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 Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
     
Location: Around here somewhere... | I'm about to help a little girl who is running for County Fair Princess- any tips? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 336
Location: Missouri | LOL I could give you a novel! Love seeing the young ones interested! How "serious" is the competition? What will they be judged on (ie - horsemanship, modeling, interview, speech)? What are the clothing requirements?
Most important for any pageant - have fun because it shows, know your stuff - for a local one it's a good idea to know about the history of the event, board, etc., always ALWAYS neat and starched clothes, perfectly groomed including nails, makeup, hair, pristine and well shaped hat.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Oh goodness, for a Princess candidate, I would just make sure first and foremost that she is having fun. Some parents take these kind of things SO seriously it burns the kid out on ever doing it again. I won 7 queen contests back in my hayday and have since been asked to judge several.
I second making sure she has a nice, well-shaped hat, make sure said hat doesn't fall off (bobby pins!), she can confidently answer (with eye contact!) basic questions about her and her horse (parts of the horse, etc) and rodeo events, neat and tidy appearance (for her and the horse). As far as horsemanship, just make sure she can confidently make the horse do all of the required manuevers individually first, then put them all together. She needs to know that pattern inside and out.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | Thanks ladies! Her grandmother is taking care of the clothing, etc... I'm helping her with the horsemanship aspect. She has competed and lost a few times and really wants to win it- I admire her persistence! She needs a lot of polishing and we only have a little time, but if she doesn't win this year I'm going to offer to help her throughout the year to get ready for next time. Right now, I mainly need to know what are the judges looking for when they are doing the interviews? Should she have her hair down like most of the other young girls or would having her hair back like a WP rider make her stand out and look a little more polished? Etc etc... Whatever little things you girls can think of that we can implement at this late date.
Edited by Blaundee 2014-07-21 3:45 PM
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | In basically doing a crash course this week to help her fix her posture, polish her horsemanship, and work on some interview skills. I'm hoping I'll get to work with her a lot more so that she can have a really good chance at it next year, but I'm trying my best to help her this year even though all we have is a week! |
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 Accident Prone
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Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | The only thing I know about queening is you should never raise your hand above your crown when waving. I won't tell you where I learned that little tidbit... LOL |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | That, and try to take it as a compliment when your horse does an impressive imitation of a saddle bronc during grand entry and they jokingly try to award you the bronc riding buckle. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 336
Location: Missouri | In horsemanship typically we see either a full ponytail or loose (not a bun). Is she required to mount/dismount? If so, make sure she knows to do a tack check before remounting. Always follow the pattern. If her horse makes a mistake, calmly correct it and go on (i.e. picks up a wrong lead). Horsemanship is ridden as horsemanship classes - split reins - not crossed though - but usually not as slow as a show class - more like reining!! One hand on reins, other up in a mirroring position. SMILE! Again, I don't know how competitive an area you are in - sometimes the princesses don't need to mount/dismount or worry about the non-rein hand position being as precise. The majority of the ones we've been involved with require a version of a reining pattern for horsemanship - if so that can be harder for younger ones to learn, so lots of practice. Main thing is to always check the pageant rules because they can vary soooo much. Most around here won't allow chaps or spurs in horsemanship.
Know the pattern. Know the pattern. KNOW THE PATTERN. If it calls for a circle - make it a circle, not an egg. If there are cones - make sure which side she should be on. And yes, always bobby pin the hat on. Mine was always told if that hat hits the ground her head better be in it - and she better be smiling. Make sure the saddle blanket coordinates with her clothing. Tack should be spotless. Judges will usually ask the younger ones parts of the horse, parts of the saddle, bridle, etc. They may ask her what type of bit she is using and why (a fave question of mine when judging). She should look the judges in the eye and appear relaxed and confident. If she doesn't know an answer to a question, an honest "I don't know, but that is definitely something I will learn/find out more on/etc!" will go a long way.
Horsemanship is usually more "precise"/stiffer show posture. If she is doing a queens run or flag presentation, she can step it up and get back and ride! If they do a queens run - she should use the entire arena and wave all the way around - even if there is no one in an area to wave to (or in the case of one rodeo my daughter worked often - a row of port a pots lol!). Oh - and carry the reins in the left hand!! In a queen's run - wave with the right (one closest to the crowd!). Same with carrying the flag. Have her practice carrying the flag straight (not dipped forward or back!).
Above all - have confidence and have fun!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| This is all great advice! Don't lose the hat! That's one of the biggest no-no's in any rodeo queen pageant. For the interview, I always look for eye contact, no matter the question. I dug up some princess questions we used for a contest a couple years ago, maybe these will help some. We always started off with a couple ice breaker questions to ease their nerves a bit:
What's your horse's name/How old is your horse?
What does your horse eat?
What is your favorite rodeo event and why?
Can you show me where the cannon bone is on your horse (we used a diagram).
How many seconds must a bull rider stay on for a qualified ride?
Name all of the rodeo events.
Tell us why you would make a great rodeo princess?
