To compete or not that is the question!

[shadowboy]

Here is the background. Horse is on trial till 31st March 2007 after this I must decide if I wasnt to buy her. I have had her for 4months so far. A year ago- her life was uncertain-no one could sit on this mare. She is not easy but she is very genuine and puts up with my rubbish riding.

My instructor in conversation says I'm too good for her and that she's worried horse will dissapoint me in competition. However, I need to take her out for a comp before i decide to have her. So i booked her in for a walk/trot test in 20 days time. What worries me is that she will upset other competitiors. Shes quite spoooky and i'm worried she will spook and unsettle others. So i'm thinking maybe I shouldnt go...... but other people have said to me she needs to get out and about and to just turn up early and practice before many people get in the arena to warm up. But I dont want to upset anyone, if she spooks into them by accident what should I do- honesty please!

 

[merlinsquest]

Go and see, otherwise you will never know!!!

If you warm up away from others or put an appropriately coloured ribbon in her tail (green)??? then people should be polite enough to keep their distance!!

Everyone has to start somewhere and a walk and trot test sounds ideal as most of the other competitors/horses may be in the exact same position as you're in.

Good luck, with the test and your decision. It sounds like you have given this mare a good chance of a happy home

 

[carthorse]

Ask venue if you can be first in [ no one ever wants to be first] Then you can get there early and have the place to yourself .I hope your test is the first test.
Good luck

 

[FestiveFuzz]

Go for it, you'll never know otherwise

 

[BarmyC]

Go for it.... You will never know otherwise.

I take it that the place you are going to is reletively quiet and if you put a green ribbon in her tail (it warns people that she is a novice horse).

I think a dressage show would be the best option as there will not be anyone charging around jumping that might spook her.

 

[Natch]

Go for it. Ive been to a few walk trot tests this winter, plenty of others have had their share of horses not behaving desireably - but its the best place to find out!

 

[Tiffany]

If all she does is spook and you can cope with it I'd go. I agree that you could put either a RED or GREEN ribbon in her tail so people should give you space. Go for it you know you want to

Would love to hear how much you enjoy it

 

[LuanneCat]

Go for it, or at least turn up to the venue and give her the experience. I'm mostly voting go for it though

. Agree with being there early, appropriate warning ribbon and being first in etc. Good luck and have fun

.

 

[Stoxx]

Definitely go! Don't worry about other people, everyone has been there at some point, part of going out is dealing with a perhaps unsettling warm up anyway!
If you ask for an early time, explain your reason why and I'm sure the venue will be happy to oblige, then you'll probably only be looking at warming in with at most 2 riders.

 

[vinnie]

Im sure everybody else will get over it

You have just as much right as them to compete, and you are training your horse. If everyone was worried about taking their horse out because they will upset other people, we wouldn't have anyone competing!!!!
Go out there and show off your awsome horse, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
good luck

 

[Hullabaloo]

I know how you feel - my horse hasn't had an outing for nearly a year and is now hopefully well enough to go out again soon. Last time out he took a dislike to a horse in the warm up and decided he wanted to kill it. Luckily I was able to stop him doing anything and take him out. Spooking is quite mild in comparison! Stick a green ribbon on her tail and get out there.
My horse will be going out next time covered in red ribbons, although it wasn't his usual behaviour - think the horse just looked at him funny!

 

[Flame_]

Go out and compete, loads of horses behave badly in warm ups, you've just got to ride forward and be very aware of other riders and keeps aiming for gaps!

Are you quite experienced? You sound it riding wise but its worried me that your instructer thinks the horse isn't good enough for you. Its up to you whether the horse is right for you, not your riding teacher. IMO you need to be more positive about what you want. If you've had a four month trial and you're still letting your teacher make you doubt yourself and worrying about whether to take your horse out because its spooky, it sounds like you just need more confidence to me. Get your horse in the lorry thinking "I'm a good rider on a gorgeous horse and we're ready to do this" and see how you get on. I reckon you and your horse will do great.