Notes from a Semi-Successful Saddle Seat Show, August 2025

Awareness of the outside world. North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Association. Yes, bike polo. I admit, I chuckled. Turns out the version on grass has been around since 1891.(!) The hardcourt version originated with off-duty bike messengers in the early 2000s. Calgary Bike Polo: What is Bike Polo.

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ASHAA Fun Show
Stepping Stone Farm
Chelsea AL, USA
Saturday 19 July 2025

10 Academy Driving – 2nd of 2
With Optimus. Thank you to the Gray & Parr families

30 Academy Showmanship Adult WTC – 1st of 1
31 Academy Equitation Adult WTC – 1st of 1
Ridden as combined classes with 32 & 33 Aca WTC 14-17.
With Optimus. Thank you to Courtney Huguley.

Exactly as before. [Summer Showing, July 2025]

Preshow I

Driving. Third class needed to qualify for year-end awards.

Riding. Academy class with Optimus has an element of Groundhog Day. Was there a point? I decided that any saddletime is a positive.

Preshow II

After a most excellent lesson. I was a wee bit excited. Had a turned a corner? Did I finally understand saddle seat? Might I, perhaps, be able to edge out folks whom I have never beaten (in one case) and almost never beaten (I assume a grievous mistake was made in that instance)? It was a small fun show but you don’t horse show if you don’t want to win. [Notes from a Successful Saddle Seat Lesson]

First Class, Driving

Ability to recreate what I had done in my lesson? Close to 100%. Easier due to sitting on a seat in the cart. Chin up. Lift. I radiated elegance and poise. Optimus was loving it.

Ability to follow directions? Not so much. At the extended trot. The announcer said “Xaskj”. I could not hear. I guessed walk. Nope. Back to trot. Then walk. At which point we were in the corner.

Optimus: I know what comes next, we reverse.

Me: No, no, we have to wait for me to ask. No, really. I’m supposed to be steering back here.

And then we both made a hash out of the turn into the line up. I did not realize it was possible to cut quite that tight a turn in a cart.

Second &Third Classes, Riding

Ability to recreate what I had done in my lesson? Chin, success. Although a few times, my chin got a bit too high. I looked like a misguided astronomer searching for stars in the daytime. Still, better up than down.

I had a harder time keeping my ribcage lift & pelvic alignment. At the end of the second class, we finally had a little bit of flair. It is much easier to give your horse space when he uses it.

Learn Something New Every Day

Toward the end of his career, Sam use to like getting ready early and moseying about before his class. No work. Just walking and chilling and letting the gears begin grooving. At this show, I got anxious about being late for my class and was ready a bit too early. Optimus Does. Not. Like. After his joie de vive in the driving class, he spend most of the riding classes being stuck. Not slow, just stuck.

Optimus: We stood around too long and it’s all your fault. (He was not wrong.)

Me: Darn it. This is so hard. Well, I guess the lesson went better because I was on a different horse. No, wait, I wasn’t. I was on the same horse. I should be able to do this. I guess the lesson went better because. And so on.

He finally forgave me toward the end of the second class.

We also broke once at the canter, when Opt chose to be distracted by a voice in the corner. But I don’t think the judge saw. Hard to tell as I was alone in the class, if not in the ring.

Lack of Media

My personal paparazzi took a multitude of action photos. You are not going to see them. I’m too discouraged. My riding looks terrific. Strong. Confident. Like I’m having fun up there. What I don’t look is the slightest bit saddle seat. Yes, clearly, I can live a rich and satisfying life without ever being a saddle seat equation star. What is deflating is that I really really thought I was doing the thing. Or at least getting closer. I wasn’t.

Post Show

Successful because horse show. Semi-successful because I neither replicated my lesson nor raised my results. In one case, the placing stayed the same. In the other case, the competition stayed home.

Onwards!
Katherine