Expect the Unexpected

Cows at a ranch horse show are normal. They are expected to be there and most of the horses are used to them. No big deal, but when you're at a show and the venue is hosting a professional cattle show as well, that can be a whole different ball game. Especially when no one warned you there may be cattle on-site. Not every horse has been introduced to cattle and not every cow has seen a horse. If you're taking your horse to a show for the first time and you don't realize that the venue can hold multiple livestock shows at the same time, you may get quite the surprise. Again, cattle not such a big thing, but I'll tell you one day I walked into a buckskin show and found a barn full of llamas!

One of the normal stalling barns was being used for the buckskin show and the other barn, right next door, was being used for a llama show. This was an extremely unique experience. We learned lots of new things including the fact that when showing llamas, really loud upbeat music is normal. Music was pouring out of the barn for a significant portion of the day. The wash racks in between the two barns were used by both horses and llamas. Sharing a wash rack with the llamas was quite an experience for some horses. Many had not been introduced to, or ever seen, a llama. There wasn’t designated “horse” or “llama” only areas. When competitors were taking horses back to their trailer to pick up tack or letting their horse graze on grass out by the RV there were llamas and their owners doing the same thing. It was interesting to see the variety of reactions from both animals. Some horses are like “yeah whatever” and others were completely thrown by the addition of a new animal. There was snorting, stomping and lots of comical vocalizations. Some horses just downright froze and refused to move. Even saw a bit of crow hopping … and that was just the horses. Most llamas haven't necessarily seen horses either. Having mixed reactions goes both ways. It was comical because the llamas weren't sure of horses either. They were experiencing some of the same things. The llamas were stopping and freezing, some were doing a hippy hop and others were snorting and making noises. It was very interesting to watch reactions of both owners and animals. Especially when a competitor was walking past the barn with three or four llamas in hand.

It was a good reminder that we may all have a passion for different animals, but a show is a show. Some things are very similar. You have an animal that needs to be clean and fit for the ring and you want to make it look the best you can. The owners were bathing, grooming and taking the llamas out to stretch or graze a bit. Kids, parents, hugs and adorable scenes of cuteness abounded. A lot of care is universal, and it was neat to see, but to see the horses and llamas together is unusual and it definitely was as show to remember.

There are a few venues in Wisconsin that are big enough that they can accommodate multiple shows at once. I have often seen other types of non-livestock shows going on during a horse show. Car or gem shows or a craft fair at the same time are pretty common. I have announced over rodeos, bull riding competitions and a truck pull. When someone says, “oh look there's going to be a truck pull,” you turn and it looks cool as the trucks are coming in. When you're an announcer, competitor, judge or anyone else associated with the horse show, you're thinking, “that's gonna get loud.” Competitors may be wondering how their horses are going to handle it. I mean, picture this, there’s a western pleasure class in the arena and 100 yards away a jet engine on a pulling truck revs to life. The ringmaster can’t hear the judge next to him trying to ask for a gait change. I can’t hear the two-way radio anyway. The building is physically shaking and making all kinds of rattling noises as the truck builds its pull and amps the power. Then, instantly, the driver hits the kill switch and it all stops. The ringmaster is still screaming the gait change in the two-way my ear is pressing against. I startle momentarily and try to call the change before the next truck is hooked up and pulling and so on. The truck pull only lasted a few hours, but boy it was quite the night. The horses handled it well and we’ve all had a good chuckle since. I lost the battle with the roar of those jet engines a few times.

Sometimes you have to compete with all kinds of different things going on. Maybe it's simply a different horse event. I worked a carriage show once where the carriage show was on one end of the venue and on the other end of the venue was a large speed show. The camping and the trailering areas somewhat overlapped and so some competitors were right next to each other. You have very different disciplines all getting their horses ready to go and moving through common areas, cheering in both arenas at different times, jingling carriages and blingy tack. There's a lot going on and you just have to handle it. You take everything as it comes and you have to be ready for anything.

It’s all good. You work with whatever is there when you show up. Sometimes you know what you're dealing with, like the carnival during County Fair, other times you may get an unexpected surprise. For me, the key is remembering we are all there with a purpose. We're all doing our own thing. It's fun, I enjoy it. The show goes on. As long as the competitors and horses are safe all is well. I've seen a lot of competitors and horses rise to the occasion. I’m often surprised at how well they do when they're thrown a curveball. In the end the horses are troopers and they're pretty impressive. You just don't know what you're gonna get and that's ok. That is part of what makes working at the shows interesting. Never been to two shows alike, even for the same association. I really do enjoy what each show brings even if it is a challenge. If you've run into something unique and different at a show, go ahead and share that in the comments here or send me an email and tell me about it. I’d be interested to see what you guys have run into while you were showing your horses. I’ll catch you next week. Hope to see you back.