First show looming... help!

[Evil_Cookie]

Well Orions first show is on saturday... too close for comfort now

Why did I agree to this... Anyway we've been practicing our leading everyday but are still experiencing a few errr... 'technical' difficulties.

I've bought him a leather headcoller and am using a long rope with him, I did consider a bit but it doesn't seem right as he's so young. Oh I didn't explain, he's a 7 month old colt, and we're doing an inhand class on saturday... Anyhow, he's usually fine in walk, though moving round to the right is proving a little tricky as I've got to push him over and have my arm under his neck to pull him over... that doesn't really make sense.. I hope you know what I mean

But trot is proving elusive... occassionaly you can get a great trot out of him, but then at other times he won't trot, will trot sideways away from you at 100 miles an hour or will get carried away by the sound of so many feet and try to canter. The problem is because he's got such a big neck once he goes... he's gone and you can't hold on to him. He doesn't realise how strong he is

. We tried a leader on both sides of him on sunday to see if ity would help him go straight... He exploded and nearly ran my helper over... she has the bruises to prove it

If you run next to a fence he runs straight but gets progresivly faster... On the other hand when we are not in the school field and are trotting up the drive he is an angel and goes straight... so I'm not sure what to do about this sideways buisness...

We're teaching him to stand still and have someone touching him all over and thats going ok... standing square is hit or miss but it's not really that important. I'm not going to compete seriously, I just want his first show to be a happy experience and currently I'm having visions of being dragged across the arena on my belly

So any tips on helping him trot straight?
Any tips on walking to the right?
And tips to help him stand still for 5 mins or so?
Would be very much appreiciated....I know I'm the world greatest worrier, he'll probably be an angel... but I'm so scared, its a few years since I last showed in hand.
How do you all cope with inhand showing... its soo stressful, give me a dressage test anyday...

 

[Gingernags]

First off, class Saturday as a disaster and a write off - honestly. THen if he's good, its a bonus!

It will be busy and new and exciting so if you are prepared for being hyper - so much the better!

Secondly, if he's a colt and strong, I really would bit him. Just one of the plastic straight bar bits, or a rubber one. Better to have more control than for him to do any sort of disappearing act in just a headcollar.

Mine was bitted early, as was my sisters, for showing, as I'd rather have that control than risk an accident and we had no problems with either.

And other than that all you can do is practice and practice, but as I say treat this one as an experiment and a learning experience.

Oh and I've found if you need more control, if you have your leadrein fairly short and anchor your elbow into the shoulder groove, you can turn the foal rather than it bomb off into the distance, and it also gives you some space if you keep your arm rigid. If that makes any sense...

 

[Maesfen]

I second GM; really would prefer some control and if you use a coupling then you can loop the back of the noseband through the central ring which will give you leverage on his nose, not just the bit. I personally haven't had any trouble with a Happy Mouth straight bar, you don't want a jointed mouthpiece just now.
You didn't say what breed/type he is (sorry if I missed that before).

Also, the elbow advice is good as it means you are far more in control than they realise! I was always taught to also hold very close to the bit/headcollar but with a 'rider's rein' ie: with give in your whole arm from the shoulder, that way if he jumps about you can 'go' with him but you don't let the rein get any longer, although if he rears you might have to slip the line else he could fight it and fall over (not a terrible calamity if you are safe at home but not what you want if at a show!)
Hope you have a great time, not too 'exciting' and remember - it's meant to be fun although that shouldn't stop you from being as professional as you can be. Enjoy yourselves!

Sorry, straightness! Some showing people suggest using a roller/surcingle with just the offside side rein fitted, not too tight, just enough to stop him turning his head in towards you so that he gets used to the restriction of not being able to turn towards you although it doesn't stop or restrict forward movement. Don't know if that helps.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Hi, I have recently done two shows with my ten month old and had the same worries as you!!! I have no answers to your questions just some words of support really!!! At my first show i just thought as long as he travels ok that will do for me. He did surprise me in that he was too busy looking at everyone else to be that naughty. The second show only a week later was even more surprising!! He was miles better and was a bit of a show off really!! If you are doing a youngstock class the judge said to me he expects a youngster ( especialy one as young as yours ) to be abit excited so i wouldnt worry too much about his trot etc.. Just go and enjoy it... rosettes are a bonus!!

