Lily first competition report and a teeny little rant

dwi

dwi

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The important thing is that we made it there and back in one piece!

Lily decided that being at the (not very busy) show was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her and decided to dance around the show ground on two legs, alternating between rearing and bronking for maximum effect. Needless to say that after forty crazy minutes in the warm up we decided to call it a day and take her home. Hopefully she's got that out of her system and will be calmer next time.

The only thing that really spoiled it was the miserable pony club mother who was shouting abuse at me and making threats of legal action despite the fact that I was a very good distance away from her ponies and was definitely out of kicking distance. Said ponies were standing calmly watching the jumping and didn't seem in the slightest bit bothered. Thank you to the kind person who said "She's spirited isn't she!" and to all the people who were making bitchy comments just in ear shot you should remember that every horse has to have a first show. How's she ever going to learn if I don't take her?

Pictures to follow
 
I'm so sorry you had to put up with rubbish like that, so unneccessary. Don't let it deter you one little bit, as you say, how is she to learn if you don't get her out there?

Our ex racer's first show last year was a bit of a disaster and my daughter was very upset, only we were lucky that most people were very kind and everyone had their own story to tell so it must happen a lot! If it is any comfort, her second show was a lot better. No classes entered but she managed to stay for over an hour and behave quite well, she even stood still for a second. :D

Though I totally appreciate that shows can awfully be-otchy places imho. I hear a lot of comments about my daughter being too tall for her pony at shows, it makes me cringe for her but she doesn't worry, and the pony certainly doesn't.
 
Thanks. I would fully understand if she'd even come close to causing someone else a problem but she didn't. Nice to know I'm not the only one its happened to.
 
Oh dear, poor you! Like you didn't have enough to deal with?? I was at a local level show the other week and people were making snide remarks about how my horse wasn't going in an outline around the course! My friend was stood there and commented that he went clear so what was the problem. The worst thing is he was in such a lovely relaxed mood and didn't try to kill me- he's usually in an outline as I have to have a death grip on the reins to stop him bucking me off! Stupid narrow minded old bags, we were only jumping 80cm... Grr..
 
Maybe work her at home before you go next time? One producer of novice event horses used to get up at the crack of dawn and give a young horse an hour's work in the indoor school at home before going to an event if she thought they were going to be stupid.
 
well done you for taking her!! Thats fantastic!

I remember my competition days well and had a few of the 'shes a bit mad' 'she shouldn't be here' comments, often made me wanted to spray them in the face with some NAFF OFF spray :)
 
ORANGEHORSE said:
Maybe work her at home before you go next time? One producer of novice event horses used to get up at the crack of dawn and give a young horse an hour's work in the indoor school at home before going to an event if she thought they were going to be stupid.
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hmmm I am going to steal this idea for my daughter! Thanks!
 
ORANGEHORSE said:
Maybe work her at home before you go next time? One producer of novice event horses used to get up at the crack of dawn and give a young horse an hour's work in the indoor school at home before going to an event if she thought they were going to be stupid.
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Not a bad idea, thanks. I'm going to try hacking her there next time as a good hour and a half's ride should take the edge off her. A good plan for if we're going somewhere that we have to box to though. If there'd been more space I did think about lunging her when we got there but there wasn't a big enough secure space and I just dread to think what people would have been saying if I'd lunged in the warm up!
 
And they will be the same kids at another show riding up your ar$e and hogging the practice fence i expect. Ignore the stupid people, you werent doing it on purpose
 
The problem with that type of pony club mother is that they have only ever spent £8,000 on a perfect saint-like pony, they tend to be clueless regarding young ponies. I think they believe that all ponies are born saints and any misbehaving caused by new sights and sounds is dangerous and out of control and should be shot. Don't take it to heart, get her out and about this summer and she'll come good:)
 
Agree with what others have said, but I think it can depend a bit on previous experience, for said pony club mother. I led our easter bonnet, lead rein safe ride this year, teenage girl brought a pony for its first outing in company (not the best idea, but I can understand her reasoning) Her pony kicked off and upset two or three of the children and the ponies. Instead of turning away from the ride the stupid girl continued with the group and then allowed her pony to kick out at mine as I was seeing them safely back to the car park, it whacked my ankle and I was not a happy bunny. The next time I see a similar creature kicking off, I too will be wary and if I have paid an entry fee for a class, will not be happy that a free spectator is there with a horse which could be upsetting mine and ending up with me being injured. I appreciate that young horses need to gain experience and that only by doing it do they learn, but there has to be give and take. Maybe the PCM thought that you were there a bit too long, or she maybe just a nasty piece of work :)
 
We're doing the first show stuff with my sister's ex-racehorse. He gets rather het up when he visits new places as he thinks he's racing again and understandably boils over. This results in napping and baby rearing and manic trotting with lots of resistance. We've found that we have to arrive massively early (as in way before the show starts!) and let him chill and warm up without the exciting bits there, then put him away and then get him out again before his class. First show we didn't do this, he freaked and conducted his dressage test in working rear... Second show we did and he did a very sweet (if nervey and therefore a bit backwards) test for 56%, which wasn't too bad in his class. Worth a try...

