Sadly they had to sell him and at the time I couldn't afford to buy him and at the same time I was moving to a farm with 20 acres in North Wales! A few days after the move my mum gave me a card and it had a picture of a rocking horse on it, inside it said I know you always wanted a rocking horse, so we are going to buy you one now.but a living breathing one. Took it up again at 30 when a friend suggested a riding lesson 'just for a laugh'.well that lesson turned into 4 years of going to the riding school twice a week and resulted in me loaning a horse from them and taking out hacks at the weekend in return for my beautiful loan horse. “And ultimately, he is going to get that lack of tension directly from you, so just lighten up, relax and enjoy being there.As a kid I had a horse, she was an insane arab cross that I was given by a farmer.there was a reason such a stunning horse was being given away she was nuts!! Anyway I wasn't a pony club girl, I was happier hacking and playing in fields so stopped riding at 16 to leave home. “The key to bringing a horse to a show for the first time is keeping him from becoming tense,” Moshier says. “Remember that if a horse is 100 percent at home, he may be just 50 percent at the show.” Lighten upįinally, Moshier advises riders to relax, lighten up and enjoy their horse. “People always say, ‘We ride over planks and taps and we open gates, at home and my horse has never skipped a beat,’ but when a horse is at a horse show for the first time, it’s a good idea to set the lowest standard” Moshier recalls. In fact, riders would do well to expect that their horses will fall short of their at-home performances. When it comes to introducing a horse to the show circuit, winning is not everything. “You can always ride to your usual level later.” Lower Your Expectations “Pick a walk/trot class even if you usually ride at a higher level,” advises Moshier. Riders that do decide to compete should choose classes below their usual competition level, just to give the horse a chance to perform well in the new environment. “Get the horse used to being there with you, then if you’re both comfortable, try a class or two.” Step Down “Go there just to ride,” Moshier recommends. Generally, competing is the point of most horse shows, but sometimes just bringing the horse to the venue is a valuable investment in its future performance. “If not, get there early show day so you have time to prepare yourself and your horse.” Stroll the Grounds “Even go there the night before if you can get a stall,” Moshier suggests. So Moshier recommends helping the horse acclimate to new surroundings by arriving at the show venue early. Get There EarlyĪ rushed rider is more likely to create a nervous horse, especially in an unfamiliar environment. “Let the hose get used to seeing all those things at home so that he isn’t seeing them for the first time at a show,” Moshier says. But according to Moshier, preparations should also include duplicating show conditions including key elements such as entry and exit areas and the location and size of the judge’s table at home. “Also, take a ride with other horses so your horse gets used to having others around.” Simulateįor many riders, simulating a show class means rehearsing a pattern until both horse and rider know it cold. “If you’re used to riding in the ring, take you horse out into the field,” Moshier suggests. But getting horses used to new distractions takes riding outside of familiar environments. Riders who compete in ring classes usually practice within the confines of an arena. “If you go to a show, minimize tension by choosing one where people will not be competing at a high level.” Ride Outside “Or, if you have the opportunity, go to a clinic, which is somewhat like a show environment, but a smaller environment,” Moshier recommends. Most of the time that means taking part in lower level competitions or fun shows. Because not all horses have the same tolerance levels for the noise, activity and other equine distractions that characterize most horse shows, Moshier recommends that owners choose show environments in which their horses are most likely to be comfortable.
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