I need help!

So, I am pretty confused. What is the difference between showing your horses (Competitions) and outing them in a riding school, and what does it do?

Showing gives you stats (max 30/day though 10-15 is the most I've ever gotten and that was with a great horse), money, player points, player experience, and your horse will gain points too if your horse places 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a competition with 5 or more horses entered into it. If you have really good horses they can make lots if money showing and get plenty of stats from it too.

Riding school gives you money, player experience, stats (up to 10/day, the average is about 3/day), and items mostly treats. Riding school is generally more profitable and works the same no matter the horse.

Thanks a lot! I was just confused lol, but thanks, that helped :)

Sabriel does an amazing and extensive job of talking about the different methods of showing/using riding school here in the showing guide she wrote up.

Wow that's amazing! I definitely needed that, thanks so much :)