Conference noted::equitation

    Hi!
    
    I have an Arab colt that was born this year ... and I've been told
    that if I wanted to, I could show him as a weanling once this year, but...
    then to HIDE him until he's ready to show as a yearling??? Does
    this make any sense? Is this the kind of strategy I have to deal
    with if I want to show my horse? What's the advantage to not letting
    people see your horse before you show him? Are they supposed to
    be impressed? 
    		I really don't understand why I should want to do this?
    I really would like to hear some candid opinions on this!!! 
    	
    			Thanks, Nancy
    
    P.S. He's an exceptionally beautiful horse, so I don't think it
    was meant that I should hide him because he's UGLY. 

    I think the idea is to "bring him out with a bang" as a yearling,
    ie. "set the Arabian show world on its ear with this fantastic horse".
    "Hiding" him will keep your competition from knowing what their
    competition is.
    
    Good luck!
    
    I don't think it was meant badly but rather as a "yes, he's nice
    this year but, wow, just wait until next year!"
    

    
    I have some friends who have breed their own babies.  There's have been
    really gorgeous creature also, but even thier went thru a gangly
    stage.
    
    Perhaps the person who made the comment was saying that the gangly
    stage will occur before your colt is a yearling, and to hide him
    during that time.
    
    Either way... if it were me, I wouldn't him!
    
    Just guessing,
    Dani
    

    If you wish to show your horse, at any stage, don't feel that you
    shouldn't.  It is totally up to you.
    
    Some folks like to bring them out with a bang; when they are looking
    their best and that is usually not as a yearling but they are all
    individuals and have good and bad moments whenever mother nature
    says.
    
    The folks who hold off on showing are usually those who show Class
    A as a rule and are big breeders.
    
    Again, if you want to show him at any stage just do it.
    
    GOOD LUCK...it realy is fun showing.
    

    
    Thank you for replying...I was really curious! I think you are all
    RIGHT! I will show my horse "whenever I want to!" I have no reason
    to hide him.
    			Thanks again, Nancy

    May I ask if this mare came from Sterling, Ma.?  Also where
    are you located so that you may be put in touch with someone
    in your area to help you out.
    
    Look forward to hearing from you
    

    I can vouch for the kicking, since I am the one who trailered the
    horse.  As far as the trailering problem I believe it stems only
    from the fact that the horse had not been trailered for a couple
    of years prior to the trip to your house.  It was obvious by the
    way that the horse entered and left the trailer that fear was not
    the motivator.  
    
    My advice is to buy or borrow a trailer and daily work with it building
    the horse up slowly.  If you don't get a horse used to trailering
    you'll have no horse to show.  Working slowly with this horse is
    the key. Just load it in the trailer and feed it the first day.
     Load it and start the motor the second, drive it to the end of
    the driveway the third etc.  
    
    I know your horse and I agree it will do anything you ask of it
    but, she needs to reason it out first.  Once the trailering has been
    conquered you're ready to show and local shows are a good way to
    start.  Typically in the spring a large number of schooling shows
    are available and I have always found these very beneficial.  There
    is much less preasure and the judges are quite willing to explain
    to each individual there good points as well as bad.
    
    Best of luck,
    
    Karen 

    Where are you located?  There are some nicely run shows held at The
    Pony Farm in Temple, NH.  They have several classes catering to the
    inexperienced.  For example - Adult walk-trot equitation and pleasure,
    also a division for green horses - walk, trot, canter - but no more
    than 8 horses in the ring at a time.  The woman to contact is Bo
    McDaniels.  There are some open local shows held in Barre, MA and
    Spencer.  The Arabian folks are having an open show in June at Spencer.
    You could go to some shows and watch - alot can be learned by watching
    or grooming for someone who is showing.  
    
    If you could trailer your horse to a friends or an instructor it
    would give you an idea of how your horse will act in company away
    from home.  
    
    Good Luck!  
    

    
    RE: .1, yes, this is the mare from Sterling Ma.  and we're located
    in Weare NH. (about 8-10 miles west of Manchester).
    
    Appreciate the help.
    
    -John (replying for his wife Sue who was using someone else's account
           in .0 when she was working at DEC via a temp agency for a
           day)

    We trailered the mare when the previous owners bought her and she
    kicked then...the entire ride.  We were told by the original owners
    that it was the size of the trailer...we had a two horse at the
    time.  She was used to travelling in a 6 horse if I remember correctly
    and always with others.  The time we trailered her she was alone
    and I am assuming when you received her she was alone.
    
    Will be back to you on who I know in the area to help with the showing.
    
    Good luck...
    

    This mare was alone the last time she was trailered in a two horse
    trailer.  I am sure that another thing which did not help was the
    fact I have an exta wide, and she did not seem to be able to balance
    well or gain any support from the oversized stalls (she is nowhere
    near as wide as my horses).

    I don't think that the width of the trailer was an issue since when
    we trailered her, she was in a standard size stall.  In any case,
    wide trailers provide more support than narrow trailers.  Horses
    will "spread eagle" their legs when a trailer begins to move.  This
    has the effect of giving a wider base of stability for their center
    of gravity (although I doubt they actually reason any of this out).
    People do the same thing on a moving surface so it is pretty natural
    to do.  The wider the trailer, the more they can spread their legs
    and the greater the stability.  Many people take advantage of this
    by removing the partition when trailering a horse alone especially
    for "scramblers".  I really think this mare is just mad at the floor
    for moving around so much so she shows her anger by kicking out.
    I would try her with another horse first and if she still kicks,
    I'd try something like riding with her and sounding a loud bell
    or fog horn every time she kicked.
    
