Well that didn't go so well...

Our first "official" hunter show was today, but Chick spooked during our first round (cyclists hiding in the bushes, why would you do that? They were watching us... from the bushes... on private property, the judge literally had to shoo them away), and then decided the arena was terrifying for the rest of the day. But! In an effort to just get her over all of the jumps without consequence I totally forgot I was doing 2'9, and did a wonderful job considering I'm terrified of courses higher than 2'3ish. So it was both a good and a bad day.

I think you did a pretty good job :)its good experience for the horse and shows are just so fun lol good job :)

Haha thanks, she's usually so... perfect though, and she was PERFECT in the warm up rings, I don't get it, lol.

Haha they usually are...

Sounds like it was a productive day for you then :)
I love it when you just totally zone out on the actual height you're doing and just concentrate on the little things like staying ON the horse when they spook

I'm sorry it wasn't you and your horse's best day of riding! But, such is the way with horse shows. :) Congrats for going out there and doing it!

If you're scared of jumping over anything over 2"3 why were you competing at 2"9?

Because I've schooled to 2'9 and it was an easy course, $10 class, and I know I can do it but I'm just a nervous person if I have too much time to think about it. It's not that I'm afraid of jumping 2'9, it's the actual 'course' aspect of it, and though I've done it at home there's something about doing it in a competition setting that's just... dofferent. It was a good experience for me, and how else am I going to get rid of that fear?

Oh the joys of "spooky" people that know nothing about horses. I'm sorry about those bikers. Sounds like you handled it well though. And I'm glad you got over your fear. :)

I have had stupid "spooky" people before. The most recent was when I had just entered the ring and was about to start my course when from like 3 blocks down the road an ATV starts reviing its engine. The guy does that for a whole MILE! And right when he goes past the ring and I'm about to go over my first jump he REVS the engine AGAIN! Luckily my horse couldn't care less...which I was surprised about.

Again, congrats on getting through it. Hopefully your next show will go a lot smoother.

The judge was really great about it too, the first time she had me jump a few jumps away from them and towards them, then had me trot her down to where the bikers had been and stand her there for a minute before exitting the ring.

Good for you for continuing with the class and finding a positive spin on it! My trainer once went to a show where PETA people were banging pots at the end of the arena. Why they would do this, I can't answer. It's a virtual guarantee that the horses (and riders) will get injured. A few riders came off and there were some serious cuts and scrapes that the horses received. CAn't understand that extremist stuff myself...

Maybe your girl was still spooky over the bikers or maybe your nerves had her playing up, either way you both had a growing experience, congrats!