Would you give showing tomorrow a miss?

[SEL]

Could really do with horsey people advicevright now and I'm all on my own

So baby cob is due to go to a show tomorrow. I'd already decided we probably wouldn't stay for him afternoon class and just pop in best turned out / best condition for experience then come home

Except he went to his first dressage competition this morning and spent tied to the lorry & warm up on his hind legs. I can't see bronc at X in Intro A either.

I can deal with ridiculous rearing, but it's other people's fun day out tomorrow and there will be lots of kids. He needs to get out but I'm having 2nd thoughts about whether that's the right outing?

Help please!!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Yes I would go if not too far away, and be prepared to come home if necessary. I would do an early class so there shouldn't be too many people there.

 

[ihatework]

I’d probably go but be prepared not to go in the ring if he is being a tit. Arrive early, give him plenty of time to settle, take him to a quieter part of the warm up and work him. If good go in the ring. If still on edge take him home. Rinse & repeat every week!

 

[Patterdale]

I’d put him on every show bus going and let him spend long days at said shows tied to the lorry with a net. He’ll soon get over it!

ETA I wouldn’t take him in the ring unless settled. But I’d definitely do as many outings as possible to absolutely everything going, and just tie him up to soak up the atmosphere with a net.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yes, I'd go, like drag/trail hunting, it can take several outings to stop being a tit.
As mentioned up thread, keep him moving and if still being a banana when class time comes, walk away.

Dont tie him up but keep him attached to you, can you work him a bit at home 1st to take a bit of edge off him?

 

[SEL]

Thanks all - I don't want to be THAT person with the absolute idiot pony ruining everyone's day. Tying up with a net resulted in rearing, whacking my wing mirror and snapping twine today - it was all a bit much. He just got in a tizz.

Leaving the ring or not even going in is fine. I'm not going for anything other than letting him see the world. He was fine at a test clinic last weekend so I think it's all the strange horses coming and going blowing his mind

 

[SEL]

Yes, I'd go, like drag/trail hunting, it can take several outings to stop being a tit.
As mentioned up thread, keep him moving and if still being a banana when class time comes, walk away.

Dont tie him up but keep him attached to you, can you work him a bit at home 1st to take a bit of edge off him?

The journey might take it out of him tomorrow - we were only 10 mins up the road today. Ground is too hard for sillies on the lunge & the lottery hasn't sorted my arena fund yet!

But you're all saying go and my gut feeling is the more he does the more boring it will get

On the plus side whilst the test was one to forget today I'm pleased I got him round it. And if we ever need piaffe we've got one.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

The journey might take it out of him tomorrow - we were only 10 mins up the road today. Ground is too hard for sillies on the lunge & the lottery hasn't sorted my arena fund yet!

But you're all saying go and my gut feeling is the more he does the more boring it will get

On the plus side whilst the test was one to forget today I'm pleased I got him round it. And if we ever need piaffe we've got one.

Glad you completed lol x
I've taken an overly bright one out for a busy/concentrating hack before, a good hour. Then back to yard, hose over, rub over, small feed while I got changed, then loaded and went to stressage comp. Went the best he ever did that year Tired cobbus made for a pleasant outing

 

[Spotherisk]

Go. I think showing is way more exciting than dressage though.

 

[Red-1]

I would work him before you go, and I mean so he is somewhat breathless. Not to tire him out exactly, just to make sure he has released his lungs and is breathing as opposed to holding his breath.

When he arrives, I would give him whatever he doesn't usually have in his net. So if he is on hay, he can have a bit of haylage and vice-versa. It will be more interesting to him.

I would never tie a young, inexperienced horse to the outside of the box when they are stressed, it is asking for them to break free and injure someone else. If he is tied to string, he is pretty much not tied at all and when stressed it is not safe.

I had BH out and about for a year before I dared to tie him to the outside and we are still on his 1st headcollar that he has had for almost 2 years as he has never pulled back and snapped one, and we don't use string so if he did pull the halter would be the thing that would have to give. He is as safe tied as any, but young and inexperienced. Even now, I only tie him while I am around - to untack, wash off, do boots etc. Not if I go to the toilet - he would go back on the box if I need to leave him for that (despite the toilet being in the actual box), especially if the show ground/car park is open to the road. It is for his safety and for everyone else too. This is with a super, well-behaved (generally LOL) boy too. For a distressed one I would be doubly careful.

 

[hock]

Honestly? I’d work the “fun” out of him at home and go. He’ll be tired from the previous day, it will all help and then just grot the teeth and look forward to telling people what a little Seine he used to be. This too shall pass . Neck strap!

 

[SEL]

Ok ride first then. That's fine (sets alarm for early!)

Never had an issue tied to the box before. He's usually too interested in his hay or the grass. Tomorrow he can stay on it until I'm ready.

His breeder / backer has told me to keep working the socks off him too.

 

[SEL]

Well we went. He was tired. He woke up.

Sympathy 6th best turned out in hand. He was vertical for a lot of the walk round but he tends to contain it to just by me (he knows exactly where I am and isn't trying to bog off)

3rd best condition. Still bouncing but this was judged by the vets and he's a nice, fit stamp of a cob.

And on the naughty step in the actual cob class! Who knew trotting up could be so exciting Judge said he's lovely and to please bring him back when hopefully he's more settled. I know he's flashy but a lot of people today said he'll do well in the show ring when he's calmed down.
Baby cob has said he wants to join the Arab classes because he's heard they're allowed to rear and bounce

On the plus side he tied by the van ok with his hay net and was generally well behaved outside the actual ring.

So we'll keep Doing Stuff and hopefully his 5yo brain will realise that showing and dressage are the dull boring stuff in time

 

[cauda equina]

Well done!
With the babies if you get there and back in one piece I call that a win!

