And the award for the world's most horrible horse goes to...

Z

Zobaby

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Morris! He is literally the most horrible beast ever. I'd been preparing for this show yesterday for ages and was really excited about it and he ruined it completely. I'd decided to be brave and enter the 85cm and 95cm classes (normally do 75cm at shows but jumps up to 1.20m at home, doesn't care about the height)
Anyway, he was looking absolutely gorgeous and apparently I was looking pretty smart myself!
So he'd been bugging me all morning by generally being very fidgety and annoying, pawing at the floor and trying to stand on the plastic box where i keep all my stuff which is outside my stable and he even untied himself at one point and nearly got to his field - not funny. So got to the show and the course looked pretty small, so i was pleased!
Warmed up ok, not feeling brilliant, but was jumping fine. Then for the fun part. Got into the ring and he stopped at the first jump. Twice. I was SO angry! I was expecting him to nap, but I thought i would at least get over no.1! Got over the 1st one eventually and had to come straight out as I was eliminated. I was so embarrassed and was so so close to thrashing the cr*p out of him on front of everyone. Didn't tho, of course! So didn't bother doing the second class either so wasted a tenner too. A year of really hard work for absolutely nothing. So frustrating as he jumps anything at home and has stopped about twice in the year i've had him, so he's just being a nappy idiot. I really can't face it anymore. I can't stand even being near him now. Pretty sure he's going and I don't want a new horse. He's put me off. Cried most of yesterday, I was so upset. I think I need a hug..

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(((Hugggs))))
I know it doesn't seem like it now but things will get better
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So sorry. ((HUGS)) I think we have all felt like that (lost count of the number of times I have yelled "thats it, you are dog meat!" at one of mine before bursting into tears) Im sure things will get better..... or perhaps he is not the horse for you, in which case, sell him and get one that is more suitable. DOnt let this bad experience put you off though.
 
My mare did this to me or I should say I did this to my mare at our 1st show I was nervous and it went straight throught to her we had 2 stops at the 1st and one at the 2nd!! If I was that nervous how could I give her the confidence to jump? Truth is I was cr@p...... not her
We live and learn eh??
 
The problem is, this is the pattern now. I bought him to event and BSJA and he was quite expensive, but within a week he started napping and rearing. So basically my whole dream collapsed in a week. At least once a month I say " Right that's it, he's going, I hate him!" but this time, I really, really don't want to deal with him anymore. The thing holding my back from selling him before was his price - we'd never get close to what we paid for him due to his rearing. But I think we're just going to have to cut our losses and I'm going to have a holiday from horses to see how I feel and decide if i want to get another one.
 
have you tried taking him clear round first? just might be stage fright that is causing this. take him in a class he can do from walk and stay in the arena until you do everything. Then go back in again and do it higher, and again till it's up to height for a proper class. If he is doing it well, then and only then jump a proper class. If he is still not flying round then do the same at the next show.
 
it is destroying when this happens after you have put so much hard work in and (((hugs))) as you must be feeling like cr*p atm
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BUT please look to the future - it sounds like you are doing amazingly well at home, my pony is the same - he jumps fab at home but the moment we go to a show he is awful, i came off three times at different shows a few weeks ago because of his refusing and i felt the same as you! so anyway i asked for help from RI who is good with nappy horses and she has agreed to take him to some events and she won't take any nonsense from him - maybe you could do the same and ask someone who is used to that kind of horse to take him round and get him out of this habit which in short is him taking advantage of you and the moment to 'play up'. hope things sort themselves out soon, don't give up!!!
 
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My mare did this to me or I should say I did this to my mare at our 1st show I was nervous and it went straight throught to her we had 2 stops at the 1st and one at the 2nd!! If I was that nervous how could I give her the confidence to jump? Truth is I was cr@p...... not her
We live and learn eh??

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I totally don't think I rode my best, but for determination I would get 10/10! I don't tend to get nervous and I definately wasn't yesterday. But I get what you mean
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I think you're being a bit dramatic over getting eliminated
When was the last time you took him to a show?

