Can anybody please tell me a few tips on preparing for a horse show?

Question

I have been to a few before, but i always get nervous. Please help!

Answer 1

Everyone gets a case of the nerves before showing, especially when they're still new to the atmosphere. The best thing you can do for your nerves is to enter classes that are one level below what you're schooling at home. For instance, if you ride hunter seat and school 3' fences at home, you might want to enter classes that are only 2'6" to 2'9" in height. This way, you know going into your event that you can do this, as you've done more than this at home. It's a great feeling for boosting your confidence.

The other thing you'll want to do is make sure you're prepared well ahead of time. By this I mean, a week or so out from your horse show, make a list of everything you'll need to bring or do for your show. That way, if there's anything you have to buy, you'll find out early and not at the last minute when you may not have a chance to find it. This is a good tip so you don't leave things for the last minute. By the day before the show, you should have everything you need gathered in one spot, ready to go on the trailer. The only thing you should really be doing the day before a show is braiding and some last minute grooming. Everything else should already have been done. Make sure you get to bed plenty early, and factor in any time you might be up worrying. Horse shows are notorious for starting early, and it's not uncommon to have to be at the barn at three in the morning to load the horse onto the trailer and set out for the show grounds. Because of this, and because it will be a very long day from there, you'll really need to get as much sleep as you can. A full night of rest can do wonders for keeping you relaxed and focused.

When you're at the show, make sure to leave yourself plenty of time to tack up and warm up at your leisure. The last thing you want to do is arrive late at the show, have to tack up in a hurry, and go straight into the ring for your class (we all do it at sometime or another, but it's really hard to put in a good ride and feel at ease when you're that pressed for time). If you have early classes, you'll have to arrive at the grounds plenty early. When you warm up, just take it easy. Practice simple maneuvers and concentrate on getting your horse on the bit. Take a few schooling jumps if you'll be riding over fences, but try to keep everything low key. Concentrate on your breathing, keeping it steady and relaxed. And don't forget, have fun!

Answer 2

Nervous is normal prior to going into any type of a setting where someone is being evaluated on their abilities to do something. What I advise my "kids" is to spend a lot of time getting to know their horse and be confident in handling him/her. Then, spend a lot of time working with the horse on the skills needed to get through the class. Then I tell them to make games of it and have some fun with it. If you can't smile and enjoy what you are doing, you will be twice as nervous. If it feels like fun, and you go with the attitude of "I can do this", it will help you relax, which your horse will key in on and it will help him/her relax, and you will both have a better ride. My daughter is 13, has been riding since she was 5 and showing since 8, and she still gets nervous. But, spending time practicing and going to a show with the intent of just doing what her and her horse can and having fun is the main thing. The rest is up to the judge, and one cannot tell what they will or will not do until the ribbons are handed out. In summary, practice, relax, BREATHE, and dont' worry about the judge.

Answer 3

preperation is the best thing to settle nerves. make sure all your kit and your horses is ready a couple days in advance, maybe keep show tack and rugs and things like first aid kit, haynets and water buckets in a seperate box marked up so you dont lose anything. dont forget your horses passport and any cards you may need, my boss always forgot her bsja card till i velcroed it to the lorry wall.
make yourself a list of things to take for you and horse.
work on whatever event it is you will be doing at the show, pop over a few jumps, work on your flying changes, practice that square halt whatever, then go for a hack to relax. dont over do it as you could get stale, try and keep it fun. if you dont enjoy it neither of you will do your best. better to set yourself smaller acheivable goals and enjoy wat you do rather than over pressure yourself
most important of all check everything yourself the night before, so that no-one has the chance to say 'well i thought you put it in' hehe good luck

Answer 4

I hate reading long answers, so here is the basics in bullet form! So much easier to read haha!

*know how to speed tack and untack, classes can sometimes be far enough apart as to where you can untack and give your horse a break, but close enough to where you are gonna have to speed tack them up.

*you are going to need a hairnet ready, a hunt coat, nice clean breeches, boot pulls!! --tall boots (or garters if you do not wear tall boots yet, and also short boots) and of course a nice show helmet.

*You will need a bucket for water for your horse, and a haynet to tie on the side of the trailer along with your horse-- or to put in a stall if you have rented one for him.

*You will need rubber bands and tail/mane conditioner if you will be braiding.

*You will need to be READY to enter the ring when called, so know your number and dont forget to pick it up before you classes start!!

*You will need to find out what classes you are in and keep the paper with you at all times-- you need to study your courses that the judges have posted, so you dont mess up.

*Have all your brushes neatly in a tote bag so its easy to carry back and forth

*have a lint roller ready so that if you get any horse hair on your hunt coat you can get it off.

*be ready to get up early and know where your instructor is at all times! GOOD LUCK!!! =)