Help needed showing younger 'green' ponies

[franc4]

Am fairly new to showing and would really welcome some tips and advice from you experienced show goers out there. My 12 yr old daughter has just started showing a pony we bought last autumn who was advertised as ' a little green'. We have been bringing her on slowly and steadily and have generally been very pleased with her progress, but I think what we asked her to do today (pony) was too much for her. Hannah rode well, but we weren't sure whether to laugh, cry, quit, hide away in shame etc so I wondered if you would share your advice and experiences with us, as we are on a steep learning curve and relatively new to all this.
Last week Hannah rode Shona at a small 1 ring show and Shona did really well and came supreme champ. Today there was a larger show round the corner (6 ring show) and we decided to try a mini whp for children 11 - 14 yrs. It was so horrendous we were mortified. We took part for experience and to see how she would handle a larger show. She loves jumping - hence the choice of mini whp. Not sure where to start with embarrasing moments. Sometimes its difficult to see the wood for the trees.
Don't really know where to start with the red faced confessions
So I'll try the first prob. As it was a mini whp the rustic jumps were really cute - only 3 of them at 1 foot 6. Shona cleared all three of them with at least a foot to spare, but then proceeded to gallop round the arena 3 times in succession. The judge mentioned something about 'should be in pony racing' Hannah was so embarrassed and explained that she couldn't get a grip on the plain leather reins (Should have used the half rubber half leather ones that were sitting back at home) but this was not all. Worse was to come!

[WizzMonkey]

one of my horses mallachy was exactly the same at his first shows. its just a matter of time really.

we took him to his first one when he was four and quite green. he was extemely lively and at times un-rideable when we was thier.
two years on - hes now 6 - and doing extemely well at shows regulary winning and even if he doesnt win im always so pleased with the way he has behaved.

We started off by doing lots of practice at home. especially in the school with several other ponies being ridden at the same time so he got used to them wizzing all around in different dirrections, then moving out into a field doing the same.
when it came to shows we just took him along to get used to it. didnt ride him, just unloaded him and walked him round in a bridle for most of the day.
Then progressed into in hand classes.
Then in hand classes but ridding him in the warm up arena at the end of the day.
Then the small ridden classes.
And Eventually the largre ridden classes.

it is boring just going to shows only to walk them around but it really is worth it. that way your horse gets used to them and you also get to watch other riders and gain experience yourself.

- arrive mega early, that way its not such a shock situation to your horse when he unloads and sees hundreds off horses everywhere.

- make sure you give him a really good warm up - i usually spend atleast 30 mins. this will help settle them

- you can lunge before you get on if you want

- and i also find a good ride the day before the show works wonders. My horses also drive so my dad takes them out for a good hours trotting the day before!


good luck =]

[franc4]

Thanks for your reply. Lots of tips there. Thank you

[coralt]

im gun ause sum of those tips to show my new youngster thanx x