Showing youngsters inhand advice please

M

Marigold4

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2017
Messages
2,665
Visit site
I've taken my 2 year old filly to two inhand shows and at both she has been very excited and put on some exciting aerial displays in the ring! She leaps up and turns herself inside out. Not aimed at the handler and no striking out of legs, not aimed at other horses, but still it would be a lot better if she didn't! Both times the judges have said she is lovely but her behaviour has put her down the line a long way. She wears a bridle with a rubber bit and a coupling with a leather inhand rein attached. She has another show tomorrow. I will give her some calming cookies beforehand (I tried these out last week and it did seem to take the edge of a little). Any tips for better behaviour? Should we reprimand her for it in the ring since we're not going to be placed anyway, so she knows it is not a good thing to do - I was thinking circle her and growl at her? Or maybe it's just going to be a case of keeping going to shows and one day she'll be fine with it. Anyone else had a youngster like this? Did they grow out of it?
 
Showing is a very hard thing for a young horse to do- it doesn’t allow for them to display normal behaviors like you're describing as it's incredible dull! I would take her a good amount of time before and just let her graze and chill before the class. I'd then prioritize her education and also let her graze and chill in the ring whenever possible. You won’t win. But she'll learn to relax
 
Are you showing affiliated or unaffiliated?
I usually find that affiliated have a calmer atmosphere than unaff and less horses in close proximity of one another.

As already suggested get there super early, let her graze in the lorry park until she's settled.
Then, still with loads of time take her up to the collecting ring and repeat the process.

We have had a couple of yearlings out showing this year and they have been super, still had a couple of 'moments' but nothing too dramatic.
We have a lot of DIY liveries at home and are on a working farm so there's always something going on.
If you're on a very quiet yard it makes shows so much more exciting for youngsters!
 
Can you do some practice at your yard or someone else’s? Get a few horses in the school or secure paddock and lead around nice and steady then line up and basically do a mock show.
Keep doing the practice sessions until it becomes the normal thing to do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tda
kathantoinette said:
Can you do some practice at your yard or someone else’s? Get a few horses in the school or secure paddock and lead around nice and steady then line up and basically do a mock show.
Keep doing the practice sessions until it becomes the normal thing to do.
Click to expand...
Good idea, but unfortunately it's just me and my three horses at home so no one to play showing with. It's difficult for her as, before she went out to her shows, she didn't really know that other horses existed - just her mum and her half brother.
 
Carlosmum said:
Take her out for a walk about and don't worry about going in the ring. Does she have a quiet companion who could accompany her, so she sees there is nothing to worry about? Also chose your show carefully, a really quiet one, In hand only if possible.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no, we don't have a quiet horse that she can go with. She loads and travels well so that's an achievement!
 
TheMule said:
Showing is a very hard thing for a young horse to do- it doesn’t allow for them to display normal behaviors like you're describing as it's incredible dull! I would take her a good amount of time before and just let her graze and chill before the class. I'd then prioritize her education and also let her graze and chill in the ring whenever possible. You won’t win. But she'll learn to relax
Click to expand...
She doesn't do her leaping around at anything in particular - it's just young horse exuberance!
 
minesadouble said:
Are you showing affiliated or unaffiliated?
I usually find that affiliated have a calmer atmosphere than unaff and less horses in close proximity of one another.

As already suggested get there super early, let her graze in the lorry park until she's settled.
Then, still with loads of time take her up to the collecting ring and repeat the process.

We have had a couple of yearlings out showing this year and they have been super, still had a couple of 'moments' but nothing too dramatic.
We have a lot of DIY liveries at home and are on a working farm so there's always something going on.
If you're on a very quiet yard it makes shows so much more exciting for youngsters!
Click to expand...
Yes, it's very very quiet where we are, so they don't get to see much action or other horses. I'm not sure what affiliated shows are? Round my way we just have local shows or county shows?
 
