A friendly, low-pressure show circuit built for lesson-program riders taking their very first step into the ring — no horse of your own needed, any age welcome. We run it together with our partner barns, Paramount and Teesdale, with classes grouped by age and height so everyone competes at their own level. It’s one of the few entry-level horse shows for beginners in the Calgary area — and where first-show nerves turn into ribbons.
The Novice Rider Circuit is a development circuit for riders in a lesson program — the kind of rider who takes a lesson or two a week on one of our lesson horses and doesn’t own a horse of their own. You ride a familiar school horse, your coach is right there with you, and the whole day is built to be welcoming rather than intimidating.
It runs across three partner barns who share the same goal: give new riders a real, supportive place to show.
A show day is more than ribbons — it’s a whole day spent with the horses and good barn friends, the trust between a rider and the horse they’ve learned on tested in a real ring for the first time, and the kind of memories that last a lifetime. Here’s what riders take home.
Working toward a show gives every lesson a purpose — courses to learn, position to polish, a date on the calendar to aim for.
Divisions are set by age and jump height, from cross-rails up. You’re only ever against riders in the same place you are.
You show the lesson horse you already ride and trust. No ownership, no leasing, no trailer — we handle the rest.
Ribbons go to eighth place in every division, with extra prizes in the equitation classes. Win or not, you leave knowing how a show day works.
Each division runs three classes — a lower hunter, a higher hunter, and a huntseat equitation round over fences. You pick one division for the day (no cross-entering) and ride up to all three of its classes. It’s judged on you, the rider — this is for novice riders, not novice horses.
Dates rotate between the three barns through the spring and summer, finishing with a year-end final hosted at Teesdale. Here’s how 2026 ran — 2027 dates aren’t set yet. Ask us, or join the barn newsletter and we’ll send them out as soon as they’re confirmed.
2027 dates coming soon. Next season’s schedule hasn’t been set yet — tell us you’re interested and we’ll make sure you hear the dates as soon as they are.
The year-end final at Teesdale runs a special format — two heights per division with extra prizes in the final class of each height. There’s no season-long points championship; each show sets its own prizes.
Entries are paid to your own barn, not the show. Your barn forwards one payment for everyone by the Tuesday before. Entries are due the Friday before each show — a late post-entry adds $30.
M.C. lesson students also pay a $140/day show fee for the horse, coaching and hauling on show day — just ask us and we’ll walk you through the full cost for your division.
Hand your form & payment to the barn you ride at — not to the show.
Download the form, fill it in on your computer or by hand, and give it to your instructor with payment by the Friday before. Your barn forwards everyone’s entries and one payment to the show together.
Tell us you’re interested and we’ll help you pick a division, get the entry form, and prep in your lessons. First-show nerves are part of the fun.
