In order to regain the joy of competition, one important aspect is the establishment of an effective routine prior to competing. Provided below are five valuable suggestions to assist you in getting ready for a horse show.
5 Tips To Help You Prepare For A Horse Show
Set Your Goals
During the week before a competition, establish your focus for the competition by setting goals. Make sure that the goals are centered around performance rather than the ultimate result.
What does this mean? Instead of setting goals to reach a specific percentage or position, the focus should be on achieving smooth transitions when shifting to and from medium paces.
Outcome goals can be challenging as they are dependent on variables that are beyond your control. Moreover, accomplishing an outcome goal may not provide the desired performance insights.
Learn Your Test/S
It is crucial to learn your test ahead of any competition, and it is recommended to start this process early. If it is a smaller competition, you can begin learning the test one week prior, while for bigger competitions, it is advisable to start two weeks in advance. Apart from learning the test itself, it is also beneficial to visualize and physically ride through the test.
TOP TIP: TALK THROUGH EACH MOVEMENT IN THE TEST, IN ORDER, WITH SOMEONE CHECKING EACH MOVEMENT OFF AS YOU SAY IT. THIS WILL HELP TO MAKE SURE YOU LEARN THE CORRECT MOVEMENTS, IN THE CORRECT ORDER, WITHOUT MISSING ANY.
Stay On Top Of Your Pre-Competition Grooming
In the lead up to your competition, there are several grooming tasks you can undertake to enhance the appearance of your horse. These tasks include:
- Trimming a bridle path and cleaning up any longer hairs under the jaw. Leave whiskers on the muzzle and chin as these play a really important role in the horses sense of touch.
- Clipping out white legs and all feathers. This really helps to clean up the overall turnout of your horse.
- Trimming the tail up and dyeing if it’s looking a bit bleached.
Once you have completed these tasks the day before the competition, all that is left to do is wash and plait up. It is a straightforward process!
TOP TIP: WASH YOUR HORSE’S MANE A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE DAY YOU ARE PLANNING TO PLAIT UP. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THE MANE IS CLEAN WITHOUT BEING SLIPPERY AND DIFFICULT TO PLAIT.
Prepare Your Gear
Have you ever experienced the situation where you took out your jacket for the upcoming show, but discovered that it was covered in slobber and dirt from the previous competition?
To save time during the packing process the day before, it is advisable to start the week by considering tasks such as washing, fixing, or replacing anything that may be needed.
Make A Plan For Competition Day
In order to effectively plan your schedule, it is important to have knowledge of your destination and the designated time of arrival. Once you have obtained information about your ride schedules, mentally work in reverse to determine the appropriate time to wake up. To accomplish this, create a comprehensive list of all the tasks that need to be completed before riding your horse, and allocate sufficient time for each task.
What should you do with your horse the day before an event?
As the eventing season approaches swiftly, it is important to consider the preparations and plans that are involved in getting ready for a competition. These preparations include fitness programs, lessons, acquiring new equipment, and making travel arrangements. It is likely that you have dedicated several weeks, if not months, to these preparations for the significant event. However, it is worth reflecting on whether you have thought about how you will handle your horse on the day preceding the competition. In this article, we delve into this subject in further detail.
What to do with your horse the day before an event
Are you wondering if it’s best to run through your dressage test, jump some jumps, or give your horse a day off? We interviewed top riders and trainers to determine the ideal preparation.
According to Cindy Llewellyn, a British Eventing (BE) accredited coach, it is often the case that if a horse remains idle the day prior to a competition, they can become excessively energetic during the event. Therefore, it is vital for the horse’s overall well-being, flexibility, and mental health that they engage in some activity.
Georgie Goss, a five-star event rider, concurs and frequently jumps her horses the day prior to a competition.
“Georgie explains that the approach she takes when training horses depends on their unique temperaments and needs. Typically, the competent jumpers are tasked with completing a course, while those who encounter difficulties with jumping are given gridwork to practice. Georgie has consistently followed this method, which has proven to be effective.”
I engage in activities with my horses on a regular basis. When participating in competitions, the pressure can be intense. To alleviate this pressure, I find that jumping them the day before helps to lessen their anxiousness.
Event rider Nat Dixon, who has accomplished Badminton and Burghley and was nominated for the Sydney Olympics, does not enjoy initiating her horses to jump prior to their competitions; instead, she prefers to train them.
Nat says that he doesn’t like to jump his horses the day before because he believes it puts stress on their muscles. Unless the horses are exceptionally talented, he chooses not to train them at a challenging level. Nat prefers to work his horses in a long, low frame and focuses on a lot of lateral work. He acknowledges that his approach may not be universally right, but it works well for him.
There is no set rule about what activity should be done the day before taking your horse to a competition, but both riders and trainers agree that it is important to engage in some form of activity with your horse. Individual preferences appear to be crucial in this matter.
According to Australian event rider Bill Levett, we always ensure that our horses are engaged in some form of work the day before an event. However, the type of work varies for each horse. Some may focus on flatwork, while others may participate in jumping exercises, hill work, or stretching through lunging. The specific activity is chosen based on the individual horse’s needs and what suits it best for its pre-event preparation.
According to Bill, it is not common for us to gallop a horse the day before it participates in a competition. In the case of preparing for a significant three-day event, we gradually reduce the horse’s workload, and we conduct a final substantial gallop 10 days prior to the horse’s scheduled cross-country run at the event.
Cindy Llewellyn believes that although galloping a horse the day before may not be advisable, a short canter can be beneficial for event horses participating at higher levels.
According to Cindy, it can be beneficial to clear the horse’s airways by giving them a brief, brisk canter the day before they participate in cross-country at an intermediate level or higher. While Cindy does not believe that the horse requires extensive training, she suggests that running through their dressage test or going on a hack to allow for stretching and practicing leg yielding to improve suppleness can also be advantageous for the rider.
According to riders and trainers, it is recommended to ride horses the day before a competition. However, vet Leticia Macias Bricio from Wessex Equine Veterinary Practice disagrees and states that there is no noteworthy harm to a horse’s physical health if it takes a day off before competing.
Leticia suggests that it is not a risky decision for horses to have a day of rest, even if it is just before a competition. The extent of risk depends on the competition level and the horse itself. Ideally, Leticia advises making sure the horse remains active by not leaving them in the stable all day, but also not overworking them. A light hack is considered a beneficial option.
Leticia concludes that keeping things the same and ensuring the relaxation of horses is crucial because they are creatures of habit.
Bill Levett agrees that it is important to maintain the horses’ routine as much as possible before, during, or after a competition. For instance, if the horses are accustomed to living outside the night before an event, they should continue to do so.
When planning your activities for the day before a competition, it is crucial to bear in mind that all horses are unique individuals with distinct needs and preferences. Therefore, it is essential to have a good understanding of your own horse and take into account what works well for them.
