eek!!! what do i do????

[pony_luva]

hey peeps

i am going to a show tomorrow on a horse I have never ridden before and then doing jumping on a four year old horse I have never ridden before!!! What do i do????

i need some tips for keeping a calm and cool demeanor so the horse doesn't get worried coz i cant just stop my nerves like that (wish i could tho :D )

plz give me some advice

cheers, trix

[jovi_y2k2]

Don't panic, breathe, smile, remember you're there to have fun and if all else fails I love rescue remedy to keep me calm!
Good Luck :D:D

[pony_luva]

thanx for the advice i will supply all results and pics

[Daffy Dilly]

Breathe.

As you're riding in a show class, learn an individual show off by heart. Then it's one less thing to worry about in the ring.

If you can, go a couple of hours early. This gives you a chance to ride the pony early on, to get used to them, and then rest them before doing the bits of turnout needed and then actually warming up for the class. In the gap, watch a class or two in your ring and see how people do their individual shows, and then how this will affect your show. Where does the judge line every body up? Can you get behind them, or do you have to stay in front? Is the judge setting the show for everybody?

When riding for the first time, figure out where the problems are, and then you know what to work on in your warm up. Forget completely about reinback/extensions if the horse didn't do them in the first ride.

For the jumping you again want to do a bit of riding much earlier. Just get used to it, what happens with no leg, lots of leg, how much rein do you need to give. Can you stop three strides from the jump, then trot over it? Can you come to a halt in less than 5 strides after the jump? Can you land, do two strides and then make a 90deg turn?

In both instances, you need to run through the basics of schooling - getting the horse to listen, and making sure you're giving it the aids it understands. As the jumping pony is presumably a novice, I would be inclined to trot most of the course and just canter the approaches if the pony is ready.

[pony_luva]

well, i just found out that im riding my mums 16hh WB spacko in the dressage so that doesnt make things any better