SeychellesCourseJasper and ThomThom and Sparky

Wakefield Barn: Showing



Thom’s Philosophy of Showing: To excel at our sport takes more than just the desire to win ribbons. Over the years, I’ve learned how to win at shows and how to maintain a winning performance.

At home, we pay particular attention to detail. We stress work on the flat and over cavaletti, or rails on the ground. We make use of gymnastic exercises to keep the rider’s and the horse’s form over fences sharp. We sustain the correct level of fitness for your horse so he can do his job with ease. We maintain an environment that encourages clear understanding of the responsibilities that go along with being a good rider, one who continues to improve, building skills within an organized framework.

I believe that winning is the by-product of hard work, organization, and loving what you do. However, we don’t worry about our competition, or even winning. Our focus is always on our horses and on continually adding to and refining what our horses can do. The exercises we do at home bring us success at the shows. We define success as how much improvement our horse makes from show to show. Ribbons at a show tell us we have done our homework well.

Every time I step into the show ring I see it as a privilege and an opportunity.

Wakefield offers two services at horse shows; coaching and day care:
(See "Rates" for a listing of all Wakefield services and pricing.)

Coaching

  • sign entry blank as “coach”
  • advise rider/owner on class selection
  • meet at in-gate prior to class to learn and/or walk the course
  • warm-up in schooling area
  • observe class
  • critique class

Day Care

  • consultation and guidance on the day by day, moment to moment care, maintenance and development of horse and rider
  • help obtain and fill out prize list, including feed and bedding orders
  • sign prize list as “trainer” and “coach”
  • advise rider/owner on class selection
  • meet at in-gate prior to class to learn and/or walk the course
  • warm-up in schooling area
  • observe class
  • critique class
  • call show manager to confirm stalls
  • call barn manager to confirm feed/bedding orders
  • call braider two weeks before show
  • pack hay, feed, supplements, salt, etc. and equipment (buckets, tools, fans, etc.) and ship to show
  • unload horse at show
  • help set up stalls (bedding, buckets, fans, hay, etc.) and tack, grooming and feed stalls
  • call braider to confirm our stall location
  • do (or obtain) night check
  • help wrap and unwrap, groom, bathe horse, clean tack, lunge, blanket and medicate (if necessary,) assist and consult with farrier and/or vet, if needed, help horse and rider to get ready at the in-gate
  • put in number with in-gate personnel and help get rider to the ring
  • clean stalls
  • order extra bedding, hay or feed, if needed
  • rake and keep the barn area and tack trunks clean and tidy
  • help pack up to come home and unpack at home