OK, so I'm 55 going on 12 and figured riding in a show would be a fun thing to do, so Lucy and I will do walk-only and walk-jog classes in a schooling show in a couple of weeks.  Schooling shows are as far as I'm willing to go.  There's too much bling and BS for me in "regular" shows.  Fortunately my trainer is very supportive and promises to "be there" for us at least for our first class, if not all of them.  (Am not sure how many clients she'll have at this show.)  I'm not worried about me, figuring that there will be a few butterflies but no panic, but Lucy, now, she's a different story.  I've had her a couple of years, her former mom said she has had some show experience, but gosh knows what she'll be like when we get in the ring.  She could be just fine and do her job as asked, or be the Mare from Hell and get ear-pinny, tail-swishy, and obnoxious.  We're going to pre-register for only a couple of classes so I'm  not out too much $$ if she gets totally out of line and we have to call it quits.  Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this.

Do you remember your first show, did you have a good time?  Anecdotes?  Horror stories?  (There always seems to be at least one fall, one horse that gets away, etc.)  Advice?  Thanks!

 Good for you for going to a show!  I remember the first show I took Annapolis to.  It was a schooling show also and we just did three "Green as Grass" walk-trot classes.  I had a blast.  Annapolis, to my surprise, acted like an old pro, not the "off the track" Thoroughbred he was. I loved the informal atmosphere of the schooling show, the way all the riders offered each other support and good luck as they entered the ring. We got two firsts and a second at that show, which was the first time I had ever won a blue ribbon in my life!

Another show we went to was a little different because a bull got turned out in a paddock next to the warm up arena.  Annapolis was on edge the whole time and it took everything I had to keep his attention.  Things went a little better in our tests because the bull was out of sight.  

 Just goes to show you can't plan for everything, lol.

You got ribbons???  I want ribbons!!!!

 I'm 57 gong on 12 too.  I was on the rail at shows as a kidsand I was a show Mom .  I got into showing for myself at age 51 and love it.  I do breed shows and saddle club and dressage schooling shows.  My attitude is treat it all like practice, have fun because tht is waht I am there for.  Sometimes I do well sometimes I bomb.  But anyday on my horse showing off with friedns is a good day.  I hope you enjoy your day and I amsure that if that is your goal you will.  Pluss my horse always behaves better when I am smiling.

Good for you!

I remember my first schooling show, as I was a "late-bloomer" too! Mostly everyone in the class knew each other, and were very supportive. Actually, all of us stood without our horses in the middle of the indoor, and basically held hands as the classes were pinned...Miss America style!

I remember my first show and I also have students your age doing thier first shows we all have had fun and the goal for us was to have fun and keep our goals simple.  Try to find a place to warm up away from everyone else, keep the warm up simple and remember that in a show atmosphere your aids may not be as light as usual and your mare may be more reactive than normal.  I tell my students to start their warm up using the aids of their dreams and keep working your way toward where your aids are that day.  We ride mares and we just take care of each other and expect our mares to go to work and if we do not allow them to be mare-ish at home we expect the same at the shows.  We tell them and ourselves they are better horses than that and we are better riders than to allow such behavior.  Good Luck trust your trainer and have fun.

Yay! Schooling shows are so much fun. I've actually met several friends through the local schooling shows. It's great to go to a show where the competitors wish each other luck and smile and all that. I just took my new pony to his first schooling show a couple of months ago and I had no idea what to expect but he was great. Just remember to breath and have fun and I'm sure you'll do great. 

Don't think of it as a show, that will just make you on edge and your horse will feed off it.  Think of it as a ride in the park, or a warmup before your lesson or anything where YOU have to FOCUS but still enjoy!  Then that is what will happen, you will focus, Lucy will know you are paying attention to her so she will pay attention to you and all will go well!  If you win any ribbons, they will be a bonus !  Remember why you wanted to do this in the first place...

bassclef54:

figured riding in a show would be a fun thing to do

Best of luck, but have fun!!

 Bev and Briahna

Lucy and I rode in our first (and last) show last Saturday, and it was a blast!  She was amazingly good, I am so proud of that horse.  Calm, relaxed, as if she'd been doing this always!  We rode in 7 green rider/novice horse classes, equitation and W. pleasure, and placed in the 2 classes I'd hoped we'd place in.  I had absolutely no "show nerves," which was great.  We just rode, did our best, and called it good.  A once-in-a-lifetime (my choice) experience that I'll never forget.

Thanks for all the tips and encouragement!

I turned 56 yesterday, and feeling it~  At one of my shows, about 5 years ago, my trainer had to lead me into the ring, I was so afraid.  The more you do, the easier it gets. 

I also remember an english Introductory A show.  I dropped the whip while waiting for the judge to blow the whistle.  My horse loved that.  It went downhill from there.  He stopped in the middle of one of the circles to go to the bathroom.  I couldn't wait to get out of the ring.

Once during a 4-H show, he was terrified of the water tank when they watered the arena.  We ended up standing at the fence with him rearing every time it came towards him.  I spent the day introducing him to it, and following it around whereever it went, so he thought he was chasing it away. 

The most important thing is to have fun.  I love showing, but in this economy I refuse to pay a "trailering in" fee, or the high prices they charge to ride in some english shows.  I keep up with the lessons for the challenge, but trail riding is a fun, inexpensive way to enjoy time with your horse.

I am 57 and got into showing after my kids were grown up and I was no longer a "show Mom"  During the time they were showing I did get to shwo a little at open and saddle club shows.  I remember on of the great highlights was when they entered me in horsemanship as a surprise.  They told me about 10 minutes before the class.  They had tone of their horses saddled with my saddle and a pressed shirt ready for me to put on.  In I went.  I won that class..  There were some real compeitors in it and I just about fell off in surprise when the announcer called my name.  I remember riding and repeating to myself all the little tidbits I had ben telling th kids.  Shoulders back ,heels down ,hand steady. look up and smile.  I have been showing  now for about 9 years.  Some years I get to  6 or   shows some years 2 or 3.  Two years ago my oldest son started getting back into horses and last year his mare did very well in halter classes.  He is planning on getting back into the riding ones soon.  He has been my "show Mom" lately and when people mention how good he is with helping me he just says he has about 20 years of work to make us even. I qualified attended and placed at the State Dressage Championships this year even though I had a raging ear infection and nasty cold vergin on pneumonia.  I had been unable to attend last year 2008 due to a hip injury  so I was not going to let a little thing like pneumonia stop me.  What I really like about showing is all the time I get to spend emersed in horses  and horse people when I show.