Pony's first show - survival advice anyone? :)

[alfresco]

Hi there, I am a bit of a lurker as I am a bit shy about posting but I have been assured that you guys won’t bite So going to try posting a bit more, I hope I have this in the correct section but please feel free to move if not!

Taking my youngster to his first show in 4 weeks and I wondered if anyone had any tips for keeping him, and maybe more importantly me, calm?! I did wonder about a hip flask but not sure if the judge might frown upon my alcohol breath

A bit of background for you, I have had him for 5 months and got him direct from his breeder and he hadn’t really done anything before I got him apart from being a baby and spending his days playing with his brothers – sounds like a pretty good life! He was 2 in May and I originally didn’t want to do too much with him until next year but I have decided to take him out to a couple off wee shows this year for experience and to get him out as I really think he will benefit mentally – he is a great wee chap but his reaction to things the first time he sees/encounters them seems to be a rather dramatic to say the least! I am hoping the more he sees the less of a drama queen he will be

So I haven’t done much in-hand showing but I’m pretty happy with what I need to do. I started practising with him last week and the first time I asked him to trot in-hand he completely freaked out at me jig-jogging beside him and took off bucking across the school – thank goodness I had the foresight to practise in our indoor school just with a halter and lunge line! Anyway, so after a few more practises we have pretty much got trotting down, need some refinement but we have plenty of time – I hope! Lol

I am hoping that if I practise, practise, practise so he is totally comfortable at home a wee bit of calmness will be transferred when away but I am worried that it will all go out of his head when he has everything else to think about! I don’t suppose there is really much I can do, we have to do our first show at some point and I do think that once he has done it once he will be ok for the next time so I have resigned myself that the first one will be a bit messy! I know that it is really important I keep myself calm so he doesn’t feed of me so if not alcohol, will definitely be taking something, lol! Rescue remedy or the like I mean of course

So, I am planning on getting there really early to give him time to take everything in but any other tips or experience anyone can share would be appreciated, or even just some good vibes! At the moment my aim is for neither of us to be hurt and make it home in one piece and anything further than that will be a bonus, lol!

Jeez, looks like I can go on when I want to! He is a picture taken after the wee man’s first bath a couple of weeks ago just because I know we all like pictures!

[haltnotsquare]

Take somebody calm and unflappable with you
Buy some rescue remedy or similar
Give yourself plenty of time.
Remember to breathe!
Your aim for the day of getting there and back in one piece is spot on - anything over and above that is a bonus.
Enjoy it - that's why we spend all that money on them!!!!

(now I just need to take my own advice.....)

[s21rrs]

definitely the rescue remedy, take some yourself, then put some on your hand and offer it to him, the theory is if he feels he needs it, he will lick it off your hand.
Has he worn a bridle yet? might be worth getting him used to one now and showing him in that for a little bit more control....
Good luck

[alfresco]

Thanks for the replys Sorry, didn't realise how huge that pic was!

Yes, will be taking someone with me to help out and act as general calmer! That's a good idea about giving him some rescue remedy as well as myself, I hadn't thought of that!

I plan to show him in a bridle and he has had it on a few times and been fine but haven't led him in it yet - working up to that. After his reaction to the in-hand work I wanted to make sure he knew what he was doing in a halter before I added the bridle as I didn't want to hurt his mouth if he is just taking off as he is confused rather than being naughty.

It's so silly, I know we just have to get on and do it, what's the worst that can happen right?!

I wasn't worried about it at all until a few days ago and then suddenly I realised it was actually getting closer, I still have 4 weeks for goodness sake, what am I going to be like nearer the time, lol Guess I'm just worried as he is my first youngster and I want to try to make his first experience a good one to try to make everything to come that wee bit easier.......no pressure!

[Magic]

I totally understand where your coming from! I have missed alot of good shows to take my youngster to as I've bottled it and taken my trusty mare instead. Rescue Remedy is a good idea. One thing I have done with Bailey is there was a small show set up in a field near us that had loads of banners and flags in it so I took him for a walk past it all he was a little on edge but soon settled. Maybe rig up a fake show in your indoor school? Though saying that when I asked my 17 year old mare to hack passed this she bounced her way down the road
I like how he had a reaction to your running Bailey was so unimpressed he stopped dead first time I asked him to trot!!!
Guess Im in the good vibes camp and will be looking at other replies with interest. Oh and you def have to post more

[alfresco]

Thanks for the suggestions and best wishes, think we will need them if we actually make it there!

I have a wee 3.5ton lorry and I have been walking him in and out getting him used to it, shutting him in and he has been great with everything, walking up the ramp everytime with no hesitation. Well last night was the first time I started the engine and took him for a wee trip in it (literally a 30 sec trip around the barn at the yard and lets just say he didn't seem to like it very much! He was banging and clattering about the whole time getting himself all worked up, I had a friend walk behind watching him through the window in the back door in case he did anything really daft like try to come over the breast bar, which thankfully he didn't. Still, I felt so guilty about him getting upset When we stopped he got lots hugs and I led him out and said to my friend I am going to make sure he walks back in, well, he wasn't up for going near it again I spent ages working with him and eventually got to the point where he was walking in and out calmly like before but he obviously gave himself quite a fright. I know he does have a huge reaction to most things the first time and then he is generally fine so hoping this will be the same! I know the only way he is going to get used to it and realise it isn't the end of the world is to keep doing it so practise, practise, practise ahead! (Seems to be my word of the month! ) Just going to have to take a deep breath and keep telling myself it's for his own good, sure he'll be fine and got lots of time to make lots and lots of wee tiny trips if I need to before building it up. They do like to keep us on our toes! ;D

[Magic]

awww! Maybe practice loading with the engine on and just having him stand on with the engine running for a bit whilst he eats a hay net. And when you want to move off maybe if he had an experienced travel companion in just to give him that wee bit of confidence that he is ok.
I hope that helps a bit mine has been ok with travelling so far but he has not been in a trailer yet!!!

[alfresco]

Thanks, appreciate the support! It just never occurred to me that he would get upset actually travelling, I thought once we had mastered going in and out and standing in there it would all be plain sailing and he has been so good about that. When I picked him up I borrowed a friend’s trailer and he travelled loose without a partition, it was great as my friend had CCTV so I could watch him the whole way (friend was driving!) and although I was really worried he didn’t bother at all and just munched hay and adjusted himself as he needed to – guess I just assumed he would be the same but guess in a lorry you have more noise and vibration from the engine that I just didn’t consider – kicking myself now but hey ho, you live and learn At the end of the day he was fine, still happy to give me kisses before bed so I don’t think he holds it against me, lol! ;D Happy to spend as much time as he needs, if nothing else I have patience in bucketfuls