🚛 Competition Confidence – Week 2:
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🚛 Competition Confidence – Week 2:
“The First Outing Back – Keeping It Calm, Safe & Positive for You and Your Horse”
You’ve been doing the work at home. You’ve ridden in your comp gear, kept the schooling sessions calm, maybe even run through a few mock tests. Now it’s time for the next step — the first outing back.
Whether it’s a training day, a local comp, or even just a float trip to ride somewhere new, this first trip out sets the tone for the season ahead. And while it’s easy to get caught up in nerves or expectations, your only job is simple: keep it calm, keep it positive — for both of you.
🐴 Choose the Right First Outing
Not every event needs to be a big one. Pick something low-pressure, familiar, and close to home if possible. This isn’t about ribbons — it’s about giving your horse a good experience and letting yourself settle back into the swing of it.
Training days, clinics, or small local shows are great places to start. And even if you’re aiming higher later in the season, this first step is all about setting a solid foundation.
📝 Prep Like a Pro (Even If You’re Nervous)
The more organised you are, the less rushed and reactive you’ll feel — and that calmness flows straight through to your horse.
Here’s a quick comp day checklist to help:
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✅ Saddle, bridle, saddlepads
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✅ Helmet, boots, gloves
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✅ Rugs (day + cooler), grooming kit, fly spray
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✅ Feed, hay, water buckets
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✅ Float check (tyres, registration, spare halter etc)
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✅ Horse ID, entry details, rider number if needed
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✅ Your snacks, water, and comfy clothes for after!
🛍️ If you need to top up any essentials, we’ve got a full range of competition-ready gear in-store and online — feel free to pop in for advice or a gear check.
🧘♀️ Give Yourself a Buffer
Plan to arrive early so you don’t feel rushed. Horses pick up on our energy, and if you’re flustered, they’ll likely be too.
Once you’re there, give your horse time to look, breathe, and settle. Walk around before tacking up. Keep your warm-up quiet and familiar — this isn’t the time to drill, it’s about helping your horse feel confident and ready.
💗 Focus on the Feel, Not the Score
Your first outing isn’t about placing. It’s about how the experience feels — for you and your horse.
Did they load well?
Did they stay relaxed?
Did you both recover after a little spook or wobble?
These are the wins that actually build confidence — far more than a score sheet ever will.
💬 Final Thought: Be Your Horse’s Calm
Remember: your horse doesn’t know it’s a comp — they only know how you feel. Be the calm in the chaos, and they’ll start to trust every environment you take them into.
You’ve already done the work. Now let it flow. One ride at a time.