Young horse first outing- tips?

[Maddie14]

I've got a 5yr old Appaloosa who I've had for 3 months or so now. He has been to in hand shows as a youngster and even to a big Appaloosa show too! We've started jumping and I think it'd be a good experience to take him to an international size arena about 45 mins away from my yard and hire it out with a course of jumps to practise jumping. He can be quite bargy and forgets his manners quite often! He also gets stressed quite easily when he doesn't know where he is, etc. His last owners said he can be stubborn loading sometimes but if you put a lunge line behind hid bum he'll just walk straight on. I'll be using a lady for transport who will drive me there and back, she's got a trailer. Has anyone got any tips on what to do before we go/ preparation to make the day run as smoothly as possible, I'm thinking of going around the 20th of December so I've got a good few weeks to sort everything out.
Thanks
xxx

 

[NZJenny]

Practice the loading. Trying to load a young horse, who it sounds like hasn't been that well taught, when you are in a hurry is a recipe for disaster.

Then take him around the block, and unload him. Then take him somewhere close, unload him, load him and bring him home.

The other thing I do with mine is to take them somewhere where there are other horses being ridden and just let them chill, and check it out. IME things go wrong with youngsters when you are under time pressure for whatever reason and/or performance pressure. If there is no pressure on you, then you wont' be putting any on them.

Have fun.

 

[misskk88]

Practice the loading. Trying to load a young horse, who it sounds like hasn't been that well taught, when you are in a hurry is a recipe for disaster.

Then take him around the block, and unload him. Then take him somewhere close, unload him, load him and bring him home.

The other thing I do with mine is to take them somewhere where there are other horses being ridden and just let them chill, and check it out. IME things go wrong with youngsters when you are under time pressure for whatever reason and/or performance pressure. If there is no pressure on you, then you wont' be putting any on them.

Have fun.

This.

I probably wouldn't even bother with being determined to jump or do a course on my first visit to the arena you hire, particuarly as you said he can be quite stressy. Keep it simple, allow your horse to get use to the sorroundings and take it in, and just see how it goes. My first aim would be to get him confident in being at new places, so that he is relaxed as much as possible, before introducing and upping the work load expected of him whilst he is out and about. Make sure it is enjoyable for you both, so that he (and you!) continues to look forward to going out