Showing is the goal we all ride for at Red Sky Farm. Shows give us an opportunity to test our skills against those of other riders. It's more fun than most people think. Above: Isabel at her first horse show, Susie riding.

The shows
Red Sky Farm is the only Las Cruces training facility that goes to the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) -rated hunter/jumper shows. If you want to ride at a high level, testing your skills against those of excellent riders from all over the Southwest, then Red Sky Farm is the only barn for you. Our showing experiences are FUN! We travel to Albuquerque and Tucson regularly for the finest of the shows in those cities, and we take home our share of ribbons and championships. And we smile and laugh a lot!

Ready to move up to jumpers? Want to perfect the perfect hunter trip at 3’6”? Susie and Judy can give you all the tools you need (and a great support crew!) to move your riding up to a whole new level.

Want to know the difference between Baby Green and First Year Green? Between Adult-Amateur and Amateur-Owner? Between Hunter Classics and Jumper Classics? Wondering what it means to ride back-to-back trips? Or how a judge can hold three cards at once? Learn about the fascinating (and addictive) sport of horse showing. Travel to friendly places and submerge yourself in the beautiful world of horse showing, where everything is first class, high quality, and unforgettable. Rub elbows with famous trainers such as Betty Beran, and Thom Brede while enjoying the family-like relationship of the other Red Sky Farm riders.

Randie Culbertson showing Sky's the Limit, a Belgian/TB gelding who is the inspiration for the excellence we strive for at Red Sky Farm. (He was also the "Sky" in Red Sky. We miss him.)

The show program is very much like the competition system of any sport. You travel to competitions that have been approved by the barn for quality, safety, footing, and stabling. Once there you can choose to take care of your own horse, stall and equipment, or you can pay us to do it for you. Your warm-up (or schooling) is light and well supervised. You can choose to have a lesson, or have Susie ride your horse for you. Or you can enjoy the show grounds and warm up yourself. On show days, Susie or Judy will get your schedule organized, help you get ready, and coach you through your entire warm up and competition.

Schooling
Schooling is the term for a light warm up just before your enter the ring to get you and your horse focused. This takes about 15 minutes per class. Someone from the barn will be available to you every minute you ride to help you get ready for the ring, including a last minute grooming touch up for your horse. Susie or Judy are “on the rail” in every class to help in a pinch, answer questions, and evaluate your performance. Schooling is such a helpful system that it is required if you are showing as a student of Red Sky Farm. The rate varies according to the size of the show and how far we travel.

Never shown before? You should at least try it once to make sure how you feel. If you don’t like it, we won’t pressure you. If you like it, we’ll start you out in a reasonable way that won’t empty your wallet or your horse’s mind. We also have our wonderful schooling horses available for lease at the shows. What do you have to lose?

We offer a great support crew at every show with as little stress as possible. Above, horse show mom extraordinaire Donna Eichstaedt, owner of Red Sky Farm, helps out at a show.

We do have small schooling shows here at the barn, where you’ll see your trainers ride in egg & spoon and the turtle race. We also have a long-standing $20 challenge that you might just win! Ask for details.