Advice On First ever Show

[Purdie]

I bought an 6 yr Angol Arab a year ago, who had only been broken for a year and was in a total mess. Kicked Bit Reared you name it she did it. I've taken her right back to the beginning and she's a little angel 99% of the time now. We've been learning Dressage as she finds it very calming, and we've really bonded doing it. But I would like to start competing her, and as far as I know she has never been to a show before. She hacks out nicely in a group of 3, never tried more than this though as we're on a very small quite yard. Any Advice would be great in how to introduce her to going to a show.

 

[Purdie]

I should also say she is a very spooky horse, who gets upset very easily. This is a working progress, obviously the more she does the better she'll get, and she has improved a huge amount, but when put in a new situation she become very agitated.

 

[Baileysno1]

Why not transport her to your local unaffliated dressage venue for a practice run before a competition then at least shes familiar with the venuse and school before the excitement of all the other horses. If possible try and get on a rally at your riding club so she gets used to working with other strange horses at least then the enviroment is controlled and the instructor can help you with any issues.

 

[MagicMelon]

What about just going to a different yard, ie. hiring out a school with some friends (or allowing the yard people to use it whilst you're in it) - so she can get used to a different venue with different horses buzzing about etc. And Id just school gently or even just lunge if she's very spooky / upset.

Only when she was happy with this would I take her to her first show. I usually take a young horse out to its first show almost immediately, but obviously with this one its different as she's had a bad past etc. For the first show, choose a venue you like which offers plenty of room to warm up. Sometimes local RC's do little evening dressage competitions - that would be ideal.