The truth is, show days are long, usually cold, probably wet, thoroughly frustrating, a pain in the butt, up at the crack of dawn, to bed long after dark, and probably some of the most fun and rewarding times you will ever have. We have a philosophy here at KU -- we do everything within our power to have a fun day. Sounds simple, but it requires a lot of effort from a lot of people. Over the years, the officers and our coach have found that certain things works, and of course, certain things don't work. Here is an idea of what you can expect from a show weekend:
We are usually traveling somewhere between one and a half to two hours away. We travel by private auto, in groups of as many as we can pack into a car. You will need all of your show attire, neatly cleaned and pressed, boots polished to the proverbial spit-shine, and because of the aforementioned cold and wet, lots of warm clothes. You will be out in the weather ALL day! We usually meet in a parking lot near the dorms at about 5:15 AM or so.
At the show, everyone helps everyone else. The captains will be helping you find the order of go, which horse you will be riding, getting all the paperwork ready, checking point standings for accuracy, and a host of other no less important details. Your coach will be watching the horses school to see who's on, and who's sticky. We allow for study breaks and there is a lunch break, but other than that we are all together, cheering each other on! We are a close supportive team and that is what got us where we are today!
Parents and boyfriends are allowed to come to the shows, (especially if they bring food!) but are not allowed in the mount area. You can visit with them, but you are required to stay with the team. Because we have a large team, we need a lot of help. There are mount and dismount teams, stretch teams, point keepers, ring helpers, you get the idea. Your coach, president, and captains fly between setting stirrups, giving advice, and putting riders up. It's a well-oiled machine when it works right.
