The Idea of Order: The plight of the horse show announcer

Being an announcer at dressage shows, struggling to pronounce all those fancy European names, can’t be easy. Enjoy the latest from sometime show announcer Morgane Schmid.

Morgane writes, “As a person who spends a fair amount of time announcing dressage shows I can completely understand mispronouncing a horse or rider’s name (especially when the given name is in Gaelic or some other language where ‘normal’ English letters like ‘J’ aren’t really letters). However there comes a moment when good sense should kick in and you should probably ask yourself if you think someone would REALLY name their horse whatever you’re about to send booming across the show grounds. I’m pretty sure that the moniker ‘Wet Lady’ would fail that last test but I must admit to being highly amused by everyone’s reactions to it.”

About Morgane: Morgane Schmidt is a 28-year-old teacher/artist/rider/show announcer who still hasn’t quite decided what she wants to be when she grows up. A native Floridian, she now lives in Reno, NV, where she’s been able to confirm her suspicion that snow is utterly worthless. Though she has run the gamut of equestrian disciplines, her favorite is dressage and her plans this year in include pursuing her USDF bronze medal. Visit her website at www.theideaoforder.com.