Warm-Up Your Horse
Next you unload your horse, groom and tack him/her, put on your show attire, and proceed to the warm-up arena. Depending upon you and your horse, you may want to hand-walk your horse to the warm-up arena, or you can mount your horse near the truck/trailer/van and walk to the warm-up arena.
The prize list and/or the show’s website will provide warm-up location(s) and policies. Do not lunge in the warm-up arena; if lunging is allowed, there should be a separate location.
The method and length of your warm-up should be discussed with your trainer/coach before the show. Follow his/her advice! The advice may include the length of the warm-up (some horses need a short warm-up and some may need a longer warm-up), the movements to practice, etc.
Be polite in the warm-up arena. There may be many horse/rider pairs in the arena, causing a bit of crowding. Watch where you are going and avoid any collisions. When passing a horse going in the opposite direction, pass left shoulder to left shoulder. If you see a horse with a red ribbon on the top of its tail, that is a warning that the horse is a kicker; stay away from the rear of that horse!
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