Sanversera said:
I'd enter local shows,turn up but don't actually go in the ring. Just lead her about until she gets fed up with leaping around. When she's calm you can enter a class at a show.
Click to expand...
Trouble is, there aren't very many shows on this year round me and I'm not prepared to travel too far, particularly in the heat. There are 5 small shows over the whole summer, so if we only go to the show and don't go in, we won't get into the ring till next year.
 
TheMule said:
My only attempt at young horse showing went like this. I now don’t bother. It doesn’t make any difference to how they cope with outings as an adult IMO, it isn’t a particularly useful outing.

View attachment 164257
Click to expand...

Dramatic! This is mine - all 4 feet off the ground!
 

Attachments

  • Show 2.jpg
    Show 2.jpg
    139.6 KB · Views: 22
Marigold4 said:
Trouble is, there aren't very many shows on this year round me and I'm not prepared to travel too far, particularly in the heat. There are 5 small shows over the whole summer, so if we only go to the show and don't go in, we won't get into the ring till next year.
Click to expand...
That's horse owning! You have to put what's right for the horse first not necessarily what you want to do.
 
Marigold4 said:
Yes, it's very very quiet where we are, so they don't get to see much action or other horses. I'm not sure what affiliated shows are? Round my way we just have local shows or county shows?
Click to expand...
Am I right in thinking you were doing SHP?
There are quite a few NPS Shows held regionally, also our local WPCA branches would sometimes have PB and SHP/RP classes though sadly these are in decline since number have dropped but definitely worth a look.

I'd always rather do a County Show than a local level one they are just more organised and less chaotic in general - usually 😉
 
Sanversera said:
That's horse owning! You have to put what's right for the horse first not necessarily what you want to do.
Click to expand...

minesadouble said:
Am I right in thinking you were doing SHP?
There are quite a few NPS Shows held regionally, also our local WPCA branches would sometimes have PB and SHP/RP classes though sadly these are in decline since number have dropped but definitely worth a look.

I'd always rather do a County Show than a local level one they are just more organised and less chaotic in general - usually 😉
Click to expand...
We would be doing SHP classes if there were any around! The nearest one involves 90mins drive and mostly on motorway. Not keen on long journeys in summer heat.
 
Based on the contents of this thread I think we should run a virtual H&H "show" with a prize for best in-hand airs above the ground in an under three year old.

Interesting thread though because I'm debating this too - whether to take my baby for an in-hand outing in a few weeks. He's not a big one for leaping around though, I think he's more likely to plant in the ring and glare at me while refusing to move. We do have quite a lot of small village shows though, and I have no plans for an adult showing career for him....so it doesn't matter too much.
 
There are plenty of low level shows with mixed youngstock, most show hunters also cross into sports horse or hunter classes- if you’re out for experience alone, the placing within the class isn’t the main point- so entering classes within the rough area of your type is fine.

I found that bringing them out as youngsters absolutely helped once under saddle/harness, so mine have all been out about once a month somewhere or other- whether longreining around the gallops at a local venue after my older chores had a ridden session in their arena, to handy pony classes in hand HC etc etc… they all enjoyed a trip out and it’s made them well rounded people once out doing a ‘proper’ job.

As well as shows, maybe look for showing clinics as they will be lower key and with added advice!
 
katastrophykat said:
There are plenty of low level shows with mixed youngstock, most show hunters also cross into sports horse or hunter classes- if you’re out for experience alone, the placing within the class isn’t the main point- so entering classes within the rough area of your type is fine.

I found that bringing them out as youngsters absolutely helped once under saddle/harness, so mine have all been out about once a month somewhere or other- whether longreining around the gallops at a local venue after my older chores had a ridden session in their arena, to handy pony classes in hand HC etc etc… they all enjoyed a trip out and it’s made them well rounded people once out doing a ‘proper’ job.

As well as shows, maybe look for showing clinics as they will be lower key and with added advice!
Click to expand...
Yes, I kind of feel I should get her out and about, and that it will help her with later life. You never know what life has got in store for you, and should I need to sell, a well-rounded youngster who has had some showing experience is more likely to find a good home than one that has just been left in the field.
 
