Should I take my a-hole horse to the local show or not? LONG

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pnap

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Jack and I have entered our first outdoor show this Saturday - only doing the riding club horse class and the 2'6" unaffiliated showjumping one. My question is do I take him in the full knowledge he'll probably make a complete ar$e out of me or do I cut my losses (entry fee) and just go cheer everyone else on.

The reason I'm concerned is we did the jumping night at the yard on Monday night and he completely went off on one. Kept napping at the gate (this is a problem I thought we'd got through), trying to barge through it, stopping at poles on the ground, rearing, broncking and just generally being an idiot. It got so bad I had to get off cause I was shaking so much - a mixture of frustration, anger and a little fear to be honest. One of the instructors got on him and after telling me to give him a smack with the stick when she was on the ground agreed that it probably wasn't a good idea as "he really does mean business when he gets in this state". She eventually got him over a couple of the fences and I then got back on and did the course on him.

Whilst I don't really care about his attitude in front of the folk at the yard I'm not sure I'm ready to take him out and about if he's going to act like a twat and make a fool of me. Or should I just suck it up and stop being such a ponce? Feel free to offer whatever comments you like.
 
Maybe you could take him to the show with the intention of just having a look and giving him some experience which will take the pressure off you. If he behaves himself and your're feeling up for it you could always enter one of the classes as you're pre-entered.
There's nothing worse than your horse making you lose your confidence.
Good luck with him!
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I have a horse that is very tempramental at shows and with age comes no change in behaviour. I try and ensure everything is quiet when I load at the yard, making it all a normal everyday experience. Once at the show never park in the thick of it, park away from the other lorries and keep the same tacking up routine as at home. I just have a potter and slow walk around the show ground avoiding other horses and I steer clear of the practice fence. To warm up we have a quiet trot on both reins. I find this calms him down before I do anything. Although my horse looks angry he actually suffers from stress and excitement but can be mis-construed as arrogance and p1ss taking. I would take him to a few shows so it becomes a 'normal' routine - look at entering the clear round - you get more time and you can take advice from your instructor going round. Once you've got that sorted then its time to enter the classes!!
 
That made me laugh, I know the feeling!! Personally I'd go to a show a bit further away where no-one knows you and then you won't have to give a stuff what anyone thinks. Good Luck and everyone makes a balls of it sometimes, I doubt anyone will even notice if you do, plus your horse might just prove you wrong and be absolutely ace.
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I'd take him, but not plan to enter the classes - instead try to school him round and about.
If possible, you could ask the show organiser if you can jump the course at the end of the class, where you will have time to sort him out if he's a git - most show organisers are very sympathetic to such requests, as long as it isn't holding up classes.
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Incidentally, you shouldn't say 'my a-hole horse' and dwell on his past naughtiness - as that way you are setting yourself up to expect and allow him to do this.
Instead you should say I am going to take my slightly green horse to the show and he will do X (insert achievable target here) before I go home.
Then next show, you can increase the difficulty of the target a little, whilst building your confidence, and his.
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yeah but he's not green at all - he's 12! I know the majority of it is my fault because my confidence isn't that great which he then picks up on and proceeds to take the p. Think I'll take him and just ride round the showground a bit first, then if he's behaving try the ridden class and see how the two little jumps in that go. Wish me luck!
 
By 'green' I meant inexperienced/lacking confidence rather than young....
Your plan sounds good - once you are both more confident, you can do a little more with him at each show.
Hope it goes well.
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thanks for the advice ladies/gents. I will post on Monday and let you know what happened - assuming I'm not head to foot in plaster cast
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If you are anticipating him being naughty I would get (if you can) your instructor to ride him at the show. Sounds like he tenses up at the slightest bit of anxiety. My old mare was a dream at home but a nightmare at shows. Someone else riding her and she relaxed. Purely for the fact I was anticpating her messing around and in the end i didn't enjoy going at all.

If you can't get your instructor to ride him I would go but just lunge him in a quiet area and slowly introduce and walk him around. If hes calm just pop round the clear round
 
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thanks for the advice ladies/gents. I will post on Monday and let you know what happened - assuming I'm not head to foot in plaster cast
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Right, what do I have to do to kill this negativity emanating from you?
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Pretty much what others have said - take him but as an 'experience' and if he is really good, then maybe consider a class. When you get in, however, what I would probably do is if I get over a couple and he started getting tense, I'd be ready to call it a day before he actually did anything naughty, even if I was nearly finished. That way I could leave the ring on a good note - and on my terms, rather the other possibilities. Better nine-jumps-good than ten-jumps-disaster!
 
Buy me a new horse
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Nah I just get a little frustrated with him sometimes - the age old feel like I give everything to the relationship and get nothing in return but heartache
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I know I need to buck up my ideas though so thanks for kicking my ass Shilasdair. It is often needed.
 
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