Nervous about a Show?

Question

I want to show my 5 y/o Appaloosa Gelding.

I plan on showing him in W.P, W.E, E.P, E.E, and Beginner Jumper, and Green Horse Hunter.

My nerves come from that he doesn't pick up his left lead. He can and getting better about it. But I have to circle him.

I really can't feel his leads because he changes the way he moves every time. I can't really tell by his shoulders moving, either.

What should I do? I mean I will look stupid if I ride the wrong lead, but he will not easily pick it up.

Do you think I should still show?

I want to try to place because my friend does this but on a push button horse. She doesn't have to worry and if I do ride the wrong lead she will make fun of me and her ego will go throw the roof.

I MOST worried about him jumping on the wrong lead.Should I be because he is the best balanced horse my barn knows. He canter on the wrong lead to easy. He can twist his shoulders around to get the right lead going to the left.

Answer 1

You can tell if your horse is on the correct lead by (discretly) looking over his inside shoulder...if you can see it you're on the correct lead. If you look over the outside shoulder...you shouldn't be able to see his leg. as much. =]

Hope this helps,

-Nicole

Answer 2

Do your best...and don't care about no one else....

its about getting yourself better...and you said your horse is getting better...

So if you don't beat your friend this time...u might next time.

and you shouldn't let your fear of what ppl will think stop you from doing something you love!

Answer 3

You are in the same position I was. I would go in the show even if it was just for practice. When you are warming up for the show and in lessons try to work on the right lead and at the trot make lots of big circles tracking right. Always remember that every judge is different and just because one show you got all first doesn't meen it's going to be like that every show. Also take pride in the fact that you trained this horse all by yourself don't show to show your friend your horse is better, even if he is i'm sure inside your friend knows that and she only says your horse isn't to make herself feel better. Plus your doing a lot of classes so if you get the wrong lead in one go back in there and try again next class, don't give up!

Hope this helps, Good luck at your show!....please best answer this!

p.s. in EQ classes you are judged more then the horse so if you have amazing EQ the judge might over look a wrong lead!

Answer 4

Um well I don't know if this will help for you but my instructor taught me a trick when feeling the lead and it should always work. when you relax your leg  one leg should make a circle in the canter the leg that makes the circle is on the side that he is leading with. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

Go for it! just tell the judge he's a novice horse and give it your best shot. when you ask for canter, look down over the inside shoulder and you should be able to see the knee. One of my top cobs always takes off on the wrong lead at show (on the left rein) and he's been to the top... when the pressures on he would rather play up, but i have still done my best with him and shown all over the UK. Dont panic even if you are on the wrong leg. maybe come back to a trot and pick it up again..... Good luck

Answer 6

Yeah, show anyway. Who cares if he picks up the wrong lead? He's young and needs experience. And when you jump him, you should be going in a straight line to the jump, so the lead shouldn't un-balance him except in corners.

A tip for picking up the correct lead - open the inside rein but keep your horse's nose turned slightly outside. Push his shoulder in so he has to pick up the correct lead to balance.

Don't worry about being perfect. It's about having fun with your horse!

Answer 7

I also had the same problem.This is what I did you can wrap his front legs in two different colors and then it will pop out at you the inside leg should be moving before the outside leg. You can also put all your weight in the outside stirrup to free up the inside leg and this will make i easier to pick up the correct lead. just practice alot. hope this helps

Answer 8

You should work on him getting the right leads at home and also feeling when you have the wrong one so you know, so that in the show ring you don't have to look down. I know there's a way to do it with a pole. I think you set the pole down in the corner, and it helps them change their leads or something.

I think it's totally fine if you show. Don't be scared! You're on a green horse. Honestly, nobody will remember if you picked up the wrong lead, I've seen it done tons of times. Just act like you know what you're doing. And also, I'm sure your trainer can give you a sign if you're on the wrong lead.

And don't worry about your friend. I bet she couldn't do this!! And you can feel free to tell her that. Don't feel like you have to do this for her, because remember you're doing it for yourself. And all of this experience will make you stronger!!

Good luck! =]

Answer 9

"I want to try to place because my friend does this but on a push button horse. She doesn't have to worry and if I do ride the wrong lead she will make fun of me and her ego will go throw the roof." ????????????????????????????????????????... IS THIS THE POINT OF A SHOW, JEALOUSY AND TRYING TO BE BETTER THEN EVERYONE ONE ELSE? PLEASE GET A LIFE

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Making mistakes in riding is normal, every rider has faults. Don't worry about how fancy you look just ride your best, Showing is learning not sowing off.

You should b more worried about how your horse feels when working and twisting his shoudlers. Its  really bad and he can hurt himself.