Show tomarrow...Update

[Lindsey]

Tomarrow is the 4h horse show that I am going to show Sheza in. I am so nervous and I don't feel totaly prepared, but even if we don't win anything a day surrounded by horse people is a fun day. I *think* I am showing in English Pleasure and English Equitation, Her canter is rough, because she is so bouncy it's hard to sit and give her the right cues but I am getting better. I think she might be going into heat, which is not a big suprise, she always goes into heat right before a show! She has been moody, whenever I say trot or canter, or even kiss or cluck her ears go back, got to love mares!!! I will be showing in showmanship also, but I have no idea what to use...a halter or a bridle. I don't like showing in hand with a bridle, but my show halter has *bling* ( ;D ) on it and I will be wearing english attire. Any suggestions?

I am nervous whether we will get the canter, I am not worried about placing because she is a Saddlebred and has knee action she doesn't so well in flat classes...just wait till we got to some jumping shows, then she will shine! There is a jumping class here, but with being so nervous about the canter I don't want to add jumping yet.

Also, I have two bits to chose from to use for my show, I don't know what one to use. It's wither a loose ring french link or a broken (mouth piece) kimberwick. With the french link she was no standing still, and kep breaking into another gait and would not back. In the kimberwick she would not have a good transition to the trot. I am leaning towards the french link but she does get strong during shows and I want to be in control. I am bring both if one doesn't work, but that doesn't mean I would have time to change.
Any show day tips?

Thanks,
Lindsey

[hedgemom]

Can't answer any questions for you, but I did want to pop in and say You Go, Girl! Have FUN and don't really worry about the stuff that goes wrong. Those are just things to work on come Wednesday. With the heat and the car accident and not being able to get in the practices you needed, we're proud that you're trying. Go show your stuff and try to have fun.

Oh, and eat a funnel cake for me, please? I'll be out of state for our state fair this year and I won't get one! *cries*

[tinypony]

lindsey my mare used to go into heat either the day before or the day of every show - now since i show almost every weekend that isn't possible lol. also, i use the wendall's herbs on her (moody mare) and it made the BIGGEST difference!!! if your mare gets cranky during heat i highly suggest it!! as for bits i'd definately bring both just in case. since you're riding english i suggest showing in a bridle as well. have lots of fun and let us know what happens!!

[Heather T]

I can relate to the "nerves" issue - just remember -you're not the only one that gets nervous!!! Even big trainers that I know get nervous. Focus on your horse....he/she will get you through.

And we'll all be thinking of you....good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[Lindsey]

I guess I will use my bridle. I really wanted to use my new show halter, it's only been on a horse once. I am sure it will get use after Tex gets trained!

Sheza will not set up, I haven't spent enough time on halter to get her nicely set up, but for showmanship I don't think it is as important as the handler is judged, I just neeed to get her to hold still while the judge is around!

This is a learning experience for all!

[cheri]

Well, the only thing I can say is Good Luck to you both!

[twnpnds]

Go have a fun day Lindsey. Just remember to smile. When you smile your horse smiles with you. And others really will wonder what you're up to! LOL. Next thing you know you will be laughing. Laughter is great for the soul and it calms all those nervous jitters. Just don't do like I did in showmanship. I got the giggles. Then my friend next to me got them too. Don't know what the judge thought but we were having fun and we both got blue ribbons.

You have to be able to set Sheza up according to her breed (stretched out) and show her to her best. This is a big part of showmanship. With her being a Saddlebred remember to keep your reins loose and really move out when showing at halter. Show that girl's knee action.

Keep practicing at home. Find a bit that will work for her and stick with it. If she was ridden with a curb bit (full bridle) before you may have to reschool her if you want to use a snaffle. Can't help you much there because I don't know her background.

With our 4H horse shows we had separate classes for the gaited breeds. Had one for Paso Finos, one for Saddlebreds, and one for Walking/Racking horses. You might consider talking to your leader about this and see if you can't get separate classes. You can't really show well against a class full of flat kneed horses. They often slow you down and your horse can't show it's beautiful gait.

Let us know how you did. ;D Are you smiling yet?

[Lindsey]

Well... I did terrible!

The begining was great, Sheza got tons of comments of how beautiful she is, and one guy was actually asked where I got her. Off course she didn't get any good comments after they saw her under saddle!

Showmanship was my first class. She was really pawing the whole time in the dirt and when it was our turn she didn't trot off right away and the turn was messy. She set up alright and I did good on the quarter system. In that class someone got grand champion, then there were 4 blues and I got 1st Red. Pretty much 6th out of 7.

