Ridden Showing Advice - Please x

[HeatherL*]

My friend and her horse have been drafted in at the last minute to replace another that's thrown a shoe. She hasn't competed since she was a teenager (many moons ago!) and then it was just local shows, mostly jumping and fun stuff. Tomorrow she's doing family horse and a ridden coloured class.

She's just phoned me and asked if I know what would be a good individual show for the judge. As I have never done a showing class in my life I have absolutely no idea. I'm presuming walk trot and canter on both reins and maybe figure of eight? But really don't know what is the norm!

Can all you showing peeps out there give me a clue please, it's only a local type show but she'd like to get things right.

Thanks x

[carols]

walk away , into trot , round corner , change rein continue round on figure eight change rein , into canter change rein extend in canter down the straight side , trot walk halt away from , but opposite judge , salute to show you have finished. Some judges will ask you to do a set show - if they do - DO IT - if its your own show keep it short simple and correct . Better to do what you can well than try something and make a mess eg. reinback.
hope she has fun.

[Roselea]

Yeah basically the same idea as Carols but if your horse has a great trot or a better canter change it aorund a bit...

ie for great trot - walk away from the judge into the "short side" of the "school" (easiest way to explain!), trot once u reach the corner go round short side then up the long side, change the rein across the diagonal, when you reach the corner canter, do the short side, go down to trot while changing rein across the diagonal, get into the corner and canter again, then go for an extension behind the lineup, steady down then a nice calm walk and halt to finish.

It's basically the same idea used in many different ways, trotting and cantering in diff corners etc etc, could make a million diff shows up for you but I sharnt unless you want a certain type to show off so n so etc LOL

[HeatherL*]

Thanks for the advice Carol and Roselea. We had such a lovely day yesterday despite the grey weather. My friend's horse is rising 6 and still quite green but he behaved beautifully and got 3rd in odd coloured in hand, 3rd in family horse and 6th in ridden odd coloured. We thought that wasn't bad for his very first show. The judges gave my friend some good advice for future classes and despite it all being last minute and having borrowed jacket and jods etc she's now looking forward to doing some more local shows for fun.

[carols]

oh I'm pleased it went well- it is good fun isn't it ?