Ok, y'all.  My daughter has decided she want's to learn to show (thanks to our new baby) but I never have.  Where do I start?  I've been trying to get hold of the local 4-H people but they are as elusive as the jackalope.  What would be some good books to read to see what I'm up against?

Oh and before anyone asks, the filly is out of a mare that placed in the top ten in weanling halter at the Appaloosa National show in 02.  She is out of a mare that placed top 5 in worlds and a sire with many halter and performances wins.  Her full brother got reserve champion in weaniling halter this year and placed 8th at world.    The fillys sire has never been shown (sorry, I'm a trail rider and don't like to get dressed up to get dirty) but has show and performances horses behind him as well.

http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/brights+little+squirt    heres babies pedigree.

Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

I would show some open shows first before heading into an Appaloosa Breed show, she'll get burned out otherwise. Check with some area horse clubs in your area to find out who would be willing to teach you and your daughter the joys of showing halter. Head to some shows and talk with people and you'll learn some from that.

Good luck!

That's the problem I'm having.  No one around here shows that I know of.  (Except the lady I bought the mare from and she is in the middle of a health crisis) 

The number for the 4-H contact person isn't helping.  No one will return the calls.  Im searching for some horse clubs, but it's mostly ropers around here.   I e-mailed the people on the Tx 4-H web site and maybe they have a better number.

She started riding at 7 and has been riding my 20+ yr old QH mare for about 3 years now.  She has never been under a trainer (don't know what they charge or if I can afford one right now).    She has been on several weekend trail rides with me.

 I originally bought the appy mare so she could show halter, but the mare is HUGE and she is a bit afraid of her so I figured if she started with the baby she would be more confident.              I thought of finding her a pony, but they aren't very common around here.  It's all cattle and roping and trail riding.

Thanks y'all.

I finally got through to the 4-H club.  The number listed on the website was old and now belongs to someone who is probally very confused right now.    We go to the first meeting on Sunday.  They said they have a horse club and can teach her how to show which is good because I dont have a clue.  Now if she had wanted to show lambs, steers, chickens, turkeys, rabbits or cook I would know what to do.     Are there any books you can recomend to read so I can know what to expect?

Krys      I wish we had a tack store like that around here.  The guys at the feed store will order you anything you want from their catalogs and a few stores have the basic stuff (curb/snaffle bits, saddle blankets, halters)  but nothing "fancy", it's all ranch oriented.   It would be nice to be able to just go and look at things before you buy, without driving 200 miles. 

With regards in finding tack and show clothes for your daughter and her horse, check into Ebay, http://www.sstack.com/, http://www.smithbrothers.com/, http://www.hobbyhorseinc.com/ . Hobby Horse can give you ideas of what to wear, the others have the tack and more show clothes.

Horse and Rider magazine is a good one to try for showing/training, grooming, etc. Too bad you don't live in Michigan, this is horse show country here. LOL!!

Good luck to you and your daughter!

Thanks for the links.  I'll check them out.

Michigan is too  cold!!!  I'd freeze, it's in the lower 80's here today.   But it would be nice to be around people that do something other than rope and trail ride (even though I love trailriding). 

Check out your local Appalossa club.  Those shows aren't hard (no offense) and they have a novice division.

Go to watch the shows first, that's where you'll make your best contacts.

I thought about that, but the closest club listed on the ApHC web site is near San Antonio.  That is over a 300 mile round trip.  I think we will start with the 4-H first and if she is serious well start driving further out.