Saturday last week I was preparing to babysit Francesca and I thought, while I was stocking up on supplies for the night, that i'd purchase the showing special of Horse & Hound to read up on judges opinions and guest editors notes and to learn things that I didn't already know; and I'm glad i did!
There was something that got me thinking that I wanted to write a post about so here it is -
Jenny Banks who is a Sports Horse Breeding (GB) ridden hunter panel judge mentioned the importance of a show horse also having experiences outside the show ring and that so many horses when showing demonstrate clear signs of only ever being ridden in a school and that they haven't got a lot of experience outside of that setting. She goes on to say how important learning new experiences are for horses -
B flying over a fence at Burghley Park CUDH Meet. Photo by Sam Pawley Photography
We often get surprised remarks from people who we're meeting for the first time, that we're "taking a show horse hunting?! Aren't you worried about injury?!" and such like. Well the honest answer to that is yes, we do worry about injury, but we also make every possible precaution to protect Beanie against an injury he could do to himself or that could happen by others, even things outside of our control like a rock or stone etc. As you can see he is booted with brushing boots and over reach boots.
We drag hunt, as those who have read this blog before will know. We do so to help Beanie gain confidence in his jumping ability and teach him that jumping isn't just cross country or show jumping in a school.
It's helped him gain confidence over ditches, which after a really bad training experience which I won't go into, really shook his confidence. And that jumping cross country fences and hedges aren't just at speed but need to be done so in control and that it's not just 'do a course of fences, finish and go home for the day'. He now understands that he can go more slowly into a fence and not get so excited that he bucks afterwards. Hunting involves stopping for a breather and to let the hounds find the scent and that he has to wait while they do that. He is now much more chilled out at events which is a real plus (especially for me who has to handle him, as well as tack up, groom etc)
It's also taught him to relax and not get overly excited by loud noises and things that could make him jump. Not to mention hounds around his legs.
Saying that, all to Beanie's credit he is actually a pretty laid back chap. We happen to live right near Duxford Air Museum which regularly see's airplanes flying over our house, quite a lot lower than we'd like, but due to this Beanie has really coped with learning that planes might be loud and scary, but they're not going to hurt him, so he doesn't gallop around when they do fly over and ends up hurting himself.
This really helped when the TARRA classes over ran at Great Gransden Show in 2013 and a kamikaze plane display happened directly over the car park and ring while judging was occurring. See photo for evidence
Photo by Frances Kay Photography
As you can see His Gingerness couldn't give two hoots. We went on to win that class, then the Championship to be Great Gransden TARRA Champion 2013. Beanie had only been showing a few months at this point and it just confirmed for us what a good lad he really is.
Something else mentioned in the article was hacking - Unfortunately at home we don't have our own school. Rather than keeping B at a livery yard, he's kept at my parents home which has 2 stables and a couple of grazing fields. The nearest mènege is at a riding school the other end of the village, that Georgie hacks to. This means that he hasn't gotten used to just going round and round an arena. He's flexible and supple in both reins due to this, which is another plus.
Talking of hacking, we do a lot of it! To get to the off the road riding we have to hack through a busy large village high street where we regularly encounter buses, vans, lorries and cars. Some better at passing than others! (But we've all experienced this i'm sure!) Due to these circumstances he is a very unspooky horse who isn't phased by air brakes, scary road works or a rattly trailer or car coming past.
Another benefit with the road work, Beanie has nice strong legs and tendons which really helps too (but not so much he's gotten splints mind you!)
But with all this exposure to lots of new loud and scary sounds and sights he's become desensitised to them. Which really helps when you're in a large county show ring and there's banners, flapping flags, loads hustle and bustle of spectators etc.
Luckily we did a lot of showing in your childhood so we're very aware of what you should and shouldn't do, so we haven't had to learn all that many new things.
Last season when we went to Burghley. It was a situation Beanie had never been in, as there were over the tannoy commentary the whole time, people ushering competitors to different parts of the park to get to the ring, and obviously a lot of spectators. He didn't mind one bit and for all that Beanie has learnt in his short time I am incredibly proud of him, and of Georgie for all that she has taught him!
So with all of that said i'd really encourage others who want to show to a high level to take their horses out to experience different surroundings and sights. It helps adjust them to a life after racing (in the case of retraining racehorses) or just get a horse more safe by exposure to different and sometimes frightening situations. Plus it's a better quality of life for your horse to do varied activities. It keeps their mind fresh and active and helps to avoid monotony which can lead to naughty behaviour from boredom.
If we reach our goal of competing at Horse of The Year Show we're going to have to get Beanie used to lot's of clapping and an electric atmosphere of indoor arena. Not if, not when that occurs, we'll be ready to face it!
I am really looking forward to this season and going to events we've not competed at before, namely Hickstead! Very exciting, but also to help Georgie continue with B's education and seeing where all the hard work we do will take us.
They both work extremely hard and for that they deserve it!
Good luck everyone with the year and season ahead!
Sophie x
