Ponying up for a horse show!

[Gracie]

ok here's the story!!LOL!!!
This summer I'm hoping to take my two year old to some horse shows... DON'T WORRY I'M NOT RIDING HER I'M JUST BRINGING HER TO GET HER USED TO THE SHOW GROUNDS! hehee!
I was wondering what excally I should be prepared for? What types of materials should I bring for a horse who won't be showing? What are things I should try to get her used to?
Has anyone ever done this??? What did they wish they knew before they went... was there anything they forgot and wish they had brought??
Thanks for any advice!!

[floppy]

can i just say..watch out for cars :)
my cousin didnt introduce her hrose to shows etc until he was 3 going 4...and when the day came to take him to ashow to get him use to the environment he was contiously nervous form all the noise etc that he had a bucking fit and damaged someones car! so i would say that unti lhe is more use to shows dont take her/him near anything that could get damaged when kick or people get hurt should she/he freak out...other than that i dont know :)a spare headcollar +lead rein?some treats?you wear a pair of gloves incase she yanks the rope form your hands...
so how long have you had gracie?and how ar eyou going to train her?:)

[Gracie]

I've had her for almost a year!!!!
What do you mean "How" are you training her??
Sorry a little confused with that question!! Hopefully all well go good!!:)

[floppy]

i meant that when the time coems for her to accept a rider are you going to get her professionally backed or is someone going to help you do it yourself!?:)
well i wish you allt he luck with her :)

[Liz E.]

Hm... just thinking about your signature. How "God took the better horses and made them Paints." And interesting theory... and I think I just invented my own word: breedist! It's like racist, but it's just about horse breeds.

[Gracie]

Originally posted by floppy
i meant that when the time coems for her to accept a rider are you going to get her professionally backed or is someone going to help you do it yourself!?:)
well i wish you allt he luck with her :)
I'm hoping to get some help from my riding coach on training her, I wouldn't dream of doing all of it myself since this is my first time training a horse right from a baby!!

Liz E: I'm not excally a breedist... haha! I like all horses, but since my horse is a paint I love her the best!! heehee!! A horse is a horse to me.. I like them all weather their a paint,TB,QH, or a morgan etc!! To me it makes no difference! I only wrote that because i thought it was cute! And since my horse was a paint I figured it would make a good signature for me!!:)

[horse_chestnut]

That signature is cool! lol. and gracie is lucky to have an owner who will take her places rather than just waiting till shes broken n complaing when she freaks out! lol.

but in addition to the gd advice above - id say definately take her. Are you going to travel her there? or walk? is she ok on the roads at the mo or have u not done much road work? If shes ok on the roads at the mo then you shouldnt have too many probs - the only things you should get is her trying to make herself 17hh so that she can see everything! lol.

Are you going to take her in a bridle (is she used 2 one yet?) because this mite give you extra control if she is. If not, try to get a long length lead rope so that if she does decide to play up - e.g. rear - u can still have hold of her at a safe-ish distance. However, if at all poss - try to stay near her shoulder so that you have the most poss control. Also - keep her away from the collecting ring at first - unless shes being very good - because somehow riders have a knack of whizzing up behind you when warming up etc!

O and the best piece of advice is...steel toe caps ;) !! lol. nah not essential but the last time i led a horse to a shoe he trod on my feet soo many times they came home black and blue!! horrible!

Also remember to take sum treats if she responds to them (personally i dont use them - i always forget :)- but i know a lot of people do and the horses behave better when they have them!)

GOOD LUCK!! sooooo sorry for babbling on - ive written about 3 sentences worth in about 8 paragraphs!! sorry!! most of all - enjoy! im sure she'll be fine!

[Gracie]

Thanks Chestnut.. haha my horse is a chestnut!! I'm a colourist too!! heehee I love my chestnut... even though supposivly their a hard headed... thats a whole different thread!! haha! Oh yes.. I LOVE long replies... I thought yours was GREAT!

Gracie is some what used to the bridle but I was just thinking about bring her in a lead... to keep her as comfortable as possible!! The last thing i want to do is make her feel to werid and freak out on me!! haha! I'm bringing her in a trailer... there's not very many shows around here! She hasn't been introuduce to the road..WE'll CERTAINLY have to work on that one!! teeheee! But the funny thing is, is that she's 16hh... pretty big for a baby! So hopefully she'll be able to see over everybodies heads!! haha!!
Any how thanks for all your advice
~Kristan & Gracie!