First show with my new youngster

[Hunb88]

Hi All,

So some of you may be aware that i had to say goodbye to my beloved 20 year old mare almost 3 weeks ago, and i miss her every day. I purchased a lovely 3 year old filly beforehand, and i am over the moon with her. She is the complete opposite of my other mare, which is what i wanted and we are getting to know eachother.

We have been doing some ground work (not lunging, personally i am not a huge fan of lunging young horses, especially after my last mare who i had from 12 had so many issues with arthritis to name a few), and we will be starting to long rein shortly with the plan to send her away next March to be backed.

We have some in hand shows planned, with the first one on bank holiday Monday and another 2 after that. The main aim is to get her out and about to see as much as possible, and then October and November we have some horse agility planned.

She is generally a very laid back girl, who loves her cuddles (not mareish at all), in the 3 1/2 weeks i have had her, i have only seen her trot and canter in the field once! Although, i won't be fooled as i am sure she has a few surprises up her sleeve, but who wants a boring horse with no character! lol

Does anyone have any tips for our first show? I am planning on doing Inhand youngster, novice and of course coloured. I have a friend coming with me, she has been in the trailer a few times already, and is bitted and i will be using an inhand bridle. We are doing quite a bit of practice at the moment. She was fairly unhandled when i first got her 3 1/2 weeks ago, but has improved each day.

I am nervous and excited, purely for the fact that i don't know how she will behave (they are all local shows) and i want it to be a good experience. After having my last horse for 8 years, i knew her inside out and i could take her anywhere on my own and not worry, so i guess it is the fear of the unknown.

She also has the thickest mane possible, after she was hogged, so any tips/advice on how to handle that would also be appreciated (my last mare had such a fine mane, it took me 15 mins to plait up!). I don't want to pull it yet, as it has only just started to come over, as much as she suits the 'punk rocker' look, she doesn't really suit being hogged.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Sorry for the loss of your horse and congratulations on the arrival of your new one, I would get to the show with plenty of time and give her a good walk round to have a look at everything before any of your classes, then I would put her back on the trailer with a hay net while you get ready, I like my horses to learn that they must get used to standing on the vehicle at a show, I am not a fan of tying up horses on the side of horseboxes but each to there own.

If her mane is thick you could use a thinning rake or scissors rather than pull it, the plaiting sprays are very good for unruly manes.

Most of all enjoy yourself it's meant to be fun after all and good luck.

 

[Hunb88]

Thanks Pinkyboots. The good thing about having a youngster, is that i can work on these things (slightly easier than an older horse), so plan to get her used to standing on the trailer. I wouldn't trust her at the moment to stand tied up outside anyway, we have had a few issues with her pulling back tied up at home, which we are working on slowly.

With my old mare, i used to go alone a lot, 90% of the time, so getting Dior used to standing on the trailer would be really useful. I am reluctant to touch her mane at the moment, i have heard horror stories of people pulling, or using a thinning rake and the horse ending up with a permanent mohican!

I haven't really had much motivation to spend too much time down the yard for quite a few weeks now, i have done bits with her but now i feel ready to spend even more time down there and i am starting to enjoy it again. My plan is to practice plaiting up this weekend, i have some mane mousse to try and a few other lotions in my showing kit.

I purchased a double coupling to try, but she is quite strong, would a triple coupling be better (attached to the bit and noseband) for some extra control?

She was in season last week, so at least i know she shouldn't be in season for our first show

 

[Pinkvboots]

I think a lot of youngsters can have a tendency to pull back at first so I wouldn't worry to much, it is handy to put them back on the lorry and them be calm, I did it with my young horse and he has always been fine it's just practice and repetition.

I would just practice your trot up and getting her to stand square as much as you can, I have never heard of a triple cuppling it's worth a try if you think it will help why not, I have Arabs and although they run fast and leap about they don't go anywhere and don't pull, so don't have much experience of strong horses!

That's good about the season being out of the way I just hope the weather is a bit better it's Grimm here this morning.

 

[windand rain]

I find if you don't anticipate trouble you don't get it. We show youngsters all the time. We park near the entrance or road so they learn that traffic is ok we simply ignore it and usually so do they. Most of the traffic is slow moving, big and sometimes rattly but if you ignore it it usually doesn't cause any problem and of course horse people driving will be a tad more careful around the lorry park. Teach her to walk on different surfaces as sometimes trouble comes from crossing from one colour surface to another but again just ignore any tantrums near the etrance if you can. In some ways being a bit blase about stuff can teach the youngster to be the same. As to plaiting don't do it so don't know we show natives. Triple coupling will preserve your horses mouth a little getting strong in a bit is only going to damage her mouth and please dont yank on it to get her attention if you want a riding moth at the end of it

 

[conniegirl]

personally I wouldnt plan to do 3 classes at her first show. That is a lot to ask of a youngster on her first time out.

I'd maybe enter 2, do the first one, if it goes well then I'd probably go home at that point, if she was still very perky and the second class was not a long wait i might consider doing the second class.
Nothing sours a young horse quicker then being tired and with so many new things to look at, travelling etc she will tire easily as it will all be very exciting.

 

[Hunb88]

Thanks Windland rain, i don't plan on yanking on her mouth.

I haven't pre-entered any classes, so it is a case of going and seeing how she is on the day. If we do one fine, if we don't do any, fine also as long as gains something from the experience.

 

[windand rain]

Thanks Windland rain, i don't plan on yanking on her mouth.

You might not plan too but if she gets excited and jumps about there is always the possibility you might I usually show off the noseband but if she is very strong then a triple might help would never use a coupling just on the bit. It is surprising how many people yank on the bit especially with colts and stallions and excitable fillies. We show all ours in a filly slip it is a bit like a leather halter /headcollar/bridle with no bit

 

[Hunb88]

I have purchased a triple coupling to try. She is 16hh ISH, so i don't really feel i would have that much control with just a filly slip. She has a rubber snaffle, so not a harsh bit which she is used to and we are doing some practice every day. I don't want to ruin my horse, and i am in by no means any rush with her.

Someone at my yard has a horse the same age, bought the same time which is being lunged regulary on a small circle (something i detest anyway), reayd to be backed in a month but the same person also backed and is riding a 2 year old cob!

The show is only 20 mins down the road from us and is a fun show more than anything, so not too much pressure at least. It is more about seeing the world than anything else at this point.