First Show!

[MadamC]

Okay, I've officially taken 4 lessons now, and pretty much have walk/fast walk sorta mastered (except that I ride a STUBBORN horse, so sometimes nothing works with him! ;) ), and we're getting into trotting.

BTW, about trotting, I'm totally confused! :D There's a shocker! LOL When I first tried it, my first instinct was to really hold onto the reins, which meant I pulled his head back, which means he stopped after about 3 beats. Not only that, but I lost my feet from the stirrups. So my thought then was to do 'heels down', and I sorta braced myself in the stirrups--which worked pretty good, although I did bounce around, but made it through a whole turn and halfway around the arena! ha This last lesson, I tried it, and it was just horrible. Lost the stirrups again, plus the hip decided to spasm, etc. Basically, my trainer's advice was 'legs long'. And I said, I feel like I'm about to fall off at times. And her reply--that happens. Ack! LOL I don't wanna fall, he's a big boy! Any help, or is it truly just a good faith balancing act in the saddle?

Anyway, now to the topic! The place where I take my lessons is having a benefit show for charity (for a local place that takes in abused/neglected horses). And my trainer talked me into being in 2 of the adult walking only classes! What was I thinking?! :eek: According to what she said, I'm the only one in the first class of the day! I guess it's good that I win by default :D but I'm still VERY nervous. Wish I would've just stuck to volunteering, which is what I'll do the rest of the day when my classes are done. Is this insane? I don't even know what to do! I just walk in a circle (or try to, given Blue's mood at the time)?

Feeling a whole lot of nerves at this point. Help! BTW, it's TOMORROW! :eek:

Cindy

[kedwards]

I'm sure she wouldn't have talked you into it if she didn't feel that you can handle it. My guess is, she'll be around tomorrow to give you some last minute tips.

To be honest, I've never seen a walk class, but I would think you would just walk around the ring, change direction when asked, and halt. At the end they will probably ask you to line up in the center facing the judge or steward. Then, since you'll be on your own, you'll pick take your blue ribbon when they call your name and give your horse a big scratch and a kiss:D

Have fun!

[Laetitia]

Go for it Madam C, you'll be fine. Nerves will vanish once you're in and doing. I did my first ever walk and trot test the other day and was absolutely terrified. Everyone was so supportive and I managed a good test and actually came first out of 8. I wasn't placed as I had gone HC. So there you go - you'll surprise yourself. Take a deep breath and grin - you're meant to be enjoying yourself - afterwards. L

[MadamC]

Well, my nerves sort of faded when I saw how few people there were. Mainly, just fellow riders--very few spectators, mostly parents & grandparents.

However, the weather changed drasticly that morning from the previous days--it was downright cold. All of the horses were NOT cooperating! One that I had previously wanted to be able to ride, was bucking it's riders! Glad I didn't push to ride him now. ;)

Plus, the horse I ride (that 4 other children rode besides me) was antsy from being in a stall overnight. And of course I was the first one on him, lucky me. He tried to take off when I got on him, then he wouldn't follow ANY instructions! Halt & a pull on the reins made him go faster! :mad: Not only that, but as I was walking him around before the first class (me only), the judge decided the girth wasn't tight enough, so I had to get off and on again. ACK!

Anyway, any time you would halt him (after he started to cooperate), he would yank the reins away and bend all the way down and start chowing down on the grass. This wasn't just with me, but everyone else that rode him the WHOLE day! He's VERY strong with his mouth & neck.

Plus, in the second class, the little girl that rode him got thrown when he decided he wanted to trot and she was trying to halt him. She was no really hurt, except that she fell into a patch of grass burrs that stuck in her arm. OUCH! She gave him a good slap for that one, ha.

So...I took first and got a ribbon in the Suitablility for Dressage Walk class--of course I was the only one competing. :D I was also in the Hunter Under Saddle Walk class--I got a ribbon for 2nd place--but there again, I was in a class of 2. ;) But the other person had been riding since she was 1 (now 30) and teaches other people to ride! Dur that I'd get 2nd anyway! lol

All in all, it was fun, and I got to see various things I'll hopefully be doing in the future. Even some jumping, it didn't look as scary as I thought it would (highest was 3 ft though).

Now we'll see what I'm able to do by the Christmas Fun Show on Dec. 4! :D

The judge stood in the middle of the competing arena and yelled out her instructions. She was VERY nice and encouraging--perfect for a 'just for fun' show! Hope she's back for the next one.

Cindy