If I make it into the ring without chickening out, crying or throwing up the rest will be gravy. I think I should get points for that, actually. And I should also get points for the new movements will we undoubtedly make up on the fly. I'm hoping to have fun, I'm going to build confidence. I have a great little horse, however, the thought of riding in front of a judge/strangers makes me physically sick. I forget all my Sally Swift analogies and get all tense. I have a clinic the week before

In reading all these I may have figured out something I may be doing to throw myself off - I really do appreciate all the input. I love getting insight from other riders. I have a month until my schooling show so hopefully I get it sorted out by then.

I do take lessons as often as I can. I think my instructor is ready to kill me! She did tell me that people who start riding as adults sometimes have this issue, having one side stronger than the other. I've always been able to sort out my other issues, I eventually have one of those "aha" moments when I figure it out. For some reason this simple little thing eludes me. We've tried several different things, I always end up where I was. It would be funny if I wasn't worried about

Another question that has come up since I'm preparing for my first show: I've done some reading and I understand there is no rule about posting diagonals? I'm riding Intro level, and something that gives me tons of trouble is posting on the right diagonal. I'm correct to the left - off to the right, and have trouble correcting it b/c the "correct" diagonal to the right is actually very uncomfortable and feels off, so I don't know if it's helping my horse or not.

It's not the horse, I have this problem no matter which horse I'm on. For some reason it's nearly impossible for me to catch the right diagonal, and then I'm off balance when I do, making things worse for the horse.

My mare hated the vine simulator obstacle. I hung a shower curtain in an open stall door and cut it into strands and practiced leading her through. Also hung lead ropes from the top of the stall door for the same effect. One event I attended had halloween decorations next to the obstacles - so it's good to introduce funky things like that. Anything I can find to have my horse walk over - blue tarp, pieces of old carpet - whatever is safe. I fill garbage bags with old cans and drag them behind

Ok, so my colt and I have our first show ever coming up in December. It's a only schooling show, but considering I've never done anything outside of our barn shows, it's a big deal. I have an older (but very nice) dressage saddle that's brown. My bridle is just a plain black snaffle which doesn't look that nice anymore. I have a black padded comfort girth. I would like to get a nicer bridle - but am confused as to what color to buy. I think it would bother me that my tack didn't

Post a review of the book after you get it. I've seen it advertised but haven't bought it yet.

Thanks for the response. The bridle I use had a flash for about 2 seconds before I pulled it off. What I really like is the look of a plain, flat hunter bridle. I just wasn't sure which route to go. Just b/c it's not mentioned in the rules doesn't mean it necessarily "acceptable" in the ring according to current trends or what judges prefer to see.

I've been working on this with Remy, too. He'll jump anything that's narrow enough. Do you have anyone else around to work with you? What helped Remy is following another horse through. I was able to school him on a couple xc courses with a nice water complexes, the other riders would go through and stand in the water and Remy would eventually follow until he was crossing ok, and even jumped in at one point. We don't jump (yet) but it was worth the trips just for him to learn this