Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley Years ago I ran an advertisement in a show prize list thanking all of the folks who made our horse showing a success. As you might imagine, it takes many people and professionals to make it possible for a rider to win a...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley Life provides many opportunities for change and transition. As a young woman, I became famous for saying, "Plant me in dirt, water me weekly and I promise I will grow -- this experience I do not need right now." Unfor...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley How does summer always arrive so quickly? School is out, Memorial Day has passed, and now it's time to figure out summer activities. For the serious rider, and even for those who ride only occasionally, summer horse ca...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley How many times have you heard, "Mom, I forgot my boots!" Maybe it's,"Mom, where is my other sock?" How about, "Have you seen my choker?" or "Mom, I forgot the girth." My favorite of all time has to be the 6 AM call I ...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley Our family became involved in horse showing when we started out in local farm shows and then moved to local association shows and onto regional and national AAA circuit shows. We gained valuable insight along the way, h...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley Mom's Perspective: By the time December rolls around each year, we all get slightly crabby during those first two shows of the month. We really need this time to regroup and maybe even celebrate the holidays! So, tr...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley Horse showing provides an incredible opportunity for learning some important life lessons for both teens and their parents. Sportsmanship, competition, and learning to deal with losing can serve as the basis for signifi...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley One of my favorite teachable moments for parenting and horse showing is helping kids learn to set goals. Horse showing provides a great opportunity for young children to watch you set and achieve goals, for older childr...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley Parenting a teen takes much more listening and engagement than when they were younger. With teens, you have to be subtle, pick your moments, and listen very carefully. Parents need to "show up", be present, and be enga...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley Our daughter showed on the A Circuit for 3 years at shows that were mostly in the southeast. We live 15 minutes from the Olympic Horse Park in Atlanta, so we had many circuit show opportunities at home. We also found o...

Copyright (c) 2007 Kathy Keeley My years of being a horse show mom has provided me with some interesting insights. Below I've compiled my best tips for surviving the show experience and making the most of the time with your child. I find that these th...