Manners in the show ring (ridden)

mbf938

mbf938

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10 February 2012
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I was just wondering what is expected in terms of manners of the ridden horse or pony in showing classes, specifically veteran classes.

In the last class that I rode my 24 year old pony in I was told he was too forward going and needed to 'remember his age' when it came to ridden manners.

I would like some help as to a) what judges are looking for in terms of ridden manners and b) how can I achieve this. My pony can be quite fizzy but I felt that we had a nice balance of being forward going but responsive until the end of his individual show, where he thought he was supposed to halt then canter, rather than halt then walk on back into line. He didn't do anything naughty.

He is more forward going in his individual show than he is when riding as a class.

Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks
 
ridden classes is all about manners. When I judge, I look for a nice forward horse (good impulsion and not whizzing off) that is sat up into the bridle and doesnt expect upward transitions or fight downward transitions. I would also look for a horse that can bend and is well balanced.

With veterans they shouldn't gallop so maybe she thought that some of the canter was infact an attempt at gallop??? If he doesnt go to shows very often, maybe you should get him out and about (even if its just for a ride around) to try and calm him down or maybe try a bit of calmer
 
He is used to shows but he spent most of his life as a showjumper, then he did eventing for a couple of years before coming to us as a pony club pony, so he is well traveled show-wise.

He didn't do showing until a couple of years ago where he did quite well in best riding club horse/pony club pony classes. He is calm until he does his individual show and then he hots up a bit so it is quite a specific area to sort out and difficult to recreate schooling at home.
 
is it possible that you are sub-consencely (sp?) getting a bit anxious about your individual which is making him hot up a bit?
 
No, I only get nervous about competitions where there is jumping involved. I think part of the problem is that to me he feels like he is going really well when he is more forward going as he feels very smooth and responsive so I encourage him to go in that way at home. It makes it more difficult to 'feel' what the judge wants to see.
 
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