I was chatting to a local behaviourist / horsemanship lady about this the other day .
Her thougts are its ‘stacking’ . So , if you think about it , youngster usually does not a lot . Then one day is bathed , plaited bridle on , travels and then in a show environment . All of which are a lot to process . So , make wearing a bridle part of the normal process . Try a couple of loading / travel experiences. Just so when you add them all together it’s not as much as a big deal .
It’s why I rate the BEF as a first outing . They get to loose in an arena . Takes the pressure off completely
 
Marigold4 said:
Yes, I kind of feel I should get her out and about, and that it will help her with later life. You never know what life has got in store for you, and should I need to sell, a well-rounded youngster who has had some showing experience is more likely to find a good home than one that has just been left in the field.
Click to expand...

I don’t necessarily agree- an inspoilt horse is worth more than one that has been over-stimulated and learnt to be naughty, and as I said above, I don’t think the youngstock showing translates that well into future competition experience
 
Asha said:
I was chatting to a local behaviourist / horsemanship lady about this the other day .
Her thougts are its ‘stacking’ . So , if you think about it , youngster usually does not a lot . Then one day is bathed , plaited bridle on , travels and then in a show environment . All of which are a lot to process . So , make wearing a bridle part of the normal process . Try a couple of loading / travel experiences. Just so when you add them all together it’s not as much as a big deal .
It’s why I rate the BEF as a first outing . They get to loose in an arena . Takes the pressure off completely
Click to expand...
Yes, we've done all that - short trips out in the lorry, gradually extending it, inhand work, wearing a bridle and bit three times a week. Lots of groundwork. I haven't just plaited up, shoved a bridle on, and taken her to a show! Months of prep has gone in to this. But living in such a quiet environment, it's still a big deal to go out and see other horses.
 
Update: much better today! A busy class of 12+ youngsters with show jumping on one side. No aerial acrobatics today and she seemed to enjoy herself more. As advised on here went earlier and grazed for an hour. Her trot up was not good at all but no leaping - it was more of a jog with sideways steps.. I need to practise getting her going more freely. Judge said lovely things about her as did the spectators. 5th out of 12+ which is a good result considering the trotting. A positive day!
 
TheMule said:
I don’t necessarily agree- an inspoilt horse is worth more than one that has been over-stimulated and learnt to be naughty, and as I said above, I don’t think the youngstock showing translates that well into future competition experience
Click to expand...
I understand your point of view, but it's tricky for me as it's so quiet here. I don't want her to get to being an adult horse thinking that there's only her, her brother and her mum in the whole world! I think, although she is excited at the moment, it's still worth going. And dealing with her excitement while she's still two, rather than as a bigger, older, stronger adult horse. Today was very much better and calmer. No leaping - except one after judging had finished!
 
Update: took the 2 year old filly to her 4th show at the weekend and she was very well behaved indeed! Loaded and travelled beautifully both ways, grazed quietly on arrival, calm in the ring and managed a pretty decent trot round while keeping her cool. That's it now for this summer. She has learnt loads and I'm glad we persevered, despite some early hairy moments.
 
Marigold4 said:
I understand your point of view, but it's tricky for me as it's so quiet here. I don't want her to get to being an adult horse thinking that there's only her, her brother and her mum in the whole world! I think, although she is excited at the moment, it's still worth going. And dealing with her excitement while she's still two, rather than as a bigger, older, stronger adult horse. Today was very much better and calmer. No leaping - except one after judging had finished!
Click to expand...
Understand where you’re at, altho don’t always think about this at the time!
one of our fillies had never been to an outing (various reasons, time / commitment stuff), and when I started leading her out from her mother (who’d shown all over the country), we went towards a ‘sanctuary’, with about 40 horses grazing - and she could not believe her little eyes! Stood and stared, and stared -
“Mum, there’s hundreds of us!”
Maybe 15 minutes later, persuaded to move on.
I think if you can get youngsters out to some sort of party, it’s generally a good idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top