First Outing and I'm Stressed

AShetlandBitMeOnce

AShetlandBitMeOnce

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Can anyone give me some tips on how to make Sunday easier, I am stressing a bit.

It will be Dex and I's first outing, it's just to a super small local show that is less than 10 miles away so should be local and sweet and quiet for him. I am doing an inhand class with him and the friend who is coming with me is doing the one after with him. Dex hasn't travelled since he arrived a year ago from Ireland, I have loaded him a few times and he's a dream and is a very easygoing chap all round. I am worried he's not going to travel well but no reason he shouldn't, I am a fairly novice tower too but will go super slow and considerately of course, or he's suddenly not going to load the other end for whatever reason.

I need to get a water container, put some bailing twine up, check lights work and go on a practise tow tomorrow. I would take him on a small run but I don't have anyone to come with me tomorrow, I have done a drive to the venue and back to suss it out.

I have written to take feed, lunge line, grooming kit, dressage whip, treats, lickit and water - plus clothes and shoes for humans. Anything else?

I'm sure it will be fine, I hope it will be! Do I travel him in his bridle? Do I leave him on the box for a while or get him straight off and have a look around? Should arrive 45 mins-ish before the class.
 
Remember that you do not need to do the class. Going and coming home in one piece is a win. Think of it that the class entry fee is for use of the show ground.

If you also get to do the class, that's just a bonus for a first trip.

I take them off the box immediately first time so they can't get in a stew. If they do get in a stew you really don't want to reward them for it by taking them off before they calm down, so it's better not to let it start, imo.

Breathe.

And have fun!
.
 
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Thanks all - breathing is the bit I'm not good at when I'm a bit anxious!

Okay, travel in bridle and get him straight off - I really think he'll be fine. Getting in the ring will be a bonus, great way to think about it, I just want a successful trip out and for him to have a good experience (and I'd love a piccie if we do make it in the ring!)

We are heading on a fun ride next weekend too but a friend is taking us in her lorry with her safe, sane and sensible veteran so that takes a lot of stress off.
 
Denali said:
You are riding your horse in a different arena. Focus on his ears because that’s the view you always see.
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I'm only doing inhand at this show, I didn't want to add too many variables. The ground is very uneven and I am almost certain I am going to roll and ankle and go down because I have really cr@p ankles, but I'll worry about that when/if it happens (ok, I'm worrying a bit about it now, no idea how I'm going to trot him and not go down haha!)
 
Spotherisk said:
I hope you have an absolutely wonderful time with Dex.

However, purely on my past experiences, please also take your riding gear, hiviz and tack. My last horse didn't always load to come home.
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Thank you! I have a friend with a 3.5t and another with a 7.5t that could both rescue us if desperate and he absolutely won't go in the trailer, but for the sake of whacking the saddle in the car I think this is a great shout!
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I'm only doing inhand at this show, I didn't want to add too many variables. The ground is very uneven and I am almost certain I am going to roll and ankle and go down because I have really cr@p ankles, but I'll worry about that when/if it happens (ok, I'm worrying a bit about it now, no idea how I'm going to trot him and not go down haha!)
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What do you look at home? Focus on your horse.

I suffer from performance anxiety. It kept me from doing the big shows. But I found if I can focus on one thing (my horses ears) I can breathe through it.

In hand for me, it would be watching my pony’s toes match mine. Find something like that to help you breathe .
 
I'm sure you and him will be absolutely fine but just give yourself plenty of time get there really early if need be it doesn't matter.

It's good to just let them have a good look around and then just chill so I always take plenty of hay.

I wouldn't travel in a bridle less is more when travelling I think.

We always took a lovely picnic with wine and gin it definitely helps its then just like a bit of a nice day out without any stress.
 
ycbm said:
Remember that you do not need to do the class. Going and coming home in one piece is a win. Thi k of it that the class entry fee is for use of the show ground.

If you also get to do the class, that's just a bonus for a first trip.

I take them off the box immediately first time so they can't get in a stew. If they do get in a stew you really don't want to reward them for it by taking them off before they calm down, so it's better not to let it start, imo.

Breathe.

And have fun!
.
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Yes this, have fun x
I wouldn't travel in the bridle, sorry
 
I'd had my youngster a month (untrained) before taking him to a show last year. Plenty of ringcraft practice pays dividends beforehand. Do as much grooming, spraying etc before loading as they can bounce around when you take them off. I don't travel in tack, I let them stand for a few minutes listening to the sounds, put bridle on before taking them off

Arrive in plenty of time to settle them and don't rush to walk them about. Some just to stand and gawp at everything. Rather than get hoof oil/paint on you I use a baby oil bottle. Just squirt it at the top of the coronet and let gravity oil the hooves for you.

Breathe, relax and let it be a learning experience for you both.
 
Peregrine Falcon said:
I'd had my youngster a month (untrained) before taking him to a show last year. Plenty of ringcraft practice pays dividends beforehand. Do as much grooming, spraying etc before loading as they can bounce around when you take them off. I don't travel in tack, I let them stand for a few minutes listening to the sounds, put bridle on before taking them off

Arrive in plenty of time to settle them and don't rush to walk them about. Some just to stand and gawp at everything. Rather than get hoof oil/paint on you I use a baby oil bottle. Just squirt it at the top of the coronet and let gravity oil the hooves for you.

Breathe, relax and let it be a learning experience for you both.
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I always use baby oil for hooves especially flying Arab hooves so much easier to squirt on.
 
