In hand showing tips...

[Fortanedancer]

I’ve never done it and I’ve got two youngsters, a 10 month old Connie and a rising 4 year old Irish cob that I’ve just booked in at the local show. My 10 month old (will be 11 months) is in youngstock and mountain and Moreland and my 4 year old (who has only been gelded a year) will be in novice and coloured. Just wondering if anyone has any tips and tricks for taking young, novice pony’s to their first show?
thanks in advance!

 

[Equi]

The first key is to have them happy to do a forward trot in hand without you pulling their heads. Have them trot a nice rhythm in the most natural position they can. In normal times i would say get them out to as many places as possible so they don't blow up but that may not happen. All i can suggest is that you get them well ground trained for handling, well trained to stand still while someone walks around them and have as many people as possible at the yard "mock" a show for you by also having their horses in the arena moving around etc. Also, get a large box or table and put it in the arena and practice "showing" around it and running toward it. Get a person to stand still while you run toward them and by them etc...ive seen so many youngsters freak out because they are running at/past a person lol

Good luck in your show!

 

[Fortanedancer]

The first key is to have them happy to do a forward trot in hand without you pulling their heads. Have them trot a nice rhythm in the most natural position they can. In normal times i would say get them out to as many places as possible so they don't blow up but that may not happen. All i can suggest is that you get them well ground trained for handling, well trained to stand still while someone walks around them and have as many people as possible at the yard "mock" a show for you by also having their horses in the arena moving around etc. Also, get a large box or table and put it in the arena and practice "showing" around it and running toward it. Get a person to stand still while you run toward them and by them etc...ive seen so many youngsters freak out because they are running at/past a person lol

Good luck in your show!

that is great advice. Thank you. I keep them at home so I’m really limited to their interaction with others (it’s partly why I want to get them out and about) but I will definitely see if I can walk them round to the closest horsey field and see how they react and practice. I’ve just started lightly backing my 4 year old cob this year so I’ve been out with neighbours but that’s been a culture shock for him. I do in hand work every day with both of them for 15 mins each (doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s every day) and the will walk, trot and stand. I’m not sure about the standing with company around. I just have no idea how they will react in a show setting, even with all the groundwork I’ve done it’s all quite solitary so all lessons might be out the window. They may surprise me though. I think I’m bricking it because of how young the one is and how the other still has a tad bit of attitude from been gelded later.
I’ll update you about how we do Xx

 

[LillianBurg]

Then walk away from the judge (make it a straight line as the judge is trying to see your pony's action), turn your pony away from you and then trot back towards the judge (aim for her, she'll get out of your way) so again, she can see your pony's action. Then go back to the line up where you were. TellPopeyes Survey