I tacked up and had my snaffle on and she was running through my hands so I put her in my kimberwick and she was better. A few mins before my class I had the best trot going, it was so slow and controlled!

My next class was English Equitation, there was a fiqure 8 pattern and I went in the ring last so I could watch everyone but I got lined up first! I didn't think you could use the whole arena, so I used about 1/3 of it. It was messy and I had to sit and watch everyone do it right, using the whole arena. I felt so stupid! I got a white, but I was really last.

I didn't even have time to regroup because my last class was next, English Pleasure. The walk was great, but her trot was out of control fast (what happend to that nice slow trot I had?) Then canter, she could have given a race horse a good run! We switched directions and trotted, she tried to sdtop at the gate, I got her forward, then she turned back there, I didn't feel like messing with it, so I pulled out, I got a green dq.

It was a pretty bad day, I was dissapointed in me and Sheza. Sometime I feel like I shouldn't even have horses because no matter what I do it turns out bad. We talked about getting her some training, then I had a great lessons and decided just to do lessons, I am not sure now. She is great in lessons, but a PITA to ride at home.

I have some pictures, I will see if I can get them to work.

Waiting for first class community.webshots.com/photo/551390380/2099898220054937227HegRdw

In Class community.webshots.com/photo/551390380/2836944160054937227OjDWfA

Backing
community.webshots.com/photo/551390380/2272594390054937227YxKqVN

Judging
community.webshots.com/photo/551390380/2169646380054937227LNPIOg

I look bad in this picture, but Sheza looks good
community.webshots.com/photo/551390380/2886999210054937227hPPYyW

The only picture my dad got of me riding was when she started acting up.
community.webshots.com/photo/551390380/2917292160054937227OxiTOt

[hedgemom]

Sounds like to me that nerves (both yours and hers) and inexperience (again, both of you) got the better of you. But you learned something and you shouldn't take one defeat as an indication that you should quit.

Keep practicing. Keep up on your lessons. You said you were considering having her retrained, so look into that. She sounds like a brat that needs a more experienced rider. You'll grow and get that experience and she'll learn to behave.

It's not been a good month for you. Put it behind you and keep your eye on your goal. It'll come.

I think you did great. You tried and a lot of people wouldn't have even tried.

[ShainaTN]

I'm curious because I'm wanting to show next year, but what happens in the Halter class?

Sounds like you had a bad day. Remember, there is always good days and bad days... you just got the short end of the stick. Keep your chin up and keep going for the blue, one of these days you'll earn it!

[Lindsey]

Shaina, that was Showmanship. Showmanship judges the handler not the horse, and they will have a pattern posted before the class. In Halter is depends on the judge. Most times they will have you walk, trot, turn on the haunches, then you set up for the judge.

[devotee]

Lindsey, sometimes you just have to chalk it all up to comedy and just aim for next time. At least now you have some specific things to work on. The "work" is the best part! Try to remember that it's really all play.

[tinypony]

lindsey i can't even tell you how many bad showing experiences i've had - but i've learned from every one of them!! keep practicing and showing more even if it's not very pretty at first - it will get better!!! i've had mollie for 4 years and am just now able to show her in control and with her (and I) happy!! keep going!!

[Lindsey]

I have been talking on and off about getting her some training. I am just afriad I am not going to get what I want out of it. She is a great horse but unless were at lessons she is a PITA. She has never had any professional training, so it could really help her. Right now I can barely keep her under control, I want to be able to have fun riding not get frustrated that she is not a horse that I can hope on and go with. Her head is always in the air and she runs hollow which puts me off balance and it's not pretty. Sorry if you don't understand a thing I have said, I am just ranting. I would never sell her because we do have a bond that I don't think any horse could replace. I think 30 days of training would be the best for both of us.

[tinypony]

lindsey i can relate to you COMPLETELY!!! if i wrote down everything i went through with mollie over the past 4 years to get her to where she is today i'd take up about 3 pages of message space. when i bought her she was 4 years old and knew how to walk, trot, turn, and halt and that was pretty much it. she was being ridden on the trails in western tack but she had a kimberwick and 2 different tiedowns on at all times. four years, lots of falls, lots of frustration, lots of happiness, and lots of blood, sweat, and tears later, i can't believe the difference. i took lessons the whole time (and continute to do so) and had lots of help along the way although i can proudly say that i did most of the training myself. just stick to what you think is right and if you have the same bond that me and mollie have i know you'll be just fine :-)