It is currently show season, and there are many of us training at our peaks to make the best out of the return of horse events.
Some of us are not able to have private lessons outside of our respective club training days and clinics that we attend. Some of us are quite limited on the time we have to ride during the week leading up to weekend competitions. This is where using not only our training days and clinics for training purposes, but also a handful of smaller shows as training, can be useful. Particularly if it is a new horse and rider combination, it is really important to allow time for exposure to new environments and experiences to occur first, before expecting coming away with a bucket load of ribbons.
Depending on the type of show, flapping flag bunting, loud and large moving rides, or perhaps even carts and wagons, may all be things that require time to get used to. I can vividly remember my horse backing faster than she would go forward at flapping flag bunting, or her running the opposite direction when a cart approached from behind her, and me being left on the ground. Try to remain as calm as possible when allowing the time for exposure at shows, use a gradual pressure and release approach, with plenty of praise when they let things sink in and lick their lips in acceptance, and are able to pass the new object at each gait calmly. Know when to be assertive though if they getting quite dangerous for those around you.
Using smaller gymkhanas or shows as training days for the next ones, or a championships to come, can be a great approach no matter the horse and rider combination. Days can be tested to see how smoothly they go, and the next show used to improve from the next. Whether that be fine tuning a discipline’s perfomance, or simply using a safer technique to achieve a task at the next show, it is all apart of the show experience.
Feature Image courtesy of Living Equine ©
– Skye Pickering Dip. Horse Business Management.