As for the PC mum, I can see where she's coming from although it can't have been pleasant for you. I think I'd be worried, as children can get in the way, no matter how hard they try not to and she obvs doesn't want them hurt. Good luck next time! It'll be worth it.
 
Very well done on going :). Ignore the woman, she was obviously stressed, but didn't need to be quite so verbal about it :(

Just keep going and having a walk round and chilling, she'll soon learn it's not a place to go mad :). A few people have said that dressage shows are great for getting horses used to shows without sending them wappy. I'm going to take Dizz - I'll let you know lol. I've taken her to two local shows - the hack there chilled her out and we walked round and walked home, totally relaxed. Brill.

Have a hot choccy :)
 
yorksG said:
The next time I see a similar creature kicking off, I too will be wary and if I have paid an entry fee for a class, will not be happy that a free spectator is there with a horse which could be upsetting mine and ending up with me being injured.
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I completely hear what you're saying but there's wary and there's over the top. I was nowhere near said ponies but apparently thats still too close. She didn't want me in the warm up at all.

FWIW I had paid an entry fee and was riding round the warm up with a bib on. I never made it into the ring as I couldn't settle her enough but I had as much right to be in there as the next person.
 
MMnnn its a tough one. I'm not for one minute saying your wrong and she was right or that you weren't in total control. But i've been in the position where there was an owner 'teaching a young horse' that was super reluctant to go into the indoor school.

I was holding one of my god daughters ponies when her mum was getting her on the other. Baring in mind it was the first class and was full of wee ponies and wee tots with a fair number of people on the ground. Said horse was rearing and running backwards. I don't think it matters how good a rider anybody is trying to steer a horse which is shooting backwards is impossible.

We started off safely out of the way and nothing neither our ponies were in the least bit bothered until the horse comes barreling into us. I got pretty squashed and just thankful it wasn't my god daughter instead. Rider keeps trying to get horse into the school and next thing is she's on the ground and there's a loose horse charging around causing havoc.

I know youngsters have to learn but I'm not sure in a warm up arena is the best place. They tend to be super busy with people who are wound up with pre show nerves.

My god daughter works damned hard with her ponies and her mum is not in any way a pony club mother. Both up super early and pay a lot of money to enter classes etc and I think to be honest if there was a young horse in the ring rearing and broncing for 40 minutes when Jen was trying to do her own warm up, I'd have been pissed off too.

However there was absolutely no need for her to be aggressive or rude to you.

My own youngster was taken to a few shows just to get a feel for them. I didn't take her into any classes just walking her around to let her get a feel of the buzz and the noise. So by the time she was actually there to take part she was pretty chilled.

I hope your next outing will be better for all and good luck :)
 
Dwi
Sorry didn't realise that you had paid to enter a class, as am rather used to people turning up to let the youngster get a feel for a show, without paying. :) and IMHO 40 minutes in the warm up area is a long time if the horse is kicking off. I would also agree that lunging in there was a no go! Would it be worth you looking for a Very small show and doing a few in hand classes to get your horse used to the atmosphere. It is very difficult for organisers of shows to ensure that everyone gets value for money and has an enjoyable day. Situations like this make it more so.
 
Well done, it's not easy at the best of times taking youngsters out! She sounds like she was overreacting silly woman. Unless the kids were in direct danger I don't know what she was moaning about!! I took my 4yr old to a BD prelim 4 his first show, I took him there because I knew I would be riding with adults who 1. could ride and 2. would understand a young blood horse.
Perhaps take her too a more adult show next time? I also often ring up the organisers and explain I'm bringing a green horse, u usually get early times then so the warm up is quieter :)
I'm taking my baby to a CR next and I'm planning on being the 1st person there lol
 
Aww well done for taking her, dont take any notice of other people. If you get to come over to Ockbrook show ill hack round the show ground with you as my cob Katie is a calming influence. Keep doing what your doing!!
 
Thanks Keltic, thats a really kind offer. I think Ockbrook might be a better show for her as its a much, much bigger showground. Does it get busy?
 
It does not get too busy on club shows, but it does on the open one. There is plenty of space to walk around and see the sights etc. I took my TB Kelly and she lost her head in the veteran class and we were asked to leave the ring, so do understand what its like, they just need time to take it all in. Katie is a much more level headed girlie so if you get over let me know im hoping to do all the club shows this year and will gladly ride around with you as Katie wouldnt waste energy messing around lol!! now ive said that she'll probably dump me at the next one!!
 
Well done for trying, and don't give up on it. :)

Also, I think ockbrook can be relatively busy, defo don't go to the open show!! Last time I went, (which was aages ago) the warm up was teeny, so, not sure you'd be able to lunge anywhere there?

Hope she is calmer next time :)
 
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