Showing a nappy pony..any tips?

[FlaxenPony05]

Hi. My loan cob and I are doing our first ridden show on BH Monday and I'm pretty excited (nervous lol). It will be his second ridden show, his first one was last summer. He is only 5 and was backed late, so this show will purely be for experience and having a nice day, without meaning to sound pessimistic I'm not expecting anything of him. However, I would quite like him to behave himself. He can be very nappy (we have just overcome his hacking alone problems) and I'm mainly worried about him napping towards the other ponies in the ring (we're doing Best Riding Pony btw, yes not the best category for a nappy inexperienced cob but it was the only one suitable timing wise etc). Im worried that when we go out of the line up to do our individual display he's just going to nap and nap and we're not going to be able to get around the ring. Does anyone have any experience of this, and any tips on how to deal with it? If I could get a nice walk, trot and canter out of him on both reins I will be over the moon.
Thank you

 

[sophiebailey]

I know this isn't particularly useful advice but I have the nappiest horse I've ever known, who went into the show ring and was not bothered at all about leaving the line up, and I wondered if it was because he didn't 'know' any of the horses and wasn't so fussed with them. I did have to watch him as I rode near to the gate as he would try to sidle over to the exit, so I guess have a clear 'map' of your show piece in your head so you know exactly where you're going (hesitation as you decide what to do next will give him the opportunity to nap) and where possible (might not work for a baby) try and ever so slightly bend him away from the gate/other horses as you pass them so he can't 'lock onto' them.

Lots of leg and big smiles good luck!!

 

[FlaxenPony05]

I know this isn't particularly useful advice but I have the nappiest horse I've ever known, who went into the show ring and was not bothered at all about leaving the line up, and I wondered if it was because he didn't 'know' any of the horses and wasn't so fussed with them. I did have to watch him as I rode near to the gate as he would try to sidle over to the exit, so I guess have a clear 'map' of your show piece in your head so you know exactly where you're going (hesitation as you decide what to do next will give him the opportunity to nap) and where possible (might not work for a baby) try and ever so slightly bend him away from the gate/other horses as you pass them so he can't 'lock onto' them.

Lots of leg and big smiles good luck!!

Thanks very much, that's really useful. Yes that's what I was wondering too- however he will have one friend in the line up, I'm going to ask her if it's OK that we don't stand next to each other!

 

[Kelly Marks]

Good point abou him not knowng other horses in line up. Walk him forward out of line up early. Also any time he's in the collecting ring make sure he is working hard so he starts to see the ring as the restful place. That's all 'external' things for the day but do think about getting someone to come out and help you to see why he is napping (there will be a reason).

 

[FlaxenPony05]

Good point abou him not knowng other horses in line up. Walk him forward out of line up early. Also any time he's in the collecting ring make sure he is working hard so he starts to see the ring as the restful place. That's all 'external' things for the day but do think about getting someone to come out and help you to see why he is napping (there will be a reason).

Thank you! I'm planning to bring him out of the line up when the previous horse isn't completely back in the line up yet- I need to be thinking ahead of him! Sorry- being a complete numpty here- is the collecting ring like the warm up ring?