Thanks everyone - Baby oil is a great tip! I'll put it on the list to grab tomorrow.

I'll see how I feel on the day about the bridle, I'll have a look in the trailer and see if theres much he can get a bit ring caught on. I have a magnetic camera so I will be able to see him as we travel
 
I wouldn't travel in a bridle as too much to get caught in and break it, and then arrive with a broekn bridle! put it on when you arrive while he's still in the trailer, easy to do when he can't go anywhere! And then wrap up reins and lunge rope on with gloves for unloading and letting him have a good walk around as soon as he's unloaded. I also have a big ID youngster and this is what l did for him on his first outings, he was also very quiet but first few outings he couldn't stand still so walking around to see everything and then if a quiet place for a lunge to help him settle . And agree as much grooming etc before you leave, even hoof oil on so not too much to worry about when you get there. Best of luck 👍
 
Just remember, if you want him to be calm and relaxed, you need to be calm and relaxed! Even if you don't feel it, try and do your best impression of a relaxed person and remember to breathe. You are out for a nice day, not to win anything or even to show if you don't feel you are ready. You definitely are ready to load and go and look at a show ground, so do that and see how you feel.
 
ycbm said:
I would travel in the bridle, trying to get it on at the show if he is wound up is not a good experience for either of you with a horse that big.
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This.

I'm normally not a fan of traveling with tack on, but sometimes it just makes sense.

Edit: my youngster is quite reasonable and well traveled, but one time I went to bridle him in the trailer, and he moved his head, then I moved, and smacked my head into the metal door frame. I have a fairly roomy trailer, but regardless it can get small in there if the horse acts up, so watch yourself. Mine didn't really do anything aside from move slightly, but I'm a bit of an idiot who isn't spatially aware apparently 🤣
 
buzzles said:
I wouldn't travel in a bridle as too much to get caught in and break it, and then arrive with a broekn bridle! put it on when you arrive while he's still in the trailer, easy to do when he can't go anywhere! And then wrap up reins and lunge rope on with gloves for unloading and letting him have a good walk around as soon as he's unloaded. I also have a big ID youngster and this is what l did for him on his first outings, he was also very quiet but first few outings he couldn't stand still so walking around to see everything and then if a quiet place for a lunge to help him settle . And agree as much grooming etc before you leave, even hoof oil on so not too much to worry about when you get there. Best of luck 👍
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Gloves!!!! I would have totally forgotten those.
What you have said I think is pretty much the plan, I feel better already after all these replies. Thanks all!

I think once I'm there I will be fine, I don't have a competitive bone in my body so not remotely fussed about that side of it but I am criminal for worst case planning, so it's more the travelling safely and loading to come home that's causing the most worry I think.
 
I know it’s easy to say and not do… but don’t get stressed and have fun. Make a picnic, make it enjoyable for you and it will rub off on the horse. It’s the little win that matter, not actually winning. Think of yourself in Jill’s gymkhana world and just have fun. I am notoriously relaxed for shows, I didn’t used to be, but years of showing youngstock do that to you and slowly you notice your youngstock follow your lead.
Be organised and prepare but at the same time be quick to laugh and slow to anger (great quote, works well with horses!)
Have you got a friend going with you?
 
Coffee flask added to the list! That will help as I'll have to stop and have a sit and not pace or something.

dominobrown said:
I know it’s easy to say and not do… but don’t get stressed and have fun. Make a picnic, make it enjoyable for you and it will rub off on the horse. It’s the little win that matter, not actually winning. Think of yourself in Jill’s gymkhana world and just have fun. I am notoriously relaxed for shows, I didn’t used to be, but years of showing youngstock do that to you and slowly you notice your youngstock follow your lead.
Be organised and prepare but at the same time be quick to laugh and slow to anger (great quote, works well with horses!)
Have you got a friend going with you?
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I love that quote! I am not usually easy to stress, I am super chilled with Dex most of the time and very 'well I'll give it a go and find out' about doing new things with him, but I haven't ever taken my horses out and about much as we didn't have much money as children and I've not had the soundest horses ever since then! Hopefully after a couple of outings, like you I will be unflappable about it.

I do have a friend coming, I wouldn't go without one just in case he goes over the breastbar or if I need a wee at the showground or something! I don't know whether he'll be one that can chill on the trailer or not yet. He's the most confident, un-OTT youngster I have ever dealt with, so I am sure it will all be for nothing and he'll walk off the box like he's been doing it his whole life, just like he has with everything else. That's what I need to remind myself.
 
don't panic. if he is hesitant coming home please don't allow every tom dick and harry to get involved and go all guns blazing to try and load him. give him time. my big tip is if he blocks when you ask them to load put the front of the trailer down and walk them through - you might need to do it several times before you put the front up and ask them to go on. i have no partition in my trailer as my boy is 17.2 i also load him on my own and just put the back ramp up. i have a full width breast bar which is always down and away to make the space as large and airy as possible. jay used to be incredibly tricky to load but many years of practice and patience (thank you grant bazin) have meant that he now loads really well. i never ever accept help - i know my horse. be confident - it is like playing chess . all the pieces have to be in the correct place for your horse to load. good luck and have fun - after all that's what it's all about
 
Have a lovely day. Remember a camera. Guessing you have a list of what to take. Anything you forget or would be handy, add to the list. Anything at all. You might not need everything every trip but you can run through it. Ribbon for number, wet wipes, kitchen roll, hat, sunglasses, polos. We need a photo!
 
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