 

[Evil_Cookie]

Hmm ok, its a bit late to introduce a bit so will go ahead with the halter anyway, but will definatly keep it in mind for next time, if there is one

I may be banned from doing it again... lol.

I was wondering, what you said about the coupling chain MFH_09, would it work if I still use the halter? I have tried putting the rope over his nose, under his nose (so it tightens the noseband when you pull) and over his poll... non really had much of an effect over control, but having it under the nose and looped through does help with leverage so I can hold the rope parellel to his jaw... if you know what I mean. Would the coupling help with this?

[ QUOTE ]
First off, class Saturday as a disaster and a write off - honestly. Then if he's good, its a bonus!

[/ QUOTE ]

I will do this, I have no high hopes I just want him to be safe and happy. I am showing another boy (the YO's welsh A) before my boys class so hopefully I'll have had some time to calm down. I suppose there's nothing worse than me being tense to set him off. And I will do my best to enjoy it

Thanks for your help guys

Will have a go with the elbow thing tonight, he's looking better and calmer every day so fingers crossed by saturday he will be chilled. I may slip him some calmer though... just in case

and maybe a swig of something for me

 

[Evil_Cookie]

Didn't see your post before Stinkbomb (whats up with the name?

)

Thanks for the support, I'm one of the worlds biggest worriers but it's nice to know I'm not alone

Hopefully our judge will be as nice as yours, and won't expect too much. It is a youngstock, under 3 class, so he'll probably be the youngest and silliest, but its all experience.

Were your shows inside or out? Thats something that also worries me this show is indoors, could be a bonus, with less to spook at I guess... what did you find?

 

[peapod]

Does he listen to voice commands?

Rosie had a bit of trouble turning as well; with her I have a good hold under the chin (she is on a halter which tightens under the nose if you pull on the rope, which does help!). Hold your cane about halfway down, and put it literally a few inches near the face, and keep saying "Over" until they get the idea and start responding to the voice command. It takes a couple of times to practice, but eventually you should be able to take the cane away and they'll work off the voice command. The cane just reinforces the message that you want the pony to turn away from you, it acts as a block.

Standing is again just a case of practice - you can always bribe him with a few blades of grass/couple of pony nuts etc when the judge is looking at him - I sometimes let them chew the end of my cane - it just keeps their brains slightly more occupied!

With the trot; again with ours we use the voice - when I practice at home, when we trot I really emphasise the voice - ie with every stride say rhythmically "T-rot, t-rot, t-rot" etc - and then in the ring you can just mutter this quietly as you trot round; again I find it just helps them to focus slightly, and it gives them a clear signal of what they are supposed to be doing.

I honestly think he will be fine though; you've been practicing with him, and I bet he'll surprise you. I've found the first show is quite overwhelming for them so they're too busy looking at everything to prat around - it's the third/fourth shows that things start getting exciting!

Good luck though, and let us know how you get on

 

[Gingernags]

Well at her first show, the orange one was rather naughty in an in hand class, she was 2 at the time, and was rather prancy with the odd rear thrown in... this was a "light horse in hand" class - very rare around here!!! Still got 5th mind!

Took her back the year after as a 3 year old and she won it

and was an angel.

 

[Hettie]

Hi I might sound like a bit of a meany..... I walk by 2yr old colt out and about with a headcollar and a chain around his nose (lead rope attached to lounge line just in case!). 1st time he tried to overtake me I just planted me feet in the ground and let him feel the chain on his nose, then when he stopped and turned to look at me I released the pressure. Only had to repeat it a few times. Now I don't have any problems. If he gets a little excited, he will calm himself when he feels the chain starting to thighten.

 

[Stinkbomb]

Ha the name... Inky my mini... we call him stinky..... then he runs around like he explodes so along came along stinkbomb!!

My shows were indoors. He had never been indoors and TBH the first thing i expected him to do was roll!!! I found it helped really because they both had a viewing gallery full of people and they kind of occupied him. I too have not shown for a long time ( over 15years!!! ) and was so nervous!! My friend who regulally shows said to me you wont even notice the other people and it was true. I was too busy concentrating on Inky that everything else just "disappeard"!!

I could probably compete with you for the title of the world biggest worrier!!!