Taking the greenie to the first show...what do I need to know?

[Empressive Award]

I'm hoping to be able to take my 4 yr old to a show in the fall, which is only a mont hor two away. Nothing spectacular, just a local show...small jumps, maybe a walk trot class.

She trailers very well and has been moved quite a bit in her shot life with me due to numerous barn foreclosures and sales in our area in the last year, so the trailering problem I am not concerned with. Its the getting off the trailer in the show enviroment with all the commotion and other horses. She is a VERY showy filly with a lot of presence and makes sure that everyone knows shes there. I really dont want her to have a melt down and god forbid get loose on me (which she has never done before) and have me banned from the show grounds, or worse yet hurt herself or someone else. She usually settles after a few minutes but will continue to snort and blow and have her head held way up high, and will call out for other horses. If she's acting nervous and hard to handle, it makes me nervous and distracts me and I wont want to get out there and ride. I def dont want to her be a distraction, and I want to get her into the ring and have her focus on her job, and still have fun.

I dont really want to give her any kind of sedative, but I havea feeling it might help the first time or two. What do you all suggest to do or use? Or what have you done wit hyour greenies? Unfortunately I dont have a trailer at the moment to take her out just for the exposure, so thats not an option.

thanks in advance!

[BuddyRoo]

If it were me and I was concerned that she might be pretty "up", I'd just plan to go and hack around in the warm up or around the show grounds and maybe not show. Just play it by ear and make it a good, relaxing experience.

[caffeinated]

I have nothing against a little chemical help if it helps the horse to have a positive experience, but maybe in your case it might help to get a trainer to take the horse the first few times?

Like you I tend to get a little tense when I'm on a horse who is "up" in a new situation, and that almost always makes things worse. If you know a trainer (or even a really good rider who stays super calm while all that is going on) maybe that would help your horse be more confident the first time out?

When I last took a supergreenie to a show, it involved lots and lots of forward motion and keeping her working in the warmup area to keep her brain focused. I did fine, and she had a reasonably good experience, but I'm willing to bet a better rider who can stay super relaxed under those conditions may have had a better time of it :)

[Trixie]

I generally don't bother showing them the first few times out at least, just get them out of the barn and around the show grounds so they can learn and see whats going on prior to getting in the ring.

[Saidapal]

I agree with Trixie. This is a confidence building day not a show day. If you have to enter a class to get on the showgrounds I would enter something at the end of the day. If she's doing good, go for it. But if she's still not relaxed I would scratch.

[Maya01]

I gave my mare a bit of a natural supplement to just take the edge off - but make sure you don't give her too much or you will have a zombie horse by the end of the day :lol: (Note: the horse won't try to eat your brains out, rather just behave like that of a sloth) My mare was less than alert by the end of the day after I gave her a bit too much...

The most important thing to remember is not to get nervous or if she does something silly, just ignore it and go on. When you get off the trailer, have a chain around her nose and walk her around rather than just tying her up onto the trailer right away. Graze her by the ring, stand by the warm up and give her carrots or go investigate any spooky things around the property.

A lot of praise is beneficial to the horse as well. If she has a nice walk, give her a pat and a 'good girl', or if she is standing by the trailer well, praise her, and especially praise her if she has a nice round. Make sure that it is clear that the show ring is a fun thing!

From now until then I would take her out to see a show, but not actually compete. Ride her in the warm up and get her used to the general atmosphere and lots of schooling and you should be absolutely fine!