Competing a young horse for the first time?

_jetset_

_jetset_

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 May 2005
Messages
11,389
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
I was just wondering what you guys thought of walking a young horse around in hand in the warm up prior to getting on? I don't know whether it is permitted BD but it is something I would prefer to do with my new lady when we go out for the first few times...
 
i tend to hire a school down the road before the first competition so the horse is used to going away from home, unloading and getting on.

clinics are also good if they are sharp to get them used to working around other horses.

imo, you are far more likely to lose the horse if it is silly in hand or get jumped on as someone canters past etc- you are better walking her in hand around the car park if you want.

in the warm up i would be mounted and get her trotting around for a few minutes until she settles.
 
I have to walk Snoopy in hand before I ride (Osteos orders).
At the weekend I walked him in the pouring rain, but only up and down the lorry park. I wouldnt walk him in the warm up, its crowded enough.
 
I would be a bit miffed actually if someone did this - there are a myriad of different ways of making sure your horse is going to be ok in a warmup before you take it out competing and I see it as an essential part of the horse's education to do this before you take it out in a competition environment. There are enough things for people to avoid in a warmup without adding in a person hanging on for grim death to a flighty youngster performing airs above the ground! I can't see why you'd want to or how it would help.

I would always make sure I had ridden at home with other people, away from home with other people, around a showground without competing etc before I went out to actually compete - and if I couldn't do any of those things then what would be the point of trying to go and compete? It would most likely be a disaster anyway...

Join a RC and go for group lessons - then you'll have nothing to fear from a warmup.
 
I walk Mols round the car park if I think she is going to be a nightmare to get on. I would say it will be fine to be led in and maybe one circuit around but wouldn't lead the horse around the warm up really unless its a very quiet venue and perhaps have a word with the organisers first.
 
Think you are usually safer riding them than leading them and the warm up is for working a horse in and can be dangerous to lead in. Go to riding club lessons and outdoor venues first.
 
As above, you are probably safer on them. Get a good neck strap and use it!!
tongue.gif
 
I tend to take ours to a clinic locally rather than jump straight in at the deep end.

That way we have the opportunity to travel them and get them used to strange arenas and then gradually over a couple of sessions introduce the idea of more than one horse in the 'warm-up'

I got double barrelled by a horse being walked in a warm-up when I was younger and have to say it worries me when I see people walking something in hand.
 
Isn't your new lady only 3 ? Isn't that a tad young to be honest, there's plenty of other ways to get your baby used to ' busy' environments.
 
I've seen this in a warm up at BD and I have to say it was a nuisance. The lady got in everyone's way and riders couldn't use the inside track. People got quite irritated to be honest and I was one of them
crazy.gif
 
This may be a bit controversial but I picked small quiet venues and arrived early so I could lunge before anyone else started arriving, my mare is fine with other horses but is a bit of a wimp and needs time to take everything in and lunging for 10 mins makes it a better experience for everyone
 
Have never been to BD but out jumping the other week someone was walking there horse round in hand in the working in arena to cool off ( it was raining outside and warm up arena is indoor).
I have to admit to finding it very annoying as she was completely in the way, and i also think it can be dangerous for the person on the floor.
I would be inclined for a 1st outing to go to a clinic or go for a lesson somewhere different and see how they react.
 
We do the same as JVB with our 4yr old started doing the walk and trot tests with her last year but she is still uptight at new venues and often lunge her beforehand and advise anyone getting to near her that she is only 4 and most times people have been understandable. They have got to be taken out and educated and you have to do whatever is the safest.
 
Someone did this whilst I was working in at a BD at a local venue which only has a small warm up. I have to say I was singularly unimpressed - the fact that it had to be walked round suggested the rider thought it was likely to misbehave and I did think this was very unfair on the rest of the competitors
 
I've never done the walking round thing as she would be harder work and it wouldn't take the edge off her enough to make her settle, but if someone can walk their horse round calmly then I don't really seem a problem with it as long as they keep their eyes peeled for others riding, the times I've had to ride straightaway she's been a nightmare and emptied the warm up bloomin quick, this would happen whether at at competition or clinic.

I find it's more often than not, other riders who get in each others way in warm up's... if it is a novice competition then surely people expect novice horses and the fun and games that go with them?

I think you need to do whatever is the safest option for everyone, whether they like it or not!
 
Would you not be best going to a small event and asking for the first time slot so you can get there early and be in the arena first and have other people arrive around you rather than arriving in the thick of it if you know what I mean.
 
I am not planning on doing anything soon... it was more for the future (ie. in the spring if even then)

I will be taking her to clinics etc etc prior to taking her out to a competition, but as I always ride alone at home I just didn't know how she would be. The clinics around here tend to be individual clinics, so again not really what I was trying to test the water with.
 
Just get on and sit tight
smile.gif


I would be annoyed if someone was walking their horse around in the warm-up there are enough plebs getting in the way as it is and they are on their horses.
 
There has to be a RC near you that does group lessons you can take her to? Stuff the quality of the teaching, that's not why you're going, do your own thing if needs be. Mind you our RC does lessons with someone who's a GP dressage rider, so you may find something useful on both fronts!

I have no objection to someone being led into an arena, but again think that once you are out competing you should probably be off the lead rein...
 
No because tbh any person walking round where horses are being ridden is a recipe for decide and could end up with someone getting kicked.

Walk him round the lorry park before gettin on if worried
smile.gif
 
Get up early in the morning and school your horse before you go to its first competition. And give it plenty of work the day before.
 
I tend to be led round (whilst mounted) the warm up a couple of times til my horse settles at comps - if people would prefer me to just deal with the 'beans' for the first couple of minutes with my 4 yo stallion then they are welcome to tell me! I have never had any complaints, and I think it is a far safer way to let him settle - he is generally very good, but I'd rather have that 'safety net' for a little while until he has got a bit more mileage and I can expect him to just get on with it. I am also going to invest in a green ribbon for his tail, then hopefully people might not ride AT him quite so much!!
I have never led him round the warm-up un-mounted though as I don't think that I would have sufficient control if he, or any horse, was spooked, and don't feel that would be particularly fair on other competitors warming up - on the occasions when he has been led un-mounted it has only been round the carpark
 
I'd be very irritated to see an in-hand horse in the warm-up. Clinics, RCs and hiring schools are all good ways to get experience!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top