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| he is super pumped |
About that.
Every couple weeks, I get all ambitious and sit down with calendars from multiple show organizations and determine how much dressage and jumping I want to do and where I want to go and all that...
And then I realize that I really don't want to. The whole idea makes me anxious.
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| helps I ride better now |
And failing.
And as an adult, well... I had a lot of success with Cuna. I've had some really traumatic experiences with green horses at shows, and here I am with a green horse to show.
I know the only way to make him not green is to show him, but I just can't get excited about it. If I look at schedules too long, I just shut down. It sounds miserable and humiliating and awful to me.
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| can we do this at a show? |
So here's my show schedule for Courage and I this year:
April 29-dressage schooling show at local barn. No prizes. No ribbons. No placings. Choose your own test. Get a score.
And if that's fun, we'll find something else to do. If not, eh, I'll make a new plan.
You know what? You do what's right for you. Don't feel pressured if other people are doing rated shows/a bazillion schooling shows. It's way too much time and money to invest in showing if it's not going to be a positive experience for you and your horse.
ReplyDeleteBefore I got to the bottom of your post I had already decided that I would comment: Do an unrecognized dressage show. It is honestly the most low-key atmosphere (in my opinion) and unlike jumping, or hunters, or eventing (well, minus the dressage portion) it is the only format in which you will get hard proof feedback that is useful to your riding. If you can find one I suggest you try out a Ride-Critique-Ride. It comes with the bonus of ribbons if you place, but it's really like a glorified lesson. One of the reasons I love dressage so much is because of the format you show in. You're competing against yourself if you think about it the right way and to me it's a thousand times less stressful and way more meaningful than a ribbon in a flat class.
ReplyDeleteDo what's best for you, everything else will fall in place. I agree completely with Britt Gillis up there^^ It's not worth the time and money if it's not going to be a positive experience! :) Do you.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great place to start! And if that still isn't fun, reevaluate. There isn't any sense in spending money on something that you get no enjoyment out of!
ReplyDeleteDon't do something if it isn't fun because that just sucks.
ReplyDeleteI so relate to all of this. And take your time with your green bean. The first year that I showed Tucker, we did the beginner hunter classes. The jumps were 18 inches tall and I trotted into every line. We got made fun of and did not get any ribbons and got creamed by 8 year olds. But he was green and I get nervous and I didn't want my nerves to teach him that showing wasn't fun. And now I've decided that jumping a 3' course is intimidating and I don't want to do it. And I have no shame about that. You do whatever you feel like doing and have an awesome time at that schooling show. And if it isn't fun, just keep being awesome doing other stuff.
ReplyDeleteCan we be friends? I feel like we should be friends.
DeleteBe friends with her! Marissa is the most awesome-sauce!!!!
DeleteA woman of my own heart! My first show I schooled 2'3" and then ended up showing the kid/ ammy flat classes. Showing is a lot of money and time to not have a positive experience.
DeleteA woman of my own heart! My first show I schooled 2'3" and then ended up showing the kid/ ammy flat classes. Showing is a lot of money and time to not have a positive experience.
DeleteI like your plan - sounds like an excellent start! And if it's not fun, hey lessons and clinics are fun and who needs ribbons anyways :)
ReplyDeleteI want ribbons. So. Bad. I just need to not suck (or have anxiety attacks) to get them. ;-)
DeleteSounds like a good plan. I'd live at horse shows if I could, but I know not everyone has the same priorities.
ReplyDeleteI like your plan. One thing at a time.
ReplyDeleteAwesome plan, you will have a great time! I use the local small shows to take my young guys out too...it's so laid back and I never do well because I'm against seasoned kids and horses...but hey - you go out and do it to get the miles.
ReplyDeleteI think that's a great start! I am in a similar boat with a green horse (who has not left the property since October) and I am planning to take her to a local schooling show on both hunter and jumper day. Chloe is decidedly NOT a hunter, but I thought it would be good to go get her out and let her hang out, maybe do the trot pole/ x-pole classes not to be judged on hunter day and see if she might feel like she could do a class or two on jumper day. If not, no big deal, she will go and hang out and school and learn how to go to horse shows.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm a newcomer to your blog, but looking at your photos and watching your videos, you DO NOT suck! I actually have been reading back about your training with Courage for ideas for my mare. :-)
I hope you have a great time at the show, I know you and Courage will score well.
Schooling shows are the best, less pressure, less stress, fun, affordable, etc. Not going to lie though, I'm pretty excited about you and Courage doing a dressage show :) I'm betting you guys will do great! On another note, your show schedule looks a lot like mine, except that you have at least picked out one show to go to.
ReplyDeleteBest way to do this is one step at a time, whatever feels right and comfortable to you. You're the only one putting pressure on yourself and on Courage, so be kind! And have fun... most importantly, have fun. :)
ReplyDeleteUgh. I feel you. Showing greenies is really not fun. Can you ship out to some shows and just hang out? He won't know any different if he is in classes or not, it is still putting miles under his belt. I've shipped to some nice shows and not entered, you get the benefit of some really nice facilities and a show atmosphere, without the pressure of actually competing and it is cost effective :)
ReplyDeleteYou are the poster child of "Ammy's doing this for fun" so its great you found a show that is right up your alley. Hope you and Courage both have fun in the lead up to the show as well as the show itself.
ReplyDeleteHaha great show schedule :D best of luck! I believe in you though!
ReplyDeleteSounds like my plan every year- after each show decide if I had enough fun to justify spending all that money and then go from there whether I'll do the next one the barn goes to or sit it out.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! :-)
I was going to post the same thing that you ended up deciding on - don't make a schedule that you feel like you have to stick to. Pick a show go to it, and then when you feel like you are ready to go to another one, find one at that time.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck, and most importantly, have fun!
You know, showing can be what you make it. For all those lucky souls on fancy fully trained ponies it can be about the ribbons. But for the rest of us working hard on our unfinished beasts, we can use them as a clinic. I know for me thinking that way allows me to drop all silly expectations and soak up the experience to the fullest and help my horse grow into a better horse. Go into it with a realistic list of things you want out the day, like helping your horse learn about warm-up arenas, busy atmospheres, patience, etc. And for yourself, study what the other riders are doing. I find I pick up a lot of great stuff just by studying successful riders and their approach to things. It can be a lot of fun just by removing the "show" pressure and thinking this way. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm up there with everyone else. Set you and your pony up for success. You guys have done incredibly well for yourselves and your progression has been inspiring. If you have the chance, throw him on the trailer and take him. Do a warm up and see what kind of horse you have. If you're ready, then go for it. If not, sit on him and spectate (if you can). At least you're there, he's there, you're ready, and you can learn from it whether you show or not. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's no rule that says you have to show! I understand what you are saying about them being a good standard measure to gauge progress. But, clinics can be the same, or just lessons with instructors that are judges as well.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a great plan. It's supposed to be fun, bite off small fun pieces and the big pieces will come later. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great start! I don't get why so much importance is placed on ribbons. I just don't. If it's not a classic (money) involved class I usually don't even check results until later on line if at all. I have my own goals and they don't involve ribbons. With a green horse it might be just get around the course. If we accomplish that, it's a "blue ribbon" in my mind. As the horse matures the goals get harder. Take the pressure away and have fun. Who cares if you ribbon.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like my kind of show!!
ReplyDeleteWas just figuring out my own show schedule for the year. Kind of bummed that all of the shows for my local GMO seem to be crammed into the first half of the year this time around.
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