Showing routine

[UKa]

Hi - what could you recommend for a showing routine in a walk and trot novice class for my rising 5 year old Connie at local low key show? Would like ro take her to some local events of what’s on offer locally. the first date I can do is a showing show. be her first ever event and I have only ever once done a showing class many moons ago thanks

 

[dottylottie]

the standard test if it’s not a set show is to walk away from the judge, onto the track into trot, change the rein and pop into canter and do a figure of eight trotting to change the rein and pick up canter again then extend down the long side - for a walk and trot test you’d do the same but in trot. the judge may give you a set show to do, but that’s less likely with a walk and trot test since you’d just be trotting round for ages lol.

keep it short and sweet! you don’t need to go round and round, just make sure you show both reins. play to your strengths, ie if pony is likely to nap to the lineup you can avoid going directly past them, just of course don’t go behind the line up. i’d say try not to go first, so you can see what others do with the space and if it’s a set show you can watch someone else do it to memorise it. some rings especially at local level can be set out in a funny shape, especially if the steward doesn’t tell people exactly where to stand and the first person who lines up chooses a dodgy spot haha. keep a big smile plastered on your face to give the illusion it’s all going brilliantly even if she decides not to play ball - you never know what babies will make of their first outing

good luck and enjoy! wishing you both a positive step in her education, and of course a nice photo if there’s a photographer at the show! a nice rosette would be a lovely bonus too

eta: you don’t have to do the “standard” show of course! you can play around with it at home, and figure out how best to show her off - for example if she could rhythm and a bit of balance changing the rein in a smaller space, throw in a nice walk on a loose rein to change rein and put the focus on her lovely manners instead!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I would do it like a lead rein show - walk away, trot straight back to the judge, trot a figure of 8 and finish with a nice trot down the long side. Back to walk, halt, salute.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would do it like a lead rein show - walk away, trot straight back to the judge, trot a figure of 8 and finish with a nice trot down the long side. Back to walk, halt, salute.

I would do this

 

[UKa]

I am already nervous maybe I go and watch before taking her

 

[dottylottie]

I am already nervous maybe I go and watch before taking her

you could always take her down and just ride her in the warmup, let her see the sights without the pressure of entering!

 

[humblepie]

Or if she’s well behaved generally try an in hand class first and watch the ridden ones to see what goes on. Generally people really helpful even though competing against each other.

 

[Love]

Don't worry! Its all good fun and in a novice class there are likely others in the same position. Try and position yourself so you don't go first for the individual shows if you can (unless judge pulls you in order which some do) so you can watch others go first. Elf on a Shelf's suggestion is a great one. Walk away from judge, turn and trot straight towards them - and after that as long as you show both reins you can't go too far wrong. Don't make it too long and make sure you use your space (no doing your show on a postage stamp as my old instructor used to drill into us). Make sure you halt and salute at the end of your show, then back into line. You may be able to find some youtube videos too

 

[UKa]

you could always take her down and just ride her in the warmup, let her see the sights without the pressure of entering!

That could be a nice plan actually. Perhaps we can enter last minute if we feel like it

 

[dottylottie]

That could be a nice plan actually. Perhaps we can enter last minute if we feel like it

definitely! i’m taking my mare to her first show this season in hand, but i’m taking her tack and just taking her in the warm up ring to let her get used to riding round with others going past etc. it’s all a learning experience

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yes definitely do an in hand class then tack up and ride round like you would warming up then if you feel OK enter your ridden class, most let you enter on the day no pressure then