As a parent, you have been through the early horsey stages. Now your child is ready to ride in his or her first show. In this guide, we'll focus on english riders. First of all, is the child's riding instructor in agreement? Is your child realistically ready to compete? Safety is the single most important factor. The young rider must be capable of and confident enough to handle the horse or pony in what may be a new and stressful environment. If your barn offers schooling shows on the premises, that makes an ideal first show.

Many parents are puzzled by what clothing and equipment is required for showing. Your instructor may be providing the tack if the child is riding a school horse. If not, for entry level showing, a fancy saddle and bridle are not required. Whatever your child rides in everyday is a far better choice than an new and unfamiliar saddle purchased for a show. New saddles can be slippery, and that does not make a confident ride. Forget the latest trends. Your child should be in a well cared for and well broken in saddle that fits her and her horse properly. Quality matters, and an older German or British made saddle will generally be far superior to a new no-name saddle. Wintec synthetic saddles are a fine choice for the young rider. They are fairly inexpensive, lightweight, easy to care for and many models can be easily adjusted to fit a a variety of horses. They are also very secure feeling.

If you are shopping for a saddle, be sure to get expert advice from someone other than the seller. Look for known brand names such as Stubben, Passier, Courbette, Crosby, or Barnsby. There are many other very fine makes on the market, including Argentinian saddles. Beware of a saddle that is listed with no maker. Ask the seller where it was made. The majority of saddles from India and Pakistan have poor quality materials that can fail. The leather is tanned badly and the trees inside the saddle are often weak and incorrectly shaped. HorseTackReview.com is an excellent place to look up unsolicited owner reviews of all kinds of products. A new saddle for less than $200 is never a good buy.

At the beginner level, specialized tack is not needed. An all-purpose saddle is suitable for hunter, equitation, and dressage. Breed classes for gaited horses may require a saddleseat/gaited saddle. Bridles should be plain brown leather and everything should be scrupulously clean, The saddle should be clean with a clean, plain white shaped saddle pad just bigger around than the saddle to outline it tidily. The bit and stirrup irons should be shiny and spotless. No rhinestones or bright colors anywhere, those are for playtime and showing should be all about the horse. Needless to say, the horse should be wonderfully groomed from ears to tail, and should be the picture of health.

Now on to the rider. For entry level showing, your child only needs very simple wardrobe. First, an ASTM approved safety helmet, every time, every ride, properly fitted. Plain black velvet or velveteen is always appropriate, and the harness needs to be fastened.  He or she only needs beige jodhpurs, black paddock boots, garter straps to keep the jodhpurs from riding up, a plain white shirt and a navy blue hunt coat. Girls should wear a choker shirt with a plain stock pin or a monogram, and boys should wear a collared shirt with a plain necktie well secured. Long hair should be in a hairnet, or cute braided pigtails with neat ribbons are very charming on little girls. Black gloves give a nice finishing touch and help to keep the reins securely gripped--great for sweaty palms.

If your child is only interested in dressage, black tack and a plain white, square saddle pad and a black jacket are correct.

Tall boots are inappropriate for youngsters even at the highest levels of showing. I was in a fancy tack shop in California several years ago and overheard a mother being sold a pair of custom boots for her little girl. The child had 9" calves and would have outgrown the $800 boots before they were delivered. There are generally pictures of kids in show clothes in reputable catalogs. Some even offer complete show and schooling outfits at a discount. Again, consult your child's instructor or a knowledgeable person who is not trying to sell you something. You might inquire about other children at your instructor's barn who may have outgrown items to sell or lend.

Finally, be there, cheer, and understand that good sportmanship is the single most important thing your child can display.