Akkalia1
Well-Known Member
Well we did it!! Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on what to wear and what we might expect as not only was it Luna's first show, but it was mine too and I was completely clueless. I forgot to put my hairnet on though!
We got there a little later than I'd planned as Luna didn't want to load but we still had plenty of time despite getting lost on the way and actually the class started a little late which helped us. She was understandably excited and anxious but behaved pretty well to begin with, after I'd struggled to get her bridle on! Milling around outside the ring with the other horses helped to eventually settle her and she was quite relaxed when the class started. She had one leap, rear, buck on our first circle with the judge watching on but then she settled and behaved better than I could ever have hoped for. It also helped that for our first trot to the back of the circle she brought out her floaty trot in her excitement while somehow managing to not fling her legs in all directions
She then stood in the line-up reasonably well and stood perfectly for the judge to examine her in our individual show and walked and trotted reasonably calmly too. She was pulling though!
Somehow we managed to come 2nd out of a class of 11 or 12. To say I was thrilled was an understatement, I never expected any placing, I genuinely thought she wouldn't settle and we'd be lucky to just get through it. When I saw the horses that were turning up I thought even if she behaved we wouldn't have a chance. So, so proud of her.
She did somewhat blight the day by then losing the plot after our class when we got back to the trailer, even though there were other horses around I think she was missing her ring buddies. I got some looks from the people around me as she went vertical and off all four feet! She then refused to even contemplate the trailer, we decided to move it to a quiet area and thankfully she calmed down but still took two hours to load. I was exhausted by then.
Overall thrilled with her, but more loading practice required. Also need to try to get her used to rain, there was a torrential shower as we were trying to load her, her behaviour was ridiculous, she does hate the rain :/
Anyway some photos, sorry for the overload but I struggled to pick favourites!
We got there a little later than I'd planned as Luna didn't want to load but we still had plenty of time despite getting lost on the way and actually the class started a little late which helped us. She was understandably excited and anxious but behaved pretty well to begin with, after I'd struggled to get her bridle on! Milling around outside the ring with the other horses helped to eventually settle her and she was quite relaxed when the class started. She had one leap, rear, buck on our first circle with the judge watching on but then she settled and behaved better than I could ever have hoped for. It also helped that for our first trot to the back of the circle she brought out her floaty trot in her excitement while somehow managing to not fling her legs in all directions
She then stood in the line-up reasonably well and stood perfectly for the judge to examine her in our individual show and walked and trotted reasonably calmly too. She was pulling though! Somehow we managed to come 2nd out of a class of 11 or 12. To say I was thrilled was an understatement, I never expected any placing, I genuinely thought she wouldn't settle and we'd be lucky to just get through it. When I saw the horses that were turning up I thought even if she behaved we wouldn't have a chance. So, so proud of her.
She did somewhat blight the day by then losing the plot after our class when we got back to the trailer, even though there were other horses around I think she was missing her ring buddies. I got some looks from the people around me as she went vertical and off all four feet! She then refused to even contemplate the trailer, we decided to move it to a quiet area and thankfully she calmed down but still took two hours to load. I was exhausted by then.
Overall thrilled with her, but more loading practice required. Also need to try to get her used to rain, there was a torrential shower as we were trying to load her, her behaviour was ridiculous, she does hate the rain :/
Anyway some photos, sorry for the overload but I struggled to pick favourites!
Well done on your second! You may find a ridden show slightly easier, I have much more control on board, last time I did inhand I almost got tanked out of the ring but he is a gem in the ridden classes. Failing that, a stronger bit may help. On the odd occasion I choose to risk my life and everyone else around me, the show pelham ensures that I don't break any running records. The jacket you have on would be perfect for ridden too 
