Any suggestions at all for nappy/spooky horse when competing?

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bgray1981

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I have an 8yr old warmblood that I compete bd. At home he works beautifully at elementary level but as soon as I take him to a competition he's like a different horse. He backs off and is very difficult to get going forward. He finds any excuse to nap and spook. It's just as though he can't/won't concentrate on what I'm asking at all. Any suggestions welcome
 
I have heard that Oxyshot is supposed to be quite good to settle a horse at competition.

Can get a tube for roughly £10 I think.
 
Do you take him with others to a competition? One of my Exmoors needs her travel companion (whoever that is! She usually doesn't like them at home but once away from home she must not lose sight of whoever she has travelled with!) near the ring to allow her to settle and do a decent test, the other needs the travel companion out of sight to enable her to concentrate!
One of the TBs is a poppet if she goes alone to dressage and is the worlds worst behaved horse if we take anyone with her!!
 
Mine's the same!!

Just exposure. Go for lessons at new arenas, and compete as much as you can, even if it means doing unaff local over BD. Do it so much it's boring. And don't forget to keep your leg on!
 
My 5 year old is like this.... she will warm up really well go into the ring & be so backwards its rediculous ! So hard to enjoy it when shes like that... taking her for her 1st jumping today & really hope shes not like that !
 
If you can, just keep taking him out to different venues, even if it's just to turn up, work in and go home (although I would ask the venue if you could do this) I sorted my spooky youngster out by going to unaffiliated tests, clinics and CR Showjumping. My YO has invested in banners to put in the arena, plus leaves scary fences etc by the outside of the arena as hers is spooky and this helps.
 
exmoorponyprincess1 said:
Do you take him with others to a competition? One of my Exmoors needs her travel companion (whoever that is! She usually doesn't like them at home but once away from home she must not lose sight of whoever she has travelled with!) near the ring to allow her to settle and do a decent test, the other needs the travel companion out of sight to enable her to concentrate!
One of the TBs is a poppet if she goes alone to dressage and is the worlds worst behaved horse if we take anyone with her!!
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I always take him on his own and he does neigh a bit when leaving and getting to a venue but I don't think that's the problem and when we're working in the puts his ears back at anyone who comes too close!
 
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