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PAUL CATES STABLE  
2900 Gattis School Road  -  Round Rock, Texas 78664
512.565.3886   www.paulcatesstable.com
Contact us to learn about academy show cost estimates.
PAUL CATES STABLE     Academy Information
National Bridle Shop
World Champion Horse Show
Equipment Show Stopper Tack
American Saddle Horse Association
(see additional links below right for show attire)

This web page will help you with questions regarding the PCS academy show Attire required in saddle seat competition.  This
pages will also give minimal details regarding show procedures.  We hope you find the links and information useful.  Please
contact
Paul Cates via email if you have concerns or more questions that you do not find answered here.  See you on the rail!

A great web site to visit to purchase your academy riders apparel is
National Bridle Shop.  If you prefer catalog shopping, NBS
publishes a catalog that you may order.  
Click on any of the pictures to the right or the underlined items below to go directly to
the National Bridle Shop page that features that item.  Shop well in advance of the show date to insure you have all the proper
attire.  Paul Cates Stable colors are black and red if that helps in color selections.

For the kiddos:
Beginning academy show riders should wear black riding jodhpurs with straps, a crisply ironed, long sleeved, button down oxford or dress shirt
(preferably white-and you can find these at local department stores for the best fit), a well-sized tie (department stores), a conservatively
colored
vest, riding (show) gloves , and black leather, smooth soled, equestrian show boots.  The Saddle Derby is optional for PCS academy
riders but feel free to wear one as do many competitors.  Be sure that the derby matches the jods.  In horse show classes that PCS students
compete, only the Saddle Derby is acceptable so avoid the mistake of ordering a different style of riding hat.

For the "big" kids:
For the older kids in the gang, all of the above mentioned items can be found on  the NBS site, just search under Ladies Apparel or Men's Apparel
for the items.  Adults showing in academy classes wear the same riding apparel as the young riders.  Jodhpurs, starched shirt, tie, vest, riding
gloves, and show boots.  Men do not wear a Saddle Derby -- so click on the picture of the man in the hat to the right for the proper headdress.

Here's the normal procedure:
Paul Cates sends an email out well in advance of each show so be sure he has your current email address on file.  If you wish to participate,
just return the email letting him know and you will be added to the schedule.  If possible, arrive at the show grounds with plenty of time to find the
PCS barn and team, get acclimated, and watch a couple of classes in order to view the show arena.  To insure that you do not miss your
opportunity to show your horse, competitors should be fully dressed with numbers attached,
ready to mount the show horse no less than
one-half hour before the class
in which you compete.  Parents, please be sure your new academy rider is not hungry, is well rested, has lots
of help in getting dressed, and the hair is well groomed.  The more seasoned team members are happy to  help so don't hesitate to ask someone.  
PCS provides a dressing room with mirror at almost every show.  The ladies should wear longer hair in a small netted, pinned and hair sprayed
bun, just below the hat line if applicable.  No value high enough can be placed on plentiful bobby pins, hair nets or spray should your hair come
apart during your best class ever!!   If hair is short, fly aways should be controlled with hairnet and spray.  Extras that you may want to consider
are number pins (usually you can find these at sanctioned ASHA shows), tiny equitation hair bows for the girls & women.  It is not acceptable to
wear large, flashy bows in the hair during a saddle seat class.  Also the hair 'garments' with the built-in netting to cover the bun and big bow are
unacceptable in equitation classes.


Please send us your feedback regarding this information and your experiences showing with PCS!
Links
Lessons
As you progress in your riding skills you may want to start competing at local saddlebred
shows.  The Academy division was developed just for that purpose.  In this division, riders
new to the discipline may compete in classes that are divided by age and skill categories.  
There is no need to own a horse to compete in the Academy division.   Paul Cates Stable
has horses that can be leased just for the show.

If you would like detailed information on  Horse Shows or cost estimates for
Showing, please contact
Paul Cates.