So I have survived the first show in Canada. Three weeks at a show, living in a caravan is a long time! From snow to 32 degrees we have had all forms of weather over three weeks, I have never been in a country where the weather change can be that extreme. I have enjoyed my time here at the show though, met some great people and had some success in the ring. I still cant quite get used to eating out every night, missing home cooked meals and a real bed!

What I have loved is seeing the differences here compared to showing in Germany and at home.

- To show here is not cheap. The Classes in the Grand Prix ring all offer prizemoney but if your jumping below 1.15m you are looking at paying $45 ($51 NZ) per class with no prizemoney. To show a horse in the smaller classes under 1.15m you are looking at budgeting $1000 ($1144 NZ) a week. However if you have a horse jumping 1.30m plus there are some great classes with good prizemoney.

- The selection of classes seems great if you have a horse that is not quite a World Cup Horse. For this show it was a 2 star show so there is a 1.40m or 1.45m Grand Prix each week, worth up to $50,000 ($57,000 NZ) and a modifed 1.35m or 1.40m Grand Prix, this can be worth up to $20,000 (nearly $23,000 NZ) . I think this helps the stepping stone to get up the higher levels and if you have a horse placing to pay the bills! The first two weeks there are FEI classes at the show and the last week there isnt. The juniors and amateurs have several classes just for them over the weekend from 80cm through to 1.40m giving them a chance to place without professionals in these classes.

- In certain classes you can go for another 'trip' as it is called and jump the track again in the classes 1.10m and under. Great for problem or younger horses or clients that need to gain confidence.

- The standard of the rings is fantastic at this show, great footing, great jumps in all rings that get rotated around. The rings are graded usually every 25 horses and kept watered. All the paths around the show grounds are also watered consistantly all day.

- The course building this show has been good, very technical and tight times! In the Grand Prixs you can not afford to go outside anywhere, you have to take every inside turn.

- In the warm up all rings have 4 warm up fences minimum, some five. Each rider when warming up takes one fence and their coach will build it how they like. There are enough stands at each fence to make a vertical or oxer or double. There is also a liverpool available to use. The warm up jumps have flags on each of them but the coaches can change the flags so riders can jump in either direction. It sounds chaotic but it works and works well.

- Classes are drawn for the Grand Prix but all other rings you sign up for your place. Usually trainers will put there students one after another and have a few go at once. The same happens in the smaller classes in the Grand Prix ring that you can put your students one after another. Makes life a lot easier for coaches.

- They have barn calls which is a life saver! In the barn isles are speakers that annouce during the day where each ring is up too.

- Each barn all have golf carts to get around the show, great for this show where there was a lot of walking to the ring.

- The atmosphere at this show has not been huge as we are in a small town. So no night life here either, but I am told the next show is great with night classes.

The main difference I see between Germany and Canada is in Germany the focus is on producing horses. Where as here the focus is on training clients, importing and selling horses. The horses that are imported are mostly all coming from Europe and seem to be aged 7 years and older for jumpers, hunters are usually imported younger as 4 or 5 year olds. Because of the costs it is too expensive and time consuming to import 4 year old show jumpers and produce them for the market here. Sadly this is a huge part of what I miss of Germany and back home. I love starting and producing young horses. However on the other hand for my riding it is a great opportunity to ride and compete more established horses.

Everyone that rides here is either a professional with their own barn and clients, or a junior or amateur that is managed by the professional rider. The clients can literally turn up to the show on the weekends and show, during the week the professional rider will prepare the horse, schooling them and showing them in classes during the week. Each barn is branded with a name and its colours which the clients show under. Most barns set up a stable with tables, chairs, couches and flowers for clients to sit at. Set up at these show is a big job which is why on one hand it is good we are parked up for several weeks at each show.

So its home for a week for me and then off to the next show for 2 weeks Angelstone. I cant believe how quick this trip is going, only 1 month left!