    Bob
    

    Trailering -
    I got all the practice that I needed in this subject last summer.
    
    I have a 17.1 hand Thouroughbred, he always loaded himself on the
    trailer and never stopped or kicked. He was in Weare at a barn boarded
    and the people took him on a joy ride. He would not go close to
    his trailer in weeks. When I moved him from there, (emergency) I
    had to call a friend to give him three shots of ACE. He still managed
    to jump three fences. We finally did get him into the trailer and
    moved him into a privat barn. He would not go close to the trailer
    since he was terrified of it. He is a kind of a nervous young man
    tobegin with. The trailer was then put into his paddock and he could
    get used to it again. I was advised not to feed him in there, because
    it is just a trick. He learned, due to his curiosity, to walk on
    and examine the trailer again. We closed the trailer while he was
    in it with no truck attached. He nearly jumpt over the steel bars.
    He got scared. Then we let him go on the trailer with the truck
    next to it. Every week we did progress the steps, until he walked
    on and stayed without getting scared. Then we took short trips around
    the town and brought him right back home. Now, a year later he is
    OK again. He thinks about walking on this trailer but he will walk
    on it after a little time. He has to smell it, he has to convince
    himself that it is OK.
    It took time.
    Good luck and lots of patience. DO not force it.
    

    BAck to showing an Arab...
    
    Before we got into Arabs, we attended open, schooling shows.  There
    happened to be several ARabas participating, especially in the timed
    events.  To see how halter handlers do what they do, you might consider
    renting a tape at you local tack store;  Bob Hart, Jr.'s halter
    tape is excellent!  You get to see him stand a horse at halter and
    hear him explain why/how.
    
    Go to a few breed shows.  Watch how the handlers enter the ring,
    what they wear for daytime and evening shows, how they are pinned.
     It's not necessary to use the so-called highlighter (the colored
    variety) that some handlers use around the eyes of their horses;
    just make sure the horse is clean, clean, clean.  Clip the bridle
    path (no more than 12 inches from the poll) and the whiskers.  You'll
    see at the breed shows what else is usual.  Talk to handlers after
    their classes.  If they're amateurs, they'll probably be happy to
    talk to you about showing.  If they're pros, they probably won't
    give you trade secrets, but may share a small tip or two.
    
    Go to clinics.  There is one at State College, PA, on May 13, featuring
    Kit Hall.  Call Sandy Sloan (814) 696-4185 for an application. 
    The cost is only $10.  It's $40/session if you bring your horse.
    
    Find a friend who shows in the same division you do, i.e., halter
    or performance.  That way, you can arrive at and leave the show
    at the same time.
    
    Most of all, have fun!!
    
    Merrie

    To start showing, first get either "The Yankee Horseman's Peddlar"
    or "The Nutmeg Bulletin".  Usually both of these are available at
    a good tack store.  Both list numerous shows.  Start with the open
    shows that include classes for both Arabs as a breed and other classes
    for all breeds.  This way you can show only with Arabs and then
    also in the "open" classes.  The classes where you may find some
    discrimination against Arabs are: confirmation hunter, working hunter,
    and halter for "western type" horses.  All of the other classes
    like open english or Western Pleasure, Trail, Bridle Path Hack,
    Command Clases, Show Hack, Open Jumping, etc., you will be just
    as competitive as any other breed as long as your horse is properly
    trained for that division.  Frankly, because Arabs are usually the
    prettiest horse in the class you always get noticed by the judge.
    We show  both at the all breed shows and the open shows and do quite
    well at both.  We enjoy the open shows more as there is more
    appreciation of a good horse there no matter what the breed.  Don't
    forget organized pleasure rides/drives, poker rides, scavenger hunts,
    etc.  Arabs are always welcome at these events.  Have fun!

    I also am new at showing with an Arab.  My gelding is trained to ride
    hunt seat.  How to get started, well with a young horse, go to the
    small local shows.  Schooling shows work the best for me.  They are
    small less crowded and I stand a chance of getting home before the next
    day.  Some shows I do better than others, it depends on the judge.  I
    went to one show were Gretchen Caldwell was judging.  She loved Metrik,
    he could do no wrong.  We pinned very highly (1st and 2nd) each time in
    good company(eight horses).  Even when he picked up the wrong lead, he
    pinned second!  Then I have gone back to the same show a week later,
    had the horse show well, and not even been looked at.  I look at these
    shows as training sessons for me as well as him.  I want to show in the
    Arab circuit, but these shows are predominently A rated.  No fooling
    around here, we have to look and be our best, so for now, while the A
    Arab shows are still for the pro's, we must practice, practice,
    practice.
    
    Good luck!
    
    stephanie
    

    Don't be fooled...judges are judges.  I show the A circuit for
    Arabs...we have a good time but I have given poor rides and been pinned
    and then given absolutely super rides and not been looked at.
    
    On the one judge system you definitely can be seen and not seen.
    
    Whatever you do have fun...THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.  We certainly
    aren't doing it for the money.
    
    Kathie
    

    
    
    
    and also!!!! alwlays remeber this.. this pulled me thru on my
    championships while i was in the ring with all pros!
    
    The professional can be beaten on any given day..
    (my dads saying)
    
    wendy o'