First show tomorrow...nervous!

Shantara

Shantara

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I am so nervous, I can't even begin to tell you! Last years shows were...mixed. I managed to win two 2nds, but we had 4 bad rounds and I mean they were awful!
I fell off twice last show :( while it didn't knock my confidence on Ned at all, it really scared me of the show ring.
I'm determined to try Ned one last year (since last year I wasn't the only one riding him...now I pretty much am) and if we fail as miserably as last year, I'll retire from the local shows and stick to hacking and maybe try my hand at Polo or Endurance. Jumps seem to send him nutty when other horses are around.

Just pointless ramblings, but I have no one here to chat to right now :P I can practically hear my heart pounding!!
 
You'll be fine :-) I have my first showing show with my 5 yr old 2moro and I'm pooing my pants haha! Neck strap is priority on my list!!
 
Lunge, lunge, lunge and more lunge - before you even think of getting on - get the fire well and truly out of him! Find a nice quiet corner of the field and take yourself away for a good half an hour. Wizz him round and round and then work on a few transitions to get him listenening to you. Then get on and walk round. Stand and watch the jumping ring for another half an hour. Warm up, then cool down and keep him ticking over. Have a swift doubly yourself too!

Get there with loads of time to spare - good couple of hours should do it.

Best of luck.
 
mcnaughty said:
Lunge, lunge, lunge and more lunge - before you even think of getting on - get the fire well and truly out of him! Find a nice quiet corner of the field and take yourself away for a good half an hour. Wizz him round and round and then work on a few transitions to get him listenening to you. Then get on and walk round. Stand and watch the jumping ring for another half an hour. Warm up, then cool down and keep him ticking over. Have a swift doubly yourself too!

Get there with loads of time to spare - good couple of hours should do it.

Best of luck.
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Thanks ^^ only, I can't lunge :( I've never done it before and neither has Ned. I may be able to take him in the school for a bit (show rings are in the fields) and get some fire out of him.
 
me too Nah, and i am absolutely bricking it - i've done a similar post to yours lol :D

got all my tack sprawled all over the living room floor with copious amounts of newspaper, hubby is adamant i will spill something on the floor!

good luck tomorrow and to anyone else out and about and look forward 2 seeing some happy reports :D
 
I will report back 2moro, hopefully with photos :-) look forward to seeing everyone's reports!
 
I've read alot of your posts but never commented before. You seem like a very considerate and caring rider and put a lot of thought and preparation into your hacking and groundwork. I'd hate to think you would just give up if this show doesn't go well but would rather think you would apply the same consideration and determination into improving step by step as you have with hacking Ned out alone.
You've worked a lot on bomb proofing him and building his confidence so I hope this all helps you have an enjoyable day tomorrow. I look forward to hearing how it goes and if it doesn't go as well as you want then I look forward to seeing how you over come this and build up to your next show.
Good luck, have fun and get lots of pics.
 
Thought so :)
You'll be fine. I may pop in on the way past to my parents and give you a slap if you're not being brave :D
 
Seems like a few of us then! Another posters was on earlier who has first show in years tomorrow and is nervous, Catwithclaws I think....
I am taking my young mare to her first show, and am VERY nervous! It's a local RC show, we're hacking down, with be further than we've hacked before, and then doing a walk/trot dressage test. Just for the experience, don't care where we come. As long as we get back safely! :D
Good luck to everyone doing shows tomorrow!
 
Catswithclaws - Good luck!! Seems there's quite a few of us in the same boat :P

China - I can't wait to see everyone's reports either :D

LynH - Thank you so much for your kind words :) I really try hard with him, but showing seems to completely blow his mind. Even now, I find it hard to jump in a group lesson, because he just flips out :( He's great jumping by himself in the school, which is weird. He's a fab little jumper, so I wouldn't quit jumping all together, but I'm not 100% sure he enjoys the shows.

Carefreegirl - Haha! That would be ace :P

Black_Horse - Thanks :D

Crazydancer - Good luck! I;m sure she'll be great :D
 
you will be fine, just breathe and have fun, the worst thing you can do is go with expectations. My sister took her exracer to his first clear round this week and we went with the attitude of just get him off the lorry (it was is first non racing outing surrounded by other horses he kept looking around as if to say "Wheres the race track then:rolleyes:" ) once we got tack on and in the warm up ring he just settled and went into work mode and did two rounds and got a pretty rosette:D
 
Nah said:
Slightlyconfused - Well done :D I'll be happy if I get him over all the jumps facing forwards XD
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lol....it was touch and go if she would even get on him and he was dancing about all over the place and tacking up was very interesting but once he was in the warm up school (didnt even attemp to get on him by the lorry or it would have ended in tears but once in the school he was "Oh yea i'm not a race pony anymore:rolleyes::cool:)

we would like pictures.......just take one jump at a time and relax and smile.
xxx
 
I've just checked the weather for tomorrow and round our way it looks dire, heavy rain all day!! Could be interesting.... :rolleyes:

Just going to have a rummage to see if I can find my long wax riding coat that hasn't been worn for several years, let alone been re-waxed....:o
 
Crazydancer said:
I've just checked the weather for tomorrow and round our way it looks dire, heavy rain all day!! Could be interesting.... :rolleyes:

Just going to have a rummage to see if I can find my long wax riding coat that hasn't been worn for several years, let alone been re-waxed....:o
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I woke up this morning D: Oh my goodness it's so wet! I'm going to go and take all my stuff anyway and see what YO says (I'm lucky :P the shows at my yard!)
He's so erratic when he jumps, he's very likely to slip :( had I been riding a 'normal' horse, I'd have certainly gone ahead with no worries.

I'll let you know how I get on (If I get on :P)
 
:(
The weather here was dire this morning, and it had hammered down all night. Our horses are out 24/7, so they were cold, wringing wet and miserable. It wasn't just wet, but freeeeeeezing cold and windy too. As we had an hour hack each way to do as well as the show, we decided not to go. (I was a bit concerned about hacking my water-phobic horse down a road with puddles and horseboxes/trailers passing too, when we haven't had much hacking experience.) My hands were numb from just towelling off my two and putting their rugs on as they were shivering.
:(
Hope everyone else had better luck. We have another local show in 4 weeks so hope we make it then. Still, gives me more time to practice! :)
 
Oh no sad to hear the rain has ruined some people's outings! I rode this morning but luckily we have an indoor school so didn't get too wet!
Nah did you go to the show in the end?
 
We intended going to a little show with Mellie the mule and her young rider. Woke to pouring rain so decided not to go. I tow with a Ford Focus so not too much chance of getting out of a muddy field!
Hope others had better time.
 
im sure you will be fine! practise makes perfect! the more you do more shows the more confident you will be! everybody has there bad days but its worth it for the good days! :D
 
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