Off To The Show They Go, In Which I Consider Staying At Home

Awareness of the outside world. “Joyce Webster American Saddlebred Grant $20,000. The first grant is to be awarded after the 2024 National Academy Championships. This $20,000 grant aims to provide financial support to existing and new Saddlebred academy programs participating in the National Academy Championship Horse Show.” NACHS: Our MIssion. Joyce Webster was B&W Stables, where I showed many times, as well as founder of Nationals.

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Today, Stepping Stone Farm leaves for the National Academy Championship Horse Show. Once again, I am not with them. Once again, it is on my mind. SSF is talking 8 people, kid & adult, including WTC, WT, driving, Hackney pony, and hunt seat. Go team!

Since I was last there, they have been fiddling with the Adult division. For a while there was a separate over-50 class. Now, the adult division is divided into under/over 30. Moot point, as the classes are combined this year.

The show has also added a Thursday night session, so that Friday does not run into the wee smalls. I would be riding on Thursday night. Then Friday off and riding Saturday & Sunday. Not sure how I would feel about a whole day off in the middle of a show. That would be a new one. I would most likely ride on the weekend. Adults generally don’t have to worry about qualifying for the finals on Sunday, as there are usually fewer than 10 entries, which is the cut-off to qualify in that division. This year there are six entries. Joys of being an old fart. In contrast there are 39 entries in WT 9-10 on Friday, leading to 16 spots on Sunday. Other shows may be struggling but this one is pulling them in.

Would I go again? Sure!

But seriously folks. Heavy duty showing is such a remote possibility that it is easy to say yes. If it were actually feasible, would I go? Dunno. I’ve been there enough times that I have grasped the concept. Going “for the experience” would be redundant at this point. I’ve won (Yay!). If I went back to Nationals, or even to a regular saddle seat show schedule, it would have to be aboard a horse I really got along with. A horse who would be fun to show, win or lose. It does happen. Short of this miracle horse, I don’t see a return trip to Murfreesboro. Other than the ones I mentally take every year.

But I have been wrong before.

Previous Nationals Posts

[Nationals I Have Known, List of Links] looking back, posted in 2019
[Nationals I Have Known, As Seen From A Cart] looking back, posted in 2021
[Where I Am Not] posted during Nationals 2019
[When the Stirrup Swings] 2014 show, posted in 2018

Onwards!
Katherine