Show Warmup for Hot Horses

[Mersidoats]

@beowulf

There is one schooling show local to me that if a horse can go to and warm up and ride the test quietly, they are prepared for anything show-wise. I always make that the destination show to attend before a recognized event – it is pure chaos, with Thelwell ponies with their own grass-munching agenda and 12 y/os who can’t steer too well, to terrified re-riders on plunky drafts, to determined pony clubbers on their seasoned thoroughbreds… the warm up ring is practically a mosh-pit and if your horse does well there, nothing from a show perspective will rattle their confidence.

I second this approach. I try to go to one of the local schooling horse trials around here at least once a year. Even better if it’s at the big local horse park and there are two events going on at once. It builds character and fortitude for horse, rider, and coach.