First Jumper Show?

Question

I am going in my first schooling jumper show on the 27th of July. I am going in Green Horse- 18-2'3. My horse can comfortably jump 2'6-2'9, but this is his first ever jumper show. He is used to non-brightly colored fences, and this show has bright colors. What can i do to prepare? (Note: He is only green over fences, nothing else, although he has picked up jumping nicely, he is an ex-dressage horse)

Any tips, pointers, or advice is GREATLY appreaciated

also anything on what i should bring, or what to expect or anyhthing would be nice. I have shown before but never over fences on this horse

Answer 1

I was nervous taking my self-trained green mare to our first jumper show. We didn't have any colorful jumps, only white PVC poles and wooden standards, but I often brought things like tarp, balloons and interesting things to fill the jumps to prepare for the show.

I understand that you are both  comfortable ad used to colorful jumps, but how about liverpools? (they look like they have water underneath) I am thinking only 3' and up would have liverpools, but you never really know...and how about oxers, combinations, and spreads? Chances are that if you are facing a double or triple, he may shy or refuse a fence because it came up a lot quicker than he expected. Prepare for any type of jump, obvious or not.

Then, while you are at the show, walk the course. If you can bring your horse and lead them, do so. Walk around the course and look from side to side as well as forward and even backward. You only see the front view as a rider, but the horse can see from all four directions! Meaning that what may look harmless to you looking head-on, it may look terrifying to the horse who sees it from the corner of his eye. Look all around the arena and keep an eye out for a pole before the jump (I have seen horses shy from), multiple bars, standards with large flowers, more depth than usual..)

Put yourself in the horse's hooves and consider everything. Look hard at a jump and decide before hand if, by you knowing the horse so well, think that he may possibly look at this jump and think twice about it. Then prepare for it while you are riding the course. You may see him perk his ears before a particular fence, a sign of thinking again before going over a jump, maybe shying, refusing, or over jumping it. If he does show some anxious signs, be sure that you sit all the way in the saddle, have your hands up, your eyes looking over the fence, and give him a little jab for encouragement.

Be sure that you release just enough to him so he doesn't feel punished for jumping something neither of you were completely sure of.

Good luck at the horse show - I saw photos from another board you posted, your horse is gorgeous!

Answer 2

i recommend to take as many as the practice fences that you can. maybe even follow a horse. if the horse is bad practicing, dont enter the class lol. i have a show on that date too.. wheres the show?

Answer 3

If you are worried he might not be accustomed to the bright colors you could take him to a public riding center.

Answer 4

study the course. Look at the fences when you go near the ring.

Answer 5

if you jump at home, you can decorate your jumps brighlty. Colors shouldn't be too spooky to horses (they are supposedly color blind, but i don't really believe that)

For jumpers, its way more casual, you can use a schooling pad and just apolo shirt.

Answer 6

if you make it a problem then it will be a problem, don't think about the jumps, think about how well you are jumping and the course.

Answer 7

Bright Colours will be the main key to all your problems

I would suggest starting today if you have any streamers, flower pots (with flower and tree in them), Paint ANYTHING COLOURFUL over the jumps you will be practising try painting logs and poles colours like

white and red

blue and red

The colour that freaks a lot of horses out is yellow supposibly but introduce bright colours. (even though their colour blind it is a bright shade of white) and they hate bright colours or tones in that matter.

goodluck

Here is a list of stuff for pony club :)

Halter x 2

Lead rope x 2 (reason why is for a spare)

Saddle

Saddle blanket

Bridle

Bit

Girth

Stirrups (so all your main tack)

Rugs (in case of rain or fly’s.)

Brushes

A float

Hay net

First aid Kit

Bucket for food and water

Fly spray

Polo wraps, boots ect.

Tack cleaner stuff

Also include some emergency numbers like your vet, farrier, feed store, dentist

Have Fun And Good Luck With Your Show

also perhaps a crop because he may need some more psuhing over the fences

Answer 8

Any chance you can paint your jumps at home or what about putting something colourfull beside os under the jump.

