Visiting Venues without competing??

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Joyous70

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My girl is young, and needs as much exposure as possible, as we have issues with loading and leaving different places, and also we need to be able to learn the best way to settle her quickly.

We have quite a busy equestrian centre within 15 mins of our yard, which would be ideal for me to take her too, however, we are not ready for show jumping yet and this is their main calendar as of now.

I really would like to get her out and about as much as possible and some people have suggested I go to venues, unload her, tack up and ride her about before taking her home, are their any of you that have done, or do this, and if so what is the etiquette, do you pay for a class but not compete?? do you use the warm up arena or just ride around the lorry park, sorry if this all sounds really daft but I have never done this before, but if I start hiring arena's every weekend I will soon be bankrupt!

:D

Thanks in advance
 
I personally haven't done, but know people who have done and they asked the venue for permission to ride in the warm-up even though they weren't competing. As long as venue were OK with it they attended. They usually tried to time it with when the venue was quietest (again venue can give an indication of this).

I think affiliated shows might have different rules so you might need to stick with unaff events.
 
I have sort of done something similar with my mare. Our local huge eq. centre mostly just does jumping, which she isnt up to yet. So we entered the mini class- i think it was literally 30cm or something, so raised trotting poles! We warmed up in the war up area without jumping, then walked the class, and she calmly stepped over the poles :) Then we went home! was a great experience for her
 
Best to talk to the organiser - it will depend on their insurance cover I expect, but most are happy for you to come to school with their permission.
 
i took my green one to kids shows and tiny shows and just entered hc. we looked like loons and would get hateful stares from kids, but it did him the world of good. was hilarious to see a fancy tb in best behaved kids class and started stakes. In some classes we literally just walked over poles cross poles on the ground, but it was great for him.

I don't think its fair to clog up a warm up with a green horse unless you are competing on the day, so i prefer to make a show of myself and take the horse into the ring to do absolutely any class he's able for!
 
I would enter the lowest class enter ride round the school come out .
Venues are often cautious about people riding around who have not entered because of the liability issues .
But if you enter a class it's no problem and you don't even need to go in if you don't want to .
I had one who spend a long time going to shows to walk around the area in the 50 class followed by staying at the show until bored witless .
 
I take mine, but enter the class.

Entering gives you permission to go to the venue, go in the warm up etc, it does not make it compulsory to go in the final arena! So, I don't necessarily go and actually compete, just tell the steward that we will not be, so the show is not held up.

Seems a bit cheeky to go and use the facilities without paying IMO.

The other thing I have done is hire the arena after the comp, so there are still people about, lorries and other horses, but the arena is all mine. Bought and paid for.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies, sorry I forgot to say I have ABSOLUTELY NO issue with paying for classes, I just don't intend competing in show jumping right now, because even a small class of say 60cm would be a complete car crash at the moment. I wouldn't dream of going to a venue with the intention of using the facilities without making some financial contribution, ie. paying for a class but not actually competing.
 
I contacted a couple of local venues just to use the warm up on a dressage comp day. I offered to pay both venues but they were happy for me just to go along.
 
I think its just a case of asking organisers what they would prefer.
I know our RC are happy to have green novices come along but we need to know- although usually we have a class that even the greenest of horses can enter!
 
Most places have poles on the ground classes. To be honest if the horse isn't up for that it's not up for being in a warm up either so my advice would be to hire the arena first if it may not behave.
 
Join a riding club and do group lessons and also camp, you both will get something out of it doing that, and it is a nice way to introduce her to a busier environment and you got some support there to if you need it.
 
I am looking a joining a riding club, however, the riding club closest to me doesn't seem to have anything at present in their calendar for group lessons etc., :( and this is quite a large EC, I may give them a call later and ask them what sort of activities and lessons they usually put on for RC members and take it from there.
 
We are lucky to be close to Keysoe. When I had a youngster I used to book a lesson on the back arena and then either get there early or hang around for an hour or so after and pop in the cafe. Got him used to the whole atmosphere and to standing in the trailer.
 
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