 

[SEL]

Well done!
With the babies if you get there and back in one piece I call that a win!

I VERY much felt like that today!!

 

[Jenko109]

Sounds like it was a success overall then.

 

[humblepie]

Were you at a show starting with the letter M and do you have a green lorry. If so, may have seen you and a vertical take off cob

 

[Michen]

That's awesome! Just a thought but have you taught him to tie to the van at home first? I used to drive my box around the yard and have Bog tie to it in random places. Figure if they won't do it at home they definitely won't at a show!

 

[Cortez]

Good, just keep going out to things until he gets over himself. Back when I took lorry loads of horses to shows there'd always be a 3 year old on there just for the experience. They generally got hacked around the show grounds, tied to lorry and otherwise ignored.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Well we went. He was tired. He woke up.

Sympathy 6th best turned out in hand. He was vertical for a lot of the walk round but he tends to contain it to just by me (he knows exactly where I am and isn't trying to bog off)

3rd best condition. Still bouncing but this was judged by the vets and he's a nice, fit stamp of a cob.

And on the naughty step in the actual cob class! Who knew trotting up could be so exciting Judge said he's lovely and to please bring him back when hopefully he's more settled. I know he's flashy but a lot of people today said he'll do well in the show ring when he's calmed down.
Baby cob has said he wants to join the Arab classes because he's heard they're allowed to rear and bounce

On the plus side he tied by the van ok with his hay net and was generally well behaved outside the actual ring.

So we'll keep Doing Stuff and hopefully his 5yo brain will realise that showing and dressage are the dull boring stuff in time

Well done for completing another party and coming home again in 1 piece, plus frillies!

 

[SEL]

Were you at a show starting with the letter M and do you have a green lorry. If so, may have seen you and a vertical take off cob

That's us!! I hope we didn't disrupt your day. He tended to keep his explosions fairly close to me thankfully. He was ridiculous - poor judge really liked him but he was just needs to keep his feet on the ground.

That's awesome! Just a thought but have you taught him to tie to the van at home first? I used to drive my box around the yard and have Bog tie to it in random places. Figure if they won't do it at home they definitely won't at a show!

He's fine at home and has been fine away - but dressage yesterday blew his mind and we had acrobatics. I'm trying to explain that 20m circles are dull and really don't require so much energy. So far not working!

 

[Michen]

That's us!! I hope we didn't disrupt your day. He tended to keep his explosions fairly close to me thankfully. He was ridiculous - poor judge really liked him but he was just needs to keep his feet on the ground.


He's fine at home and has been fine away - but dressage yesterday blew his mind and we had acrobatics. I'm trying to explain that 20m circles are dull and really don't require so much energy. So far not working!

If you work out how let me know. 6 seasons in and Bog still thinks they warranting cantering at all times

 

[humblepie]

That's us!! I hope we didn't disrupt your day. He tended to keep his explosions fairly close to me thankfully. He was ridiculous - poor judge really liked him but he was just needs to keep his feet on the ground.


He's fine at home and has been fine away - but dressage yesterday blew his mind and we had acrobatics. I'm trying to explain that 20m circles are dull and really don't require so much energy. So far not working!

I was on the bay horse that you told yours to take as inspiration . Mine is in the veteran category now so has seen a lot. You managed your horse well and he’ll settle I’m sure. He is very smart Proper old fashioned show wasn’t it with huge entries but very small rings so quite challenging. Well done all good learning

 

[SEL]

I was on the bay horse that you told yours to take as inspiration . Mine is in the veteran category now so has seen a lot. You managed your horse well and he’ll settle I’m sure. He is very smart Proper old fashioned show wasn’t it with huge entries but very small rings so quite challenging. Well done all good learning

Oh your horse was lovely! I hope you did well.

I wish mine had taken some inspiration - it was when I could hear the oohs and aahs from the ringside watchers during the cob class I thought we must be doing some impressive bouncing Never mind - free entertainment!

The rings were very small - we were nose to tail most of the time. I didn't dare take him to watch the ridden classes in case he upset people but I would have found it hard to get a good canter in there

 

[humblepie]

We had two seconds. I went really as wanted to do a ridden class but ground too hard. We did sort of hack round the field so at least he’d been ridden.

 

[MagicMelon]

Id go for experience and if theres a quiet part of the field (assuming on grass) then Id lunge the pony for a bit to let him burn off his energy. Once theyve messed about for 10 mins, normally Ive found they settle. Otherwise Ive been there and done that with regard rearing horses when tied up at shows. I had a Welsh Cob who smashed parts of my trailer regularly in his first year of outings... it is frustrating but they do get over it eventually!

 

[SEL]

We had two seconds. I went really as wanted to do a ridden class but ground too hard. We did sort of hack round the field so at least he’d been ridden.

I saw you hacking round on your beautiful and sane horse. I found the trouble with being on my own with a bouncy youngster is I couldn't leave him and I desperately wanted an ice cream!!

@MagicMelon we went - we showed off our airs above ground to the judge and the audience and apparently were great entertainment. In fact people actually brought their chairs ringside when they heard we were in the cob class. He didn't disappoint!!

 

[conniegirl]

I wouldn’t worry, the first time i took Lenny out to a show he lost the plot entirely in the coloured class, aerial acrobatics ensued.
A few more shows under his belt and he was a star

 

[SEL]

I wouldn’t worry, the first time i took Lenny out to a show he lost the plot entirely in the coloured class, aerial acrobatics ensued.
A few more shows under his belt and he was a star

I hope so. He's bright eyed and sparky this morning and I'm shattered! Fire breathing dragon once we were in the ring.

On the plus side we have a great piaffe and levade apparently - not sure either are needed into our next Intro test though.