Running on Coffee, Dust, and Adrenaline: The Exhaustion of Horse Shows

“Horse shows: they may drain every ounce of energy you have, but they fill your heart right back up.”

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Horse shows are magical. The sound of hooves on packed footing, the smell of leather, the gleam of freshly groomed coats. They’re also a special kind of mayhem that could power a reality TV series. Because let’s face it: showing horses is less “glamorous weekend away” and more “competitive endurance test with ribbons and checks.” (Or in my case, belt buckles.)

Herding Cats… I Mean, Kids

If you’ve ever been responsible for getting kids ready to show, you know it’s like trying to braid a tornado. Someone can’t find their boots, someone else is crying because their pony shook off whatever adorable accoutrement you just finished adding, at least one child has managed to get Cheeto dust on their show clothes, and someone definitely is asking for a hot dog (someone is always asking for a hot dog).

Meanwhile, warm-up starts in five minutes.

Add in the fact that children have the energy of feral raccoons but the sense of urgency of sloths, and suddenly you’re a drill sergeant in half-chaps.

Supporting Friends (While Not Collapsing)

Of course, horse shows aren’t just about you — you’re also there to cheer on your friends. Which is lovely, except that their ride times always seem to overlap perfectly with yours. So there you are, sprinting from Ring Two to Ring Four, clapping wildly for your barn bestie, before running back to tack up your own horse. By noon you’ve hit your step goal and lost track of how many times you’ve yelled, “GOOD LUCK!” while shoving a helmet or hat onto your head.

Showing Your Own Horse: The Final Boss Level

Amid the chaos of grooming, supporting your friends, and child-wrangling, you still have your own horse to show. He, naturally, has decided that today is the day to perfect his giraffe impression in warm-up. You, running on caffeine and horse cookies, are expected to look polished, calm, and vaguely like you know what you’re doing.

By the time you ride down centerline or enter the ring, you’re already mentally asleep — but somehow the adrenaline kicks in, and you pull it off. Mostly. (We won’t talk about the lead change that wasn’t.)

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Post-Show Coma

At the end of the day, you’re covered in sweat, dust, and questionable mystery stains. Your horse looks better than you do, your kids are already asleep in the truck, and your phone is full of blurry photos you don’t remember taking. You are utterly, completely, spectacularly exhausted.

But let’s be honest — you’ll sign up to do it all again next weekend. Because nothing beats the chaos, the camaraderie, and that tiny flutter of pride when your horse, your kid, or your friend nails their round.

Horse shows: they may drain every ounce of energy you have, but they fill your heart right back up.