Dont pratice non stop before the show and mybe dont jump just a day before but have a hack so the horse wont get boried.

Arive in plenty of time to walk the course and warm up.

Bring mybe spare encolsed bucket of water and def a haynet for a car jouney.

Dont worry and just go in and do your thing.

The judge wont look at perfomance but just trying to get around.

dont jump too much in the warm up and oh and heres a tip if its a small place watch for stupid people and theres horses.you get these people galloping past you at in the warm up so just watch.

if you see any red or green ribbons tied to the horses tail stay away.

hope you do well.

if you want me to tell you more or if you just want to chat and have a few more questions i am happy to help.

[e-mail]

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Answer 9

ride out of the turns!!!!!!!! sit back especially if you're not sure if your horse will be honest to the fences. grab your horses mane and keep your heels DOWN!!!!!!!!! this will help you stay with your horse if he jumps something big. you will not get jumped loose if you do this, and your leg will not swing back, which would spook your horse.

Answer 10

Make your fences at home a bit more interesting - hang saddle pads on the rails, or blankets, put fake flowers under them, or whatever you have - stuffed animals, shiny pop cans,  even cardboard boxes with bright colors spray painted on them.  Technically, if you're showing hunter, the jumps should not be brightly colored - natural colors only - but some schooling shows don't have the ability to set a true hunter class. So make those jumps at home as bright & scary as you can! The show jumps will be bland by comparison.

You should be able to practice over the fences at the show, you should check and find out when schooling is open. You might have to get there pretty early!

Other that your usual show stuff, show clothes, etc., I would bring a crop, pair of spurs, standing martingale, plus a slightly stronger bit than the one you usually use, and even a slightly softer one. You might not need any of that, but better to have it with you and not need it than to need it when its at home in the tack room!

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 11

If you're coming up to a fence and you're thinking in your head "He's gonna refuse", he most likely will. Get your striding right and don't freak out at the jumps.

Answer 12

remeber ur leads, strieds,and corses

Answer 13

go to a stables that has things your horse isn't use to and practise loads so he can get use to them and not go mental on the day or hire some fences

x

Answer 14

Congrats on going to your first show! I am sure you both have worked hard to prepare. I would concentrate on getting through the round and not on winning ribbons. I am sure you all will get through it and will probably place but it takes so much nervousness away when you really decide ribbons dont matter. I would also pick a specific part of the course and try to make that perfect. That way you have something to work toward and accomplish even if the rest of your course completely blows up. For example: At my first jumper show I decided I picked a turn and decided I would get a nice tight roleback in THAT turn. The rest could go to pot. I also wanted to get 2 nice changes of lead (over the fence, flying or fast clean simple changes). These were important for me because rolebacks freak me out and my horse does not have solid changes of lead AT ALL. We nailed the turn and got one flying change (after the course was over) and a couple nice ones over the fence. The rest of the course was less than amazing but I still felt like we had accomplished something. If I were you and were going at "scary" fences I would try to pick the two (or three) scariest and get over them someway. At 18" they can walk over it and I have trotted a 3 foot fence (not on purpose). Most horses are fine with brightly colored fences if you are. As for stuff the bring, sunglasses are good to have and I would carry a crop in your courses (even if you dont normally ride with one) You might just carry it around all day but if he refuses, you have to option of using it. I dont even own one but plan on borrowing one for cross country just incase we have a refusal and I dont feel my leg is going to be enough to get him over it. Good Luck!

Answer 15

do you have bright fences at home?  since he was easy to start jumping, i might not worry too much.  i am pretty sure that horses are mostly color blind so the fence colors may not be that big of a problem.  practice going over wide oxers, lines where the jumps go from a oxer to a single, and stuff like that that you might see at the show.  if you do not have jumper style jumps at home i do not know what else you can do.  just go and have a good time.  no matter how you do, you are giving your horse horse show experience and that is worth it enough to go to the show!  just have fun, jumpers are so much fun!

Answer 16

I honestly don't think the bright colors will bother him. Just don't be nervous yourself. He feels what you feel. I love training shows.