Should I Show My Foal?

[Lovejoy]

As most of you know, Squiggy is 6 months old.

I want to show her in hand next summer. Is this a good idea? I'm not going to show her lots, just enough to keep her wee mind ticking over and to get some experience.

However, from speaking to lots of experienced peeps, they say just leave her alone as it could traumatise her i.e. travelling etc at too young an age. She has travelled with Mum but never been shown at foot or anything.

What would you do???

[chev]

It'll only traumatise her if something bad happens. If she loads and travels happily and is happy being led, I see no reason not to show her. Try some loading practice and a couple of short journeys so you know she's happy, and pick a local show where there aren't so many competing, and it'll do her good to get out and about. Even if you just take her there and let her see some sights and sounds without actually showing her to start with, it can be a really positive experience.

I intend to get our yearlings out and about next season.

[Mehitabel]

i think it's invaluable practice for them, inhand showing as youngsters. we normally wait until 2 but that is more because our yearlings look like aliens, and they level out and start looking respectable by 2. as we're a stud we have to wait until they look like ponies rather than llamas, but if it were just me i'd go out regardless as yearlings.

[chev]

as we're a stud we have to wait until they look like ponies rather than llamas,

Have to admit not only did I not take Andy out as a yearling (or a two year old) but also hid him in the back field, for fear that someone might see him and think I had some kind of goblin breeding programme going :o :o

He has fortunately grown out of Goblin so he too will be out and about this summer. To make up for not showing he's done lots of walking out to meet new things and it has been really good for him.

[Wally]

WE will only take the better youngsters out showing. It does them the world of good though.

[pineapple]

by next summer she will be around 1 year old and should be fine to go to a few quiet shows with out pressure....
its good experience for her :)

[Lovejoy]

Thanks for your opinions. Shes looking good justnow, but I'm well aware she could go gangly!!

It was more the 'trauma' side of things I was worried about. You guys have put my mind at rest a bit. Is it true you shouldn't show them tooo much or they'll lose the 'sparkle' and not then be a great ridden showing horse???

[chev]

If they go out week after week some do get fed up, but some thrive on it and will show through a season without getting bored. Play it by ear; you'll soon see if she's getting fed up.

[Lovejoy]

Thanks a lot!! This is such a steep learning curve. Don't want to **** it up!

Whoops am I allowed to say that??!

Oh good it bleeped it!

[Mehitabel]

yes - too much showing is detrimental, they get bored and sour. if you wanted to, you could be at a show every weekend from march to september, and that kind of thing is too much.
but if you wanted to do one a month or thereabouts, so aiming at 4 or 5 over the season, that is actually very beneficial in terms of life experience and growing up.

[coyote]

Nelly adores going out to his "parties" his behaviour is FANTASTIC!!! he loads on his own, he travels fabulously,he loves all the other horses (as he is kept alone) it really has done him a world of good and he happens to have done very well too.:D

[Emz]

All ours foals have at least 2 outings with mum just to get used to loading, trotting away from mum etc. Makes them a lot more 'sane' when they go it alone as yearlings the following year.