Those are just a few we've used in the past. As far as horsemanship, great posture is a must and CONFIDENCE in the rider and horse. Even if their horse acts up during the pattern, I give points for a confident rider that can work through and finish the pattern. If there are speed changes/size changes on the circles, make sure there is a DEFINITE difference between the large fast circle and small slow circles. Make sure the horse will hold still after backing ( a lot of horses will try to walk off). Split reins are a given, held in the left hand, in front of the saddle horn, with not much action. You may have her take the bridle home with her and practice "walking" her hand up and down the reins to shorten them (say, for a stop). At any rate, it will help her handle her reins better.
Good luck!
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | Thank you thank you thank you!!! What should she do with her right hand while doing the horsemanship pattern? |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | I won a few rodeo pageants and I've also taught a clinic with one of my good friends who was Miss Rodeo USA at the time. I always loved them. Make sure to quiz her maybe the night before on some questions she could be asked. In the last pageant I did one of the questions they asked all the younger girls "If you could be any Disney character who would you be and why?" So you might ask her something like that. She's young so I doubt any of the questions will be very hard. One thing I was always told and I tell everyone is if she doesn't know the answer to a question, be honest and tell them you don't know but ask them the answer so you look interested. Hair up for horsemanship, hair down and in big curls for interview. A well shaped white or bone colored hat. NO BLACK!!! Hair spray and Bobbie pins to keep her hat on. You can also use 2 sided tap or rolled up duct tape but trust me from experience duct tape will still cause it to come off and it will hurt. Don't over do the makeup. I've seen girls get penalized for over done make up. She needs to ride in split reins. The ends of both reins need to be on the same side but that may be hard for her being young. If she has trouble you can put a zip tie or tie a string around them to help keep them together in her hand. Just make sure her hand covers it. Teach her the "pretty wave" it's like Miss Americas. I was told your hand never goes higher than your ear. I always had mine even with my shoulder. If you can color coordinate her tack and her clothes that would be great but you won't get deducted if there not. My page t horse was white so I always used a plain dark oil head stall and reins and a thin saddle blanket in what ever color the shirt it on top of my regular pad. If her shirt is multicolored use what ever color is in the shirt most. |
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Expert
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Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | Blaundee - 2014-07-21 8:57 PM
Thank you thank you thank you!!! What should she do with her right hand while doing the horsemanship pattern?
Wave. Left hand on her reins. Every pageant I've been to you had to make a queen lap then fall into your pattern. Her free hand should be down about belt level but more to the inside towards her belt buckle. If the horse starts acting up don't be afraid to correct him/her with both hands but as soon as the problems fixed go back to one. If the pattern calls for a circle or figure 8 use the whole arena!!!! and make full circles not egg shaped ones or short cut a circle.
Edited by TessBelle 2014-07-22 1:30 AM
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Missouri | Just to clarify - during the horsemanship pattern the girls DO NOT WAVE - just during their queen run! That is when the free hand should be held still mirroring the rein hand. If she cannot keep it still and natural there a little lower is fine. Photos and videos are online of the MRA Horsemanship, and USA as well.
And I respectfully disagree on not wearing a black hat. While white hats are more "queen" like, some outfits do not lend well to white hats. The hat should compliment her outfit. I've seen this question raised many times. Look at MRA or USA pics. |
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | Thank you so much ladies, I truly appreciate it all!!! This is very valuable info and I'll be sure to put it to use!!! |
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | If she is asked at the end of the interview "do you have any questions?" what kind of questions should she ask? |
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | bump |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | dianea - 2014-07-22 9:02 AM
Just to clarify - during the horsemanship pattern the girls DO NOT WAVE - just during their queen run! That is when the free hand should be held still mirroring the rein hand. If she cannot keep it still and natural there a little lower is fine. Photos and videos are online of the MRA Horsemanship, and USA as well.
And I respectfully disagree on not wearing a black hat. While white hats are more "queen" like, some outfits do not lend well to white hats. The hat should compliment her outfit. I've seen this question raised many times. Look at MRA or USA pics.
I agree black does look better with some stuff. I don't under stand why but I was always told that black casts a shadow on your face worse than a white one but I've put them both on and conspired and didn't see a difference. In the interview if she has a question she should ask. They won't penalize her for asking a question. |
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | What I mean is WHAT should she ask if they ask her "Do you have any questions?" When I'm asked that question, I can never think of anything good to ask! Lol afterward I think if a million good questions to show that I'm interested in learning more... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Unless she honestly does have a question, I believe the proper response to "Do you have any questions," could be something along the lines of "No sir/ma'am, but I really want to thank you for your time, and I hope you enjoy the rodeo!" Unless you fumble your words, I don't think there is a bad response to that question.
Oh and if it is a sit down interview, make sure she knows to not sit down until the judges do so, or they invite her to sit down. Some see that as bad manners.
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Keep those crap slapping tails away!
Posts: 8871
Location: Around here somewhere... | Thanks! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Blaundee - 2014-07-22 12:08 PM Thanks!
Good luck! Let us know how it pans out for you all! |
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Rodeo Queen tips?