and cooler nights, just the slightest tinge of red in some of our leaves, fall produce starting to hit the market stalls.  While most of the country is rejoicing with the arrival of fall and all it brings, I have some bittersweet feelings about it.  For me, this season isn’t represented by typical fall customs.  For many years, fall was the season of horses and preparation for the Appaloosa World Championship show.  This prestigious event is held every year in late October in Fort Worth, Texas and the months of September and October were always dedicated to training and preparation for the show, which has a qualification deadline of  August 31.  As most of you know, my horse show adventures pretty much came to an end 5 years ago when I started graduate school but this year I was able to get back into the scene a bit, and even briefly entertained hopes that I might be able to attend the World Show this year.  Unfortunately, as the year evolved I realized I wouldn’t be attending the show this time either.  However, last week I received something very special in the mail:  my World Show qualification information. 

 For many people, this might not be a big deal.  In fact, it wasn’t really a big deal for me 10 years ago – it was a given.  I’d worked hard all year, attended many shows, and was generally well over the number of points required to participate.  This year was different:  my horse and I  haven’t worked with a trainer in over 5 years, we attended very few shows, and we haven’t had the opportunity to make practice runs.  We pretty much winged it, doing groundwork and suppling exercises at home and working the barrels and poles at the shows.  Qualification became even more difficult because the game classes at the Appaloosa shows have been very small, making it challenging to get points – we pretty much had to win 1st or 2nd in a class to accrue points.  Combine all that with the extremely limited number of events that we’ve done (4 shows in the past year) and you can understand my pride at qualifiying for the Appaloosa World Championships in 8 events – we actually qualified in every single event that we show in.  It’s a bittersweet pill, because it’s a reminder of how my time competing with Tiny is winding down.  She’s 15 this year and who knows how many more competitive years she’ll have?  While I’m excited and proud to have been able to achieve qualification status, it hurts that I can’t participate with her while she’s still healthy and strong.  So for this fall, at least, I will have to join the masses of “regular” people enjoying their fall season at the arts festival sipping on cider, but I’ll be doing it with a twinkle in my eye as I think of the hundreds of Apps preparing for the World Show next month.

If you want to excel in equitation classes, you must first master the pattern.  In stock horse breeds, equitation classes are commonly judged by individual pattern work or a combination of patterns and group rail work.  In either case, the pattern is your chance to shine.  All eyes are upon you and it is up to you to make a stunning impression on the judges.  Here are my top ten tips on distinguishing  yourself from the rest of the riders and making the judges take a second (and third!) look:

1. Present Yourself – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, because it is that important.  If you are a judge that has been standing for hours, watching the same pattern over and over, what stands out?  A horse and rider that are impeccably turned out, with pleasant attitudes that look like they WANT to be at a horse show.  The pattern is your chance to sell yourself – learn to do it well.
2. Use Your Markers – Most pattern classes will utilize markers to define transition points.  These markers are there for a reason.  Use them consistently and accurately to score points with the judges. 
3. Clean Transitions – If you’ve watched many pattern classes, you’ll agree that this is one area that exhibitors commonly give away points.  Be sure that your transitions are on target – not early or late.  They should be smooth and effortless and your position should remain correct. 
4. Circles are Circles – Not ovals.  Not triangles.  Not oblong.  If your pattern calls for a circle, make it a circle – even and centered around your marker (if need be).   Furthermore, if your pattern calls for a figure eight or another circle combination, make sure your circles are evenly matched and round.
5. Don’t Look Down – This is one of the cardinal rules of equitation excellence.  If you are going to compete in pattern classes, you must be able to pick up the correct leads and/or diagonals without looking to check yourself.  Practice this until you are confident that you can feel what is happening under you.
6. Know Your Pattern – This might seem obvious, but it is very easy to second guess yourself in the ring, especially if an exhibitor ahead of you does the pattern incorrectly.  Run through your pattern several times, with the markers set up, until you are satisfied that you have it memorized.  It also helps to have someone watch and give you feedback, if possible. 
7. Stop Square – Again, another spot where exhibitors give up the points.  Stop on your marks and halt square and soft.  Don’t lean back excessively and definitely do not let your horse throw you forward upon stopping.  Practice pausing, so your horse doesn’t get in the habit of wandering out of his stop.
8. Know Your Turns – Know the difference between a turn on the haunches and a turn on the forehand (hint:  it’s in the pivot foot).  Practice doing fluid, smooth turns, and be sure your horse plants his pivot foot.  Don’t dawdle through the turns – it becomes painful to watch if it takes forever to get through it.  Likewise, don’t rush through either.  The goal is smooth and fluid.  
9. Don’t Stop Showing – From the moment you enter the ring until the moment you leave, the judge is judging you.  Don’t stop showing as soon as your pattern is complete.  The show ring is not the place to be chatting with other competitors or spectators in the stands while your class is competing.  And especially don’t ever correct your horse in the ring if your pattern is less than stellar.  Nothing is more unprofessional that the exhibitor that begins jerking and spurring her horse as soon as the judge turns his back.  They can still see you and can still mark you down if they don’t like what they see.  Not to mention that behavior like this will sour your horse on patterns faster than you can imagine.  Just don’t do it.
10. Be Confident!  This is your chance to shine.  Take it!  After all your hard work and practice, go in there and knock ‘em dead.  Keep your head up, shoulders square and remember to breathe.  If you have done your homework, you will soon start to love your patterns because you and your horse will be the team that people come to watch.