Advice for first show with a drama queen 5 year old...

[EP2504]

At the beginning of August I'm taking my 5 year old Thoroughbred to her first competition. She raced as a youngster but hasn't been out and about competing since. About 4 months ago we took her to another yard and hired the school to see what she would be like travelling and at a different place etc. and although she travelled pretty well, she wasn't exactly the level headed, chilled out donkey we're used to when she got off the lorry! (Nothing ridiculous just very highly strung and stroppy)
Unfortunately, I don't have my own transport so it's not been possible to get her out and about, but this show seemed too good to miss out on so we thought we'd try it as she has to get competing sometime and she's more than ready.
Also, everyone I know who is horsey is unable to come and be groom/horse holder for me, so it looks like it's just going to be me and my nervous, non-horsey mother.
It's only a dressage competition so I don't need mum to hold her while I walk the course or anything, but it's still going to be difficult as mum doesn't like dealing with her when she's at home and chilled so there's no way she'd be much use to me away from home!

I've competed a thousand times before but never with my own horse (as she's my first) and I know the venue pretty well, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips on how best to cope when I more or less am on my own?
Thanks.

 

[Cortez]

I would always take a baby horse along to a show along with my older horses, compete them and either just lead around or lunge the baby. Do this a few times, and ride around the showground, before the "actual" debut. That way there is no pressure at all and they get used to the whole shebang.

 

[be positive]

I would always take a baby horse along to a show along with my older horses, compete them and either just lead around or lunge the baby. Do this a few times, and ride around the showground, before the "actual" debut. That way there is no pressure at all and they get used to the whole shebang.

This in an ideal world but as you cannot have some practice runs you need to do as best you can, make sure you allow loads of time so arrive early, relaxed and having as long as you need to get ready and give her time to settle.
Some are best got off and walked around as soon as you arrive others settle in the lorry with a net watching the world go by as you don't have the chance to find out I would plan on getting her off and walking her to take it all in, allow a good 20 mins to do this, if you can lunge then possibly do so as it is an easy way to let them relax but may not be allowed, I would not get on until she has chilled a bit and when you do ensure you have a warm up plan, something you do at home that gets her listening and ignoring the distractions.

She will still be in racing mode mentally even after so long so do not expect her to be the same as at home, if she relaxes and behaves reasonably well be very pleased that she is going in the right direction, it is a big ask the first few times they go somewhere to compete, even more so when they have raced, if she is too bad, and I hope it wont come to it, do be prepared to miss the class and just keep walking her round so she has a nice experience with no real pressure.

 

[smja]

Are you renting a box, or paying a transporter? When we paid a transporter friend he was a great help with wrestling the unruly beast I was riding

Otherwise, depending on which venue you're going to, don't be afraid to ask the spectators for help. Many are willing to help you out a bit e.g. with getting on and such.

 

[ironhorse]

Agree with all the walking around stuff - I used to take mine out as a 4yo and just 'hang out' by the collecting ring for a while. At most of our shows (western) there is somewhere to lunge or even a round pen you can borrow. Don't be afraid to ask someone to help you get on if you think your mum might be scared - at one show my OH was nowhere to be seen and neither was the trainer, so the venue owner anchored my nervous gangly baby while I climbed off the mounting block. Not sure what sort of show it is - if it's dressage you may have to take the warm up area as you find it, but if it's an outdoor show with lots of space, find somewhere quiet to ride, but not all on your own - look out for one or two well behaved horses to ride with. My trainer showed me a great exercise which works equally well if something scary is going on at home (we had endless building work next to the arena when my guy was aged 3-4!) or at a show - you simply ride an 18m-ish circle in trot, so you are in off the track and not right against any scary stuff, and focus on rhythm and forwardness until the horse is really settled. You can change the rein after half a dozen circles one way if there is space and she will cope with it. I wouldn't canter or do anything remotely ambitious until she is really with you. Remember that you are only there for mileage so if you really don't think she'll handle going into the arena, scratch from the class but carry on working in the warm up area for a bit until you are happy. It is hard if you don't have transport, but I truly believe that every outing boosts their confidence and improves your bond, so keep at it!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

The main thing is to have control so best to have a bridle on rather than a headcollar before you bring her out of the box, if it is a fairly short journey you can travel in a bridle and headcollar.

 

[tristar]

just be calm yourself, she will pick up on this, enjoy your day out together.

i would give her less food before the event and lunge her thoroughly on the day before the journey, standing in her stable or on the box travelling after lunging will help to bring her down

get there early, less stress lots of time to look round, in the lead up to the day out try to show her something different every day and talk to her tell her its all ok, so new experiences become fun, hopefully !!!