My young chap first showing ridden class - tips anyone?

[Jennypenny]

I am taking my 4 year old 14.2h to his first ridden hunter pony showing class on Sunday. (I am an adult, local riding club level) He was shown in hand last year and will be doing some ridden classes this year. He is getting rather strong and forward at the moment as is a bit spooky but safe. Any tips would be great for his first ridden class?

 

[magicgirl]

Get to the show early and spend a lot of time quietly riding round letting him have a good look. Don't do loads of working in that might excite him. When you go in the ring keep relaxed yourself and ride him quietly, talking to him if he gets worried. If he gets so whizzy he couse problems ask the steward if you can stand in the middle.

 

[Natch]

Bless. Give yourself plenty of time to get there, don't let yourself get nervous, walk him around the showground, particularly near the ring you're going to be in, see if he will graze in-hand (lets him get relaxed & chilled just remember to clean up the green slobber!) and don't go expecting a place or worrying about performing your best, as that will put pressure on you, just concentrate on what you know he is already good at and enjoy!

(tootles off to print this page and read it 10 times a day. Must take my own advice...)


oh. and ps please let us know how you get on

 

[Kenzo]

Just enjoy the moment, ride with a smile, you can't do anymore than settle him in before you go into the class.

Practice your individual show so you don't have to worry thinking about that. Keep it short and simple, trot in each rein, canter on each rein, show your horses best bits, rather than draw attention to something that he's not good at, if he doesn't rein back then don't do it etc.

Make sure you are correctly dressed and turned out and your horse has the correct tack, avoid complicated tack in order to try and look proffesional, a judge much prefers to see a horse ridden in a snaffle and no spurs than the opposite etc.

Good Luck, remember to have fun!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

I always do a REALLY boring class first like Best Turned Out so they can see the ring without doing anything too exciting. It cured my strong cob of his carting around the ring !!