Case Study: Go Show Pro Web App

Mapping Canada’s Horse Show Landscape for Riders, Trainers, and Event Planners

Client: Self-initiated freelance project (used to demonstrate capabilities and promote services to equestrian professionals)

Map of Canada showing heatmap clusters of horse shows across the country.

Project Overview

Navigating the Canadian horse show circuit can be complex. Equestrian Canada does a good job publishing all relevant show data, but it is not easy to visualize where the shows actually are. This project aimed to streamline access to show listings by transforming raw data into a dynamic, interactive map organized by discipline.

HorseShowFinder is a web-based tool that collects, cleans, and visualizes upcoming shows across Canada. It serves as both a personal portfolio piece and a practical utility for professionals in the equestrian world.

Challenge

The main challenge was to create a lightweight, responsive interface that could consolidate data from multiple provincial sources and present it visually — with minimal server overhead.

The tool needed to:

Solution

Backend Automation and Data Handling:
A custom Python script uses the requests and geopy libraries to:

  • Scrape and parse raw show listings (from CSVs, HTML tables, etc.).
  • Geocode location names using Nominatim with caching to reduce API usage.
  • Save the cleaned, enriched data to a local JSON file.

This script is run via a scheduled cron job, keeping the listings fresh with no manual intervention.

Frontend Display:
A simple static front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) displays the show data as a heatmap:

  • Uses the Leaflet.js library for map rendering.
  • Events are colored and grouped by discipline.
  • Clicking a pin reveals the full event name and location.

Minimal Infrastructure:
The project is fully client-hosted — no backend server or database is needed beyond the cron job that regenerates the JSON data file. This keeps deployment lightweight and portable.

Outcome

HorseShowFinder has been used as a conversation starter with prospective clients and equestrian organizations. The app showcases full-stack capabilities — including data ingestion, automation, geospatial mapping, and front-end visualization — while solving a real-world problem in a niche domain.

It has already inspired ideas for spin-offs, including:

  • A rider dashboard with personalized event tracking.
  • Barn-specific calendars.
  • Regional clinic finders for coaches and organizers.

Key Takeaways

  • End-to-End Development: This project demonstrates fluency across the full stack — from Python scripting and data cleanup to interactive JavaScript and mapping.
  • Real-World Relevance: By solving a known pain point in a niche market, the app highlights the power of custom tools tailored to specific communities.
  • Automation-Ready: Using scheduled scripts and geocoding caching shows an ability to build systems that stay current with minimal human input.

Screenshot of HorseShowFinder Web App