The time has arrived. Next show season you’ll be moving from one division to the next.

 
Regardless of whether you’re a rider aging out of 13 & Under or 14-18 or an adult pointing out of Novice, competing in a new division is exciting, sometimes nerve-wracking, but also an opportunity to advance your skills as a rider. Fortunately, many riders before you have embraced the change and triumphed in their new divisions and trainers are prepared and willing to assist you make a smooth transition from one division to the next.

 
Read on to learn how four riders prepared themselves for the transition to a new division and how four trainers coach their riders to show ring success.

Be Optimistic
For some, the change can be overwhelming, even intimidating. “To keep our industry alive and healthy, we need to keep the experience positive for riders making the transition,” says Jim Chafin of Chafin Performance Horses in Jackson Center, Pennsylvania, “the last thing we want to do is scare people off.”

 
Moving from one division to the next is as much a mental game as it is about skill level.

 
“It really helps when people are excited rather than scared about the transition,” says Carly Veldman Parks, APHA trainer from Colbert, Georgia, “I encourage riders to see it as a challenge and to enjoy the challenge of raising their riding to another level.”

 
In Youth and/or Novice classes, the emphasis is on riding the class correctly; however, as a rider progresses through the ranks, a ride becomes more about finesse and advanced riding skills.

 
“The first year you’re moving into the next year, it’ll be a learning experience,” says Tommy Sheets of Tommy Sheets Show Horses in New Albany, Indiana.
There is no substitute for time in the saddle. “You have to spend time on your horse, time with your trainer to get the skill set and fine tune the skills to add a degree of difficulty to your ride,” adds Veldman Parks.

 
Sheets reminds his clients that professional athletes begin their careers as rookies. Rookies put in endless hours of hard work and practice to gain the skills necessary to advance in his/her respective sport.

 
“It takes a while for an individual to gain experience and education,” he stresses.

 
Be Confident
Younger riders may have the most difficult time moving up from Small Fry to 13 & Under to 14-18.

 
“I think the toughest transition is from 13 & Under to 14-18, especially if the rider was a dominant rider in the 13 & Under,” Sheets says.

 
It’s only natural for a rider who’s been winning to feel discouraged when they aren’t winning in a new division.

 
“I always tell my riders that no matter which horse show they’re competing in if they learn something or accomplish something we’ve been working on it doesn’t matter if they place first or last,” says Erin Cecchini of Five Star Performance Horses in Guilford, Connecticut.

 
A Rider’s Point of View
A Novice or Amateur rider who began competing at breed shows as a young child has the advantage of knowing how the show scene works and the expectations of each division.

 
Abi Buckwalter has progressed through nearly every American Quarter Horse Association division. She started showing at age six in the Small Fry division, graduated to 13 & Under, aged into 14-18 and is now an Amateur.

 
“I believe my biggest challenges will be proving to myself that I can compete in an older age group,” she says, “I loved being the oldest in my class and knowing everyone in my division and now I have to work my way up the totem pole and learn all the new Amateurs.”

 
Her biggest challenge may well be remembering not to enter the ring when announcers call for youth riders. “I have to remind myself I am an “old lady” now.” she laughs.
Amateur rider Lynnie DePalma, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, started showing when she was 8 years old and moved into the Amateur division several years ago.

 
“I don’t necessarily think there are challenges when switching divisions, but rather accepting the challenge to increase you and your horse’s ability to be better competitors at the next level,” she says, “there tends to be higher expectations as an amateur competitor; riding knowledge and capabilities, ring judgment, and pattern skills. All these come with experience and enhance the competition for the amateur division. Being able to feel confident and prepared in yourself and horse is rewarding on any level.”
Riders new to showing or who are returning to the show pen have the opportunity to learn the ropes and fine tune their skills in the novice classes.

 
Late into the 2009 show season, Melissa Haberkorn, Beaufort, South Carolina, bought VR Knockyoursocksoff. Knowing she would likely point out of the American Paint Horse Association’s Novice division by the end of the season she focused on advancing her skills in preparation for the Amateur division in 2010.

 
“I hunkered in hard, I told Carly I wanted to do well in Novice, but what I really wanted was to prepare for the Amateur division,” she said, “to win a Novice class it’s really about the least amount of mistakes you make, but to win in Amateur you have to get the most plusses.”

 
Rather than focusing on winning, she concentrated on perfecting the most minuscule details in anticipation of the increased competition in the Amateur division. Her hard work paid off earning her the 2009 APHA Number One Novice Amateur title. She came back in 2010 to win the 2010 APHA Number One Classic Amateur title.

 
“It was the little details, not just my horse, but myself.” she says, “It was as much mental as it was about getting my heels down and elbows in.”

 
“I think the way AQHA has the novice program provides stepping stones that allows a rider to evolve to the next level of competition,” says Susan Grabski, Erie, Pennsylvania, a Novice rider who finished ninth out of 161 at the 2014 AQHA Novice East Championships.

 
“Once you go through the process to the Championship show you gain confidence.”

 
Be prepared
Nothing worth earning comes without hard work. Prepare yourself that to succeed at the next level you’ll be spending more time in the saddle. In addition to fine tuning your equitation or your horse’s responsiveness to cues, consider these tips to help you prepare for the increased level of competition.

 
• Work towards accomplishing one goal at a time. “I encourage riders to move forward in baby steps rather than think they are going to catch on immediately,” Sheets said.
• Stay in shape. “If your horse is away at the trainers find another horse close by that you can ride regularly,” Veldman Parks suggested.

• Watch a video of your ride. “Videotaping is a great tool to help riders advance,” Chafin said, “it’s so easy to pull out your phone, take a quick video clip. It puts things into perspective quickly.”

• Take notes. “Write things down that make a difference in your performance so you can go back, go over your notes and remembered what worked for that ride,” Veldman Parks said.
• Watch a class of the division you’ll advance into. “I’ll take the time to watch an amateur class with a client so they can get a visual of what the next level looks like,” Chafin said.
• Keep it in perspective. “I always tell my clients as long as they accomplished something we’ve been working on it doesn’t matter if they place first or last,” Checcini said.
• Continue learning. “The more knowledge you have the better you’ll be,” Sheets said.
“Don’t get comfortable with winning your division. Even if you’re winning start focusing on how you can improve and start preparing for the next level of competition,” Veldman Parks concluded.