Its perfectly wonderful Sue as when you decide to go to a show, you dont know if there are going to be 1-2-5-10-20 in that class until you get there. Some of the classes that Faux Finish won had only her in there, some had one other horse, some had 5, some had 10 or more. Even when she won her class and was the only one in there, when she went up for Best Young Horse, there would be between 15-20 in that Championship class and when she went Best Young Horse or reserve Best Young Horse out of all of the winners of all of the age groups THAT meant something and really - I didnt care if she was the only one in her 2 or 3 year old TB filly class at that point ...
Its also why I intend to take my Nightlight filly to as many "Open" Hunter Breeding shows as possible, such as the Merrill Lynch Classic at Chagrin Falls, OH in July. She will then get to compete against ALL breeds in a straight 2 year old class and not be segregated into TB or non TB classes and why if I can see my way clear to do so, I'll take her to Warrenton in September as well ...
But I will also balance that with showing her in straight TB classes whenever possible like the upcoming Sept show in Simcoe supporting Thoroughbred Niagara
I would also be a whole lot prouder of getting a 1st out of 3 or 4 top horses at a top "A rated show, than I would at getting 1st out of 24 at a schooling show level class to be very honest ...
We definately chased points with Faux Finish as a 3 year old and for her to finish in Reserve Champion position in the USEF standings that year was a huge accomplishment for me, but I wouldnt do it again with Nightlight or the Four Feet of Snow colt. With them I will pick and choose the top shows like Devon, Merrill Lynch, Warrenton, the year end Futurities, possibly Upperville and possibly some of the MI and IL shows to meet up against different horses to change things up a bit to see how we can compete against that group. And if I travel 8 or 10 hours each way and find I am one of only 2 in the class - so be it. All one can do is try and hope for the best ...
Ive said this many times in the past and I'll repeat it again. There is no incentive - "0" as a matter of fact - for someone to take their youngsters to line classes in our area (Ontario, Canada) as no one but the actual exhibitors and family and friends attend. In the States, the Hunter Breeding classes are an integral part of the actual larger show venue, so as the Hunter Breeding classes are going on in the ring, the pros and riders and owners sit up in the stands and watch the results of each class. THAT is the name of the game as you are getting your youngsters and the results of your breeding program front and centre to the very people that you want to buy them and they can see right in front of them, how they stack up against other yearling, two and three year olds and how they all stack up against each other in the BYH class at the end of the show. I handed out more flyers on Guaranteed Gold at Merrill Lynch and Warrenton and Devon than I EVER did at any show up here and I would get people coming up to me after the class and asking about their breeding and then about my stallion and what youngsters I or my clients had available. One well respected top show down there is worth 10 up here and thats why I continue to show in the States more than up in Canada. It is the absolute best bang for the buck, unless they seriously change how things are done up here
You can be the next reality TV show...
