Young horses first ridden show (what would you do?)

[Tia0513]

I am wanting to take my young mare out to a local dressage show on the 16th February and it will be her first ridden show. It will also be my first ever dressage class but I'm not too bothered about that as much (yet!). The venue is about 10-15 minutes away and they are doing Intro B, a couple of prelims & the next classes up etc. It's an indoor arena which, whilst I doubt she has ever been in one before, I am sure she should cope with fine and I am thinking that it wont be as busy as a showing/jumping show so should be much nicer for her starter show under saddle.

My question is, would you just enter her in Intro B the once and be done with it or would you enter the Intro B & a prelim or I have even thought about asking the secretary if it's possible to do the Intro twice?

I'm not going to be in it to win it, it's purely for her experience. Part of me thinks just keep it short and sweet, do the Intro once and leave it. But, if she freaks out the first time in an indoor, I wont have the option of taking her back in... unless I've paid for a second class!

Or I could just see about hiring the arena out beforehand, although it's more cost effective to pay for two classes than sole use of the arena.

Can you see how indecisive I am about it lol... what would you do?

Thanks for reading

 

[RLS]

When I took my young mare to her first dressage competition I entered the intro and the prelim. The Intro we just trotted about a bit to get her used to the arena etc and then the by the time we got to the prelim she was much more settled and we quite enjoyed it!

 

[Dizzleton]

I'm all for taking youngsters out inhand to their first 'show' experience. Tell the committee you've got a young horse you'd like to show round and possibly lunge in a free arena or space. This will give the horse time to absorb the atmosphere and suss out why there are lots of boxes, trailers and all manner of horses running about.

If the horse has already been to a show inhand and you're progressing to riding it at the show, then I would keep it simple for the first time out, especially if she possibly hasn't been in an indoor. Stick to Intro B and see how she takes it - if she freaks out, act calm and try to carry on; even if you do not complete the test, there is always plenty more shows to take her to in the future.

Good luck!

P.S: Also depends how your youngster acts in new situations, if she's the spooky type I'd keep it short and sweet. If not much bothers her, I'd enter her in both tests if she's capable.

 

[Tia0513]

Thanks for the replies.

She is a fairly laid back type who has the odd spook but nothing major. I suppose I could enter the Intro and one of the prelims and could always not enter the second test if needs be. I have shown her before inhand and she soon settles down, it's just the first time of riding her at a show.

Thanks again!

 

[conniegirl]

I'd enter both classes. If she goes well in the first class then dont do the second class. If she freaks in the first class continue and take her back in.