first show!!!!!!

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[169135]

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Hello,


I am very prematurely planning mine and my ponies first local show for next spring. Aiming for a little working hunter pony, and walk trot ridden novice.
She is quite the stress head and is also known to kick and strike out towards people and other horses when she is stressed. I have always been reluctant to take her anywhere due to this but feel like we are missing out on so much fun once we get over the stress!
I will 100% be putting red bows in her tail would I need one in her forelock or her browband too as she strikes ?
Any tips will be greatly appreciated!
 
Flowerofthefen said:
Honestly, if she strikes out I wouldn't want to take her in the ring, especially with novice riders. The red ribbon will get her marked down and I'm not sure novice riders will know what it means. Could you practice over winter at clinics etc to get her used to it?
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I will be informing the judge and keeping an appropriate distance from others, I dont care about getting her marked down as its all about getting her confident and having fun as long as shes safe and others are too. She will only kick and strike out of people dont respect her space. I will also be taking her out over winter like you said to get her used to being in other environments but that wont stop her kicking/striking if she feels she needs to
 
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Unfortunately you are going out with the general public so please don't expect them to respect her like you do. I have seen all sorts of dangerous things and it's usually in warm ups. Showing is far from ideal as you actually ride round with others and they can decide to cut you up in the ring or move into the space you are circling into. And ridden novice is a class where people might be less prepared for this than other classes.
Will she stand nicely in the line up with strange horses either side of her, will she be happy for the judge to inspect her at relatively close quarters before your show? Even with a red ribbon in her tail I would not in good conscience take her in a showing ring. Can you imagine the reaction if something did go wrong? You wouldn't want it for a judge or small child to be hospitalised because of your horse would you?
 
abbijay said:
Unfortunately you are going out with the general public so please don't expect them to respect her like you do. I have seen all sorts of dangerous things and it's usually in warm ups. Showing is far from ideal as you actually ride round with others and they can decide to cut you up in the ring or move into the space you are circling into. And ridden novice is a class where people might be less prepared for this than other classes.
Will she stand nicely in the line up with strange horses either side of her, will she be happy for the judge to inspect her at relatively close quarters before your show? Even with a red ribbon in her tail I would not in good conscience take her in a showing ring. Can you imagine the reaction if something did go wrong? You wouldn't want it for a judge or small child to be hospitalised because of your horse would you?
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I think that is a bit dramatic. She is perfectly well behaved when horses and people are at a respectable distance and dont come across threatening.

Im talking a local show. The show organiser and judges and my instructor have advised me before that I should bring her to a show. Theres only one way for her to gain confidence and that is to do it.
 
mesm99 said:
I think that is a bit dramatic. She is perfectly well behaved when horses and people are at a respectable distance and dont come across threatening.

Im talking a local show. The show organiser and judges and my instructor have advised me before that I should bring her to a show. Theres only one way for her to gain confidence and that is to do it.
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And what you’re assuming is that the general public will keep a safe distance. Which they absolutely won’t. And I would be fuming if either my horse or myself got kicked when you knew your horse has prior for this sort of thing.
 
I would be taking all precuations I can, Unless you come right next to her with no space she will not feel threatened. I would be very upset if I took precautions and you didnt pay attention to your surroundings and put yourself in that situation. There are many top horses who are kickers still competing at international levels

also would like to add, she has only ever kicked when a horse has been at her bum, never beside her
 
IrishMilo said:
And what you’re assuming is that the general public will keep a safe distance. Which they absolutely won’t. And I would be fuming if either my horse or myself got kicked when you knew your horse has prior for this sort of thing.
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I would be taking all precuations I can, Unless you come right next to her with no space she will not feel threatened. I would be very upset if I took precautions and you didnt pay attention to your surroundings and put yourself in that situation. There are many top horses who are kickers still competing at international levels

also would like to add, she has only ever kicked when a horse has been at her bum, never beside her
 
mesm99 said:
I think that is a bit dramatic. She is perfectly well behaved when horses and people are at a respectable distance and dont come across threatening.

Im talking a local show. The show organiser and judges and my instructor have advised me before that I should bring her to a show. Theres only one way for her to gain confidence and that is to do it.
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I'm really sorry but I agree with @abbijay local shows are the worst for people not giving space as they are generally full of young children showing their ponies and/or novice people that don't understand ring etiquette. If i were you I would go to a local show to watch and see for yourself.
Show organiser's at that level are usually desperate for entries to keep the show running. So I would take that advise with a pinch as salt.
If your looking for an outing or competition low level dressage would probably be better, but warming up you'd probably have to walk around the lorry park as your likely to up close and personal in the warm up area.
Could you do a few arena hires with friends and gratually build up the interactions with your pony to help her deal with the situation better.

IMHO - it is dangerous to take a known kicker to a local show.
 
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