| For the practical side of being prepared, make sure you have all your tack, supplies, show clothes, and trailer ready for the show. Then when you arrive at the show ground, give yourself plenty of time to unload and check in with the office to get your number, instructions and packet. Always allow the horse time to settle in. And then you can start your training routine —the same routine that you use at home you will want to use for your warm up at the show grounds. Having the same warm up at home and the show gives the horse confidence and security. The show is not the time to school new movements or start a new training routine. I, for example, always start with my warm up with the horse long and low. With the gaits not as impressive and show level that I would ride the test. Keeping it undemonstrative and concentrating on relaxation and suppleness. I do this as long as I need to and I keep it as short as I have to. Then I go through individual movements of the test. I definitely try to ride the horse in the competition arena as well, if that is available. Making sure you go a couple of times down the centerline. You would be amazed at how many horses at show day act like they have never seen a human being in the judges stand before. I try to keep my schooling at the show effective but not too long. Keeping it as short as possible. I do not believe in wearing the horse out. With young horses you may need to first lunge them before you get on. Even on the day of the show. I think it is safer to put side reins on the horse and lunge for 5 minutes on each side before you get on instead of sitting on a tight back and having to worry about staying on. If you ride more than one test per day, you often don’t need as long of a warm up for the 2nd test. Your horse rarely gets ridden twice a day at home. So you need to save some energy and concentration for the second test. |