Taking your horse away from home for the first time or to their first show can be nerve wracking. No one ever really knows how the horse will react to being in an entirely new environment and usually horses are a bit more distracted and “hot”!
In this weeks video I take my mom’s 4-year-old King Toto Junior (Toto Jr. x 007) to his first show ever! He really was amazing and handled the busy show chaos like a seasoned horse. Going into the show, however, I had no idea how things would go: it could be a complete disaster or he could do great.
Here are some tips to set your horse up for success at a show or in a new environment:
Keep the same routine that you have at home. For Junior, since he’s 4, this meant that I did a quick lunge and a bit of groundwork, then got on and immediately put him to work riding forward gaits.
Ride forward. The worst thing that you can do in a new situation when your horse is tense is hold them back and not let them move. I always say “forward is your friend.” The more forward you ride and let your horse move the more they can relax.
Breathe and give your horse confidence. Both you and your horse will likely be tense in a new situation. Consciously remind yourself to breath, sit back, pet your horse, and give them confidence to relax into this new situation.
Time your warm-up. At the horse show, it can be tricky to time your warm-up so that your horse is relaxed and focused enough to go into the arena at your time but not overly tired. In general, I recommend that your warm-up time plus time in the show arena is not longer than the time you usually ride at home.
Prioritize giving your horse a good experience. It is so important that you and your horse have a good experience and build confidence for the next show or trip away from home. I would rather make a mistake (even in the show ring!), scratch a ride, or get off and do some more groundwork over having a bad experience with my horse. Horses’ don’t forget these things!!
Happy riding! Hope this is helpful!
Amelia
