How to Produce a Show Horse for HOYS with Vicky Smith | What Do People Get Wrong About Showing? Ep.38 | Why Show Riders Hand the Reins Away

How does a UK show horse producer get a young horse ready for HOYS, Royal Windsor and Royal International? Vicky Smith explains the real graft.In Episode 37 of the Just Horse Riders Podcast, Aaron sits down with Vicky Smith — Cheshire-based professional show horse producer, multiple HOYS winner (Coloured Ridden Non-Native Horse of the Year, Maxi Cob of the Year), Royal Windsor and Royal International champion, and a former PE teacher who took a sabbatical that turned into a full-time career producing show horses.According to Vicky, "showing is a sport where you are being judged — so to be judged for a living is quite hard." She also explains why no other discipline asks a rider to spend all winter training a horse, only to hand the reins to a stranger in the summer.What you'll learn:Why six weeks of January roadwork still beats any modern shortcut for fitnessHow variety (hacking, herd turnout, pole work, farm rides) keeps show horses mentally freshThe honest conversation every producer should have with owners about expectationsWhy bitting is the most over-thought area in showing — and what to fix insteadHow amateurs can get into showing through riding clubs, BSHA, TSR and London InternationalWatch now, or listen on Spotify wherever you get your podcasts.Website: https://www.justhorseriders.co.uk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justhorseridersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/justhorseridersYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustHorseRidersOfficalSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sUBwfQNIG40hRgs8hXbKi#justhorseriders #equestrianpodcast #justhorseriderspodcast #showhorses #HOYS #RoyalWindsor #horseproducer #UKshowing0:00 Introduction0:46 Meet Vicky Smith — Cheshire show yard2:18 From riding school to HOYS at Wembley5:00 Eventing, hunting and finding showing again6:51 Teaching PE while running 8 show horses14:07 The HOYS 2018 weekend that changed everything17:00 Breaking her pelvis at 16 and going to uni19:14 Taking on horses — managing expectations27:34 Winter roadwork and legging-up explained30:49 Rest, recovery and match fitness41:23 Building the team — mum, Hayley and the grooms47:12 Vets, farriers and the wider yard network50:33 What a normal day looks like at the yard53:50 Selling on, retiring and saying goodbye57:34 Bart — the horse of a lifetime59:28 The pressure of being judged for a living1:02:09 Pathways for amateurs — clinics and BSHA1:05:37 When it goes wrong — the runaway in the ring1:12:21 Keeping show horses mentally fresh1:19:33 How Vicky switches off1:21:50 What people get wrong about showing1:26:17 Quick-fire round1:31:59 Advice for riders aiming at HOYS