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My frustration is that he does this at nearly every show. Yet this is what i bought him for. It's the fact that he'll jump anything put on front of him with his eyes closed at home and in the warm up at any show he is fantastic, yet as soon as he gets into the arena he turns into a different horse. He rears, he spins, he reverses, everything. He's been to loads of shows and, fair enough he's better than he used to be, but in a year, the improvement isn't that much. I suppose my reaction is hard to understand if you don't know him.
 
Poor you!

Could you possibly rent the arena at the showground, go through all the show day preparations, do the warm up and then spend as long as necessary until you can get him round the whole course? If you get the better of him once he may pack it in.
 
Yeah might have to consider something like that. Urgh more work!

Thanks for the hugs and advice guys, you're always so helpful
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why dont you just do a couple of clear rounds at a show- take your instructor or a trusted friend with you. Then there is no pressure and they can help to advise you. If he is going well then you could go on to do a class. have you taken him anywhere else to have a jumping lesson? horses are just so frustrating sometimes! Dont give up yet- if you can get it right, then you will feel even better after getting through a really hard time... Its tough at a show when you feel like everyone is watching and you know you are so much better than what just happened... Good luck!
 
The thing is its a routine now, he naps in the ring and he comes home.... tske him to another show and ask to go hors concur, and make him go round
 
Surely the fact that he is good at home and in the warm up must count for something.
My horse used to regularly be eliminated at shows, first fence was usually demolished and we rarely got over it. I wish he had been good at home and in the warm up, I once got told I was a stupid girl for taking my horse to a show.
Now he rarely thinks about stopping, it only took alot of hard work, getting him out alot. We used to wait till the WH had finished then my friend would give us a lead on her horse. Eventually it all paid off, he even got the award for the most improved horse at our local RC.
Maybe hes stale and fed up, maybe your warm up doesnt suit him, but horses arent easy and it can take far longer than a year to sort a problem out.
Otherwise, maybe you aren't suited as a pair and he would be better of with someone else.
 
I think you should go to as many shows as you can and do the clear round. Several times if necessary! Take a friend to put the jumps up and MAKE him do it. With no pressure on you, I'm sure you'll break the habit and get your confidence back (I'm pretty sure this is a confidence issue; you're expecting him to play up and so he does!)
 
You sound quite similar to me - you're a try hard! I remember when my instructor told me that once and at first I was quite miffed but then I thought, yeah, she's right.

I'm having napping issues with Oscar (although not rearing) and when I took him to a show he was a gem - because I wasn't expecting anything from him - I didn't put pressure on myself and didn't wind him up in the process.

How about doing some showing classes on him? Get out there but on the flat - or maybe working hunter so you've only got a few fences to do?

I do totally sympathise with feeling up and down about a horse as I have been this way with Oscar and Ty but ask yourself - does he have enough good points to consider working through it?

I was going to advertise Oscar on Friday but then just realised that I couldn't.

If you don't feel able to deal with the rearing (and I'd bet my savings that 90% on this forum wouldn't be able to, no matter what they say and myself included) then maybe get some help from someone who can.....

Someone said to me the other day that any talented horse has quirks....and it's so, so true!
 
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Zoe, don't beat yourself up over it - remember where Morris came from and how he was when you first got him - it's going to take a bit of work - where was the show?? Were you at dabbs?

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ditto, we all have days like this ... I just had one too today, dr not sj but the same feelings. Just spooked at the mirrors and then was tense throughout (which isn't like him). Worked so hard and all for nothing, was all very bit embarrassing to be honest as he is an eventer and was surrounded by wonderfully behaved dr horses working beautifully on the bit and he ran around with his head in the air. But I do accept there was a certain amount of pilot error too (should have stayed away from the mirrors!).Good luck and *hugs* to you. Also a friend's horse got elimated at the first jump today and didn't even get over it! You are not alone!!
 
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