Tips for a "green" horses first show?

Question

Ok I will be taking my 6 yr old "green" TB to a show in a month or 2. He goes in a losse ring snaffle, but we will bring a tuffer bit if I need it( he is overall a calm horse, and rarely spooks).

I would like to know some preperation tips and some things I can be doing to get him used to the atmosphere. I have been to shows a lot before with previous horses and my friends horses. But I would like to know what works good that you have found to be useful .

Thanks oodles!

Answer 1

Fantastic I love showing and hope you have a fun time out.

Tips:

1. Training at home - start with 20 minutes good work then build up to 30 minutes solid work.

2. Warm up, a nice snappy walk and trot, not on the bit.

3. Work then at rounding your horse up, do lots of circles, figure of 8's bending nicely - working into outside rein.

4. Practise lots of transitions. Get a friend to call out commands trot canter etc and make sure you can canter or change pace exactly when asked. Practise trot halts, walk canters etc (if you can).

5. Practise at home - as if there is a judge (it can be a friend or a fence post) and practise smilling and big salutes - remember you are showing off. Salute the judge prior and at the end of your individual work out.

6. On the day, allow plenty of time to tie your horse up and collect back numbers etc. I would deffinately allow 2 hours on the ground before my event with a youngster.

7. Look for the horses that a stroppy in your ring and stay clear of them. Be 100% aware of your surroundings all the time, if it looks like you are going to get horses cantering around the outside of you - quickly trot across the arena and find your own space. I think that would be my biggest tip - find your own space in the work out area, use all the space even if others are not.

8. Try not to stand next to the naughty horses in the line up or allow double space between you and a naughty horse - the judge will understand.

9. Just remembered, make sure you have practised leg yeilding at home, this is a very effective way to get a nervous horse listening to you at a show. Spiral into a small circle and leg yeild out - works a gem for the youngsters.

Very best of luck. :)

Answer 2

The best way to get a horse used to a new environment is by taking them to many new environments. If you have never taken your orse away from home, then it is probably a good idea to find another barn near by that has what is called a "day use fee." this is basically just a rental of their facilities for your own use even if you do not board your horse there.

This way your TB can get used to going somewhere new, with a new set up, new horses, new smells etc, with out needing to have the calm attitude of a more experienced show horse.

So taking him to somewhere new for just a day would be my first step. I would get him out of the trailer, tie him up, tack him up at the trailer (all things that he will have to get used to for being at a show) and then lunge him in an enclosed area somewhere on the grounds. Do this for about the same time as you might have at a real show. Take him in the arena and school him as if you were riding in a show. You try to look your best, show off to whoever else is at the barn at the time. Once you are in the ring do not overly school him, try to trust him and hopefully all the work you do at home to train him will show through his nerves. This will also give you an idea of how "hyped" he gets at a new barn. My horse picks his head up a few extra inches no matter what I do whenever we go somewhere brand new, so I know that I have to correct for that. Then you have a better idea of what to expect at a real show. Look for patterns or what he gets scared a. For example, if there is a mirror in the new arena let him get a good look at it, but try to do it as if you were being judged, don't just drop the reins and let him have a good long look, make him go past it in a normal fashion. Same for anything else he might encounter. If you act like it is no big deal, he will be more likely to act the same way.

After you have taken him to a new barn where there are not a bunch of nervous people and horses you will have a good idea of what to expect for a show. Then I would suggest taking him to a schooling show and maybe entering in a few flat classes, or whatever you feel comfortable with. Do the same routine as you had before, tack him up at the trailer, lunge him in the warmup ring, ride a little in there too, and then go stand by the gate for your first class. Go in and trust that he will do well, the more you think he will do fine, the better he will be. Also, try not to change any of his tack just before the show, you want to know what to expect, so keeping everything but the environment the same will be your best bet.

Answer 3

Don't bring a different bit. In a class is NOT the time for your horse to be having a flashback. Is your horse off the track? if so there may be some issues when everyone starts doing the same thing at once. If your horse is not used to working in a ring with other horses it is VERY important that you start.

Spend some time in the warm-up ring doing circles and getting your horse long, low and relaxed. I also highly recommend a red ribbon in your horse's tail (regardless of whether or not he has a history of kicking) because the other riders will give your horse a little more clearance.

Answer 4

well i havent really taken a green horse to a show before but here some ideas-

take a blanket thats farmiliar and smeells like home

take his favorite brushes or halter

anything thats farmiliar

maybe look into natural remedies like lavender ive heard thtat it helps to calm nervous horses

good luck at the show

Answer 5

Get there early.  Don't leave him unattended tied to the trailer.  Spend a lot of time walking him around, letting him look at things from a safe distance.  I'd stay out of the warm up ring completely and find a quiet corner outside the ring somewhere to warm up.  I think I'd take the chance and enter him in one class - something easy like walk/trot - just so he could see what it's like inside the ring with other horses, decorations and announcer, etc., before you really care about doing well.  I also think that at a show is not the time to stick a new bit in your horse's mouth.  Let him be comfortable with what he knows.

Answer 6

get your horse used to the sounds that he will hear and used to having other horses in the ring he will be less likely to spook that way.

Answer 7

main tip.  go to have fun and not take first.

Answer 8

Usually when I have a new horse, I go to my first horseshow not even expecting to ride them.  I try to find small local shows, haul them and try to get there early.  I then longe the tar out of them.  Just let them go around on the longe line as long as they want until they are done doing their running, whinny-ing, or anything else they want to do.  After that, I walk them around and cool them off, then back to the trailer.  After a break, I bring them out and longe them again.

If you are really set on riding him, he's been to shows before (just not with you), then the second time you longe him, do it with the saddle on, then after he's kind of tired, just walk him around in his normal bit, and let him see everything.  You might just do a bunch of walking.

I always longe my horse when he's at a new location, so he can do any stupid stuff before I get on him.  They will also be a little more tired, and less likely to try any funny business when I do get on them.

Good luck!

Answer 9

The best thing to do for a young horse at his first horse show is as soon as you get him off the trailer walk him around the show gorunds until he settles down by lowering his head and/or starts eating grass. Before you get on and ride him lunge him to get off that extra energy and make it safer for you when you get on him. Also getting on him a little early before you show and just walking around with him patting him and letting him settle down will help him to. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

I would take him to a couple shows and not show. At the first one, get a stall and take him out a couple times to see everything. If he is calm then jump on him and ride in the warmup ring when there is a quiet moment. At the second one try to ride him when the ring is a little more hectic. If he is still going good try a quiet flat class with only a couple entries. Most small local shows will not mind (if asked in advanced) if you enter your greenie in the flat portion of a larger heighted (yep, just made the word) class that has 5 entries compared to 15 in the regular green class. At the third show try to ride him in all the green classes but watch because he might his his breaking point after a few classes. I wouldnt switch to a tougher bit the day of the show. If you think youmight need it ride him in is a could times before the show so he gets use to it. If you are doing hunters I would also suggest a more huntery (yep, that one too) but like a full cheek snaffel or D-ring

GOOD LUCK!

EDIT: Missed part. If you get in the warmup ring and he freaks then go back to the walk and make him walk around the ring a couple times. If he calms down trot him a couple laps then quit. No need to bring on a fit because warmup arenas are not the place to have them. In a class, pull up and walk to the middle of the ring. If the judge is their thenasked to be dismissed. If she is not (in a car or booth) and you think he will stand in the middle then just stay there. If he still want to throw a fit then quietly (well a quietly as you can) walk to the ingate and asked to be let out.