Showing and a dilemma

Silver-Moon

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Hey all got a little dilemma and need some (nice and gentle) opinions please

Took my young boy (rising 5 IDxWB 16hh) to his first show in nearly 3 years on Sunday.

For various reasons (dad passing away and me being really poorly) he has not been out and done much, so I decided to bite the bullett and take him out in-hand on sunday...well there appears to have been a bit of fall out following this!

He loaded and travelled really well but he got a bit overexcited and we had a few bad manners but I gave everyone plenty of space and tried to avoid any situations. Judge really liked him and we got 5th out of a class of about 14 and he said if he been well behaved he would have won the class.

Took him into the second class and he was much better behaved but didn't come anywhere (which is fine, it is all about the education for me) but I had people telling me that i should 'beat it out of him' how I shouldn't be allowed to compete (he wasn't dangerous, just overexcited and a bit full of it and i had control at all times) and just general bitchiness and nastiness!

this has really upset me, and although I know I need to take him out i am really worried that i am going to get the same reaction...people keep telling me that at 5 he should be well behaved, and i know this, but as i said it was his first show for 3 years and it took a lot of courage for me to go out...

Think i need a general kick up the bum and to stop being ridiculous!!

Blimey didn't realise this would go on so long....can offer a nice cold Pimms and an ice cream for reading this drivel lol:eek:
 
Hey all got a little dilemma and need some (nice and gentle) opinions please

Took my young boy (rising 5 IDxWB 16hh) to his first show in nearly 3 years on Sunday.

For various reasons (dad passing away and me being really poorly) he has not been out and done much, so I decided to bite the bullett and take him out in-hand on sunday...well there appears to have been a bit of fall out following this!

He loaded and travelled really well but he got a bit overexcited and we had a few bad manners but I gave everyone plenty of space and tried to avoid any situations. Judge really liked him and we got 5th out of a class of about 14 and he said if he been well behaved he would have won the class.

Took him into the second class and he was much better behaved but didn't come anywhere (which is fine, it is all about the education for me) but I had people telling me that i should 'beat it out of him' how I shouldn't be allowed to compete (he wasn't dangerous, just overexcited and a bit full of it and i had control at all times) and just general bitchiness and nastiness!

this has really upset me, and although I know I need to take him out i am really worried that i am going to get the same reaction...people keep telling me that at 5 he should be well behaved, and i know this, but as i said it was his first show for 3 years and it took a lot of courage for me to go out...

Think i need a general kick up the bum and to stop being ridiculous!!

Blimey didn't realise this would go on so long....can offer a nice cold Pimms and an ice cream for reading this drivel lol:eek:

Take no notice, he is still a baby, I bet he is completely different once he gets a few shows under his belt.

Our warmblood went to her first show at 5. The judge in the coloured class said she would have won "if her front legs had spent a significant amount of time on the floor" :o

I wont say she is perfect now, she doesn't get out much. But she does a ridden class without any major strops.
 
He is only a baby and hasn't been in that situation for 3 years. You are not worried by his behaviour and the judge didn't throw you out of the ring, so obviously wasn't worried. Sounds like there is a bit of jealousy going on, rise above it and enjoy your next outing, he may be excited next time to start but will settle down quicker than the last.
 
OO pimms, thank you ;)

I'm sorry to hear about your dad.

Don't listen to them. Bitchiness around the show ring is common place.
The more you get him out, the better he will be :) He will settle. If I were you I'd try and get to a few more local shows. I'd also take a few people with you for support, and listen to them instead of those typical ring side spectators, who never seem to have any horse to show, just like to watch! ;)
 
The more you do with him the better he will be, obviously the critics have never had a young horse, pay no attention to them, get your boy out as much as you can, you don't necessarily even have to take him in the ring, just get him used to the show atmosphere.
Ignore them, they are probably just jealous.
 
Oh thank you all so much!

You have all said what I was thinking, that a lot is down to jealousy (the judges told me he was stunning and his trot was the best they have seen for ages:D)

The judge didn't ask us to leave (although i did consider it at one stage when baby hoss refused to look at the gallery without throwing a strop but would happily stand with his bum to them...guess he showed them what i was feeling lol :p) and said that he was much better behaved in the second class so it was positive on that front!

On that note I am now toddling off to find the next show that we can go to...thanks for the bum-kick much appreciated!
 
baby hoss refused to look at the gallery without throwing a strop but would happily stand with his bum to them...guess he showed them what i was feeling lol )

My horse only does standing backwards. He hasn't been placed out of the top two yet ;)
 
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