First Show jumping report and frustrations

[Dinosaur0676]

Hello, I'm new to forums so please be kind.
I took my sports horse out to his first proper Showjumping outing yesterday, he's previously done clear round but there hasn't been many horses on the site so he's not used to anything that's crazy busy, just local level laid back stuff. Anyway we went to unaffiliated showjumping at weston lawns yesterday and it all started wonderfully. Loaded and travelled like a dream. Stood for ages waiting for his first class without a problem, soaked up he appnasphere and didn't seem remotely phased. Tacked up like a star and actually let me be legged on which is normally a big issue as he's 17.3hh and my mum (who's just above 5ft) has to leg me on. He was nosey in the collecting ring but not spookey and warmed in quite nicely (despite having his head in the air most of the time) which I felt was a result as he's not used to 25 horses in a small space let alone all the other distractions a big venue has. Jumped well in the warm up, took my mum for support and to do practice fences which she conveniently disappeared for so just had to jump what was already up. Was very pleased as was only entered in 2'9" and practice oxer must have been at least 1 meter with a relatively large spread...he didn't look phased at all until another rider forced him into the fence forcing her way through a gap that wasn't there...resulting in my boy trying to rear. He pulled it back and I left the ring to walk round lorry park instead as he was a bit shook up and now pulling faces at anything that moved (not like him at all). Went back in just before it was our turn to jump and the same rider came too close again and ended up smashing stirrups with me. That was it then...both of us were annoyed which is not where you want to be seconds before a round. he went into the ring and was spooking at the cafe and people sat on benches. In hindsight I should have taken more time to show him the arena...so he knew it was okay...but i asked for canter mid spook at started the round. He jumped the first three fences perfectly, felt amazing and gave everything room to spare. Fence 4 however was a double jumping towards the spooky cafe....he instantly took at dislike and refused (again not like him) took him back round again and he slammed the breaks on and ditched me on my ass...so embarrassed!! So I feel like I've let him down a bit, he was jumping so well and didn't touch a pole all day, I can't help but think if I'd have taken an extra 30 seconds to show him the spooky end of the arena we would have avoided the dissapointment and subsequently the embarrassment of a fall. Got back on in the collecting ring and jumped a few more jumps to make sure we hadn't knocked the confidence and he went back to super brave honest horse that didn't bat an eye lid at anything which was a relief. So we withdrew from the next class as felt it wasn't our day and we're going to onley in two weeks instead. Fingers crossed all goes better as I've learnt my lesson and we make it round the course in one piece!! Think we're going to add a red ribbon to his green tail ribbon as although he doesn't kick it it might give people in the collecting right some more respect for him, as at the end of the day I'm not taking him to win just to get experience and learn to deal with the appnasphere of a bigger show and people didn't seem to acknowledge the novice ribbon in his tail. Overall very proud of my boy though as if it hadn't been for the fall it would have been a near perfect day. Won a lot of battles yesterday with little things just like tacking up on a show ground and loading. Going to wipe yesterday's fall out of my head and take a clean slate to onley in two weeks. Fingers crossed all goes wonderfully!!
Sorry it's been so long, my first posts has been a bit of an essay!! Just needed to vent my collecting ring frustration!! Thank you to anyone who reads!!

 

[dianchi]

Although he sounds very capable, perhaps try smaller classes to
Get his confidence up and at a height he could just trot to if need be.

Good luck don't lose faith!

 

[EquiEquestrian556]

What a shame. It happens to us all though, it's happened to me a few times. That rider sounded very inconsiderate! I think a lot of people don't pay any attention to ribbons in the horse's tail anymore, out hunting I see a lot of riders that will even push up the bum of a horse with a red ribbon. My best friend once had someone coming very close up her gelding's bum & he was wearing a red ribbon as he can sometimes get upset (like almost any horse) when horses push up his hindquarters.

Regardless of ribbons, I believe riders should be more considerate, any horse can spook/ rear or buck if they feel threatened. I don't think it was your fault - in fact I think you did every thing right, OK, may be 30 seconds would of given him a little longer to settle, but it's trial & error, we're only human, and all make mistakes Every horse will get excited if they see loads of new horses. We all have embarrassing moments, the key is to put them behind you, block them out of your mind & move on I'm sure that the next outing in two weeks will be much better! x

 

[Char0901]

Bless him, he sounds like a lovely chap. Focus on the positives like you say, tacking up on a show ground etc it's all a big deal. And weston lawns is a very spooky place! Took my mare in the 6 year old class they hold, she jumped fab but we always went sideways past the cafe area!
The more outings you do he'll get used to it. Good luck for next time

 

[Teasel]

Good luck for next time, looking forwards to hearing all about it

 

[philamena]

And this is exactly why I cannot bear SJ warm ups! You are not alone in that kind of experience, be reassured by that!

 

[Dinosaur0676]

Thank you everyone for kind words, I'm relieved I'm not the only one who's experienced silly people in the collecting ring!! Such a shame the minority ruin it for everyone else!!

 

[wench]

I had a child literally cantering underneath my horses head at a show today. Good job I wasn't on one of my old horses he would have turned around and double barrelled the child off the pony

 

[slumdog]

Hello the warm up at WL can be a nightmare! I usually try and pick whichever warm up ring is quietest. We went to Onley today and it was really busy in the warm up but the course was built nice and simple and non-spooky so def give that a try next time. You sound quite local to me (they're my local shows too!) so have you tried hiring Home Farm in Hothorpe? It's only £15 for a hour and you get a full set of BSJA jumps indoors! It's really nice and great to have a practice round. I'm not at Onley next time as I'm at arena UK but if you go again and see a girl with a 16.2 white grey wearing a bright blue show jacket and gold stirrups then it's probably me so come say hi

 

[Dinosaur0676]

Aww thank you for that!! It's good to know where there is around to hire that dosnt cost a small fortune. Trying to get him to as many places, even to just school so he gets used to everything!! Aww thanks for that, it's nice to have some moral support at these events!! I'm riding a 17.3 dapple grey and we have pink stirrups usually with some form of Matchy Matchy set and I have a grey jacket!! Hopefully see you around!!