dangerously over excited when competing

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

My friend has a horse who is very sweet and well mannered at home; schooling, jumping and hacking, but he becomes difficult, very sharp and downright rude when she takes him out to a competition. She’s tried to work on it, but to no avail. They’ve not yet tried the magnesium calmers. (The sorts you buy in a syringe, for a one off dose.) I’ve not used them so I don’t know much about them. Anyone have any thoughts, do they make much difference to a horse that can become very over excited? Is there any risk of them developing colic? He would need a biggish dose as he’s so big (17.2 warmblood).

 

[Bens_Mum]

I had a similar horse myself... We tried various calmers but the best thing was just to take him out alot and eventually it got boring if that makes sense. We went in the trailer for a hack etc and it began to become a bit less of an event. I have heard Super Calm is good from Global Herbs - might be worth a try?

 

[stencilface]

I woudl try and take him out as much as possible, and don't even try and compete him. Choose venues with good facilities and just hack him around the show site, use the arenas etc between classes when competitors aren't using them as so you don't get in anyones way. Maybe use (I'm going to get slated for this) draw reins or similar if she struggles to control him?

I woul try this for a while before even thinking about calmers. And when I say a while, I would say anything up to a year really - some horses just take time to get used to things ime.

Maybe she gets stressed when going to a competition and passes this on to her horse - just a suggestion

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Yes, agree. I think she is starting to lose her confidence with it a bit. Maybe she should be the one taking the calmer LOL.

Good idea with the draw reins. That hasn't been tried yet. I think you're right in that this could take a while to sort out, but there's no hurry.

 

[stencilface]

I have seen quite a few people recently at BSJA just taking their four year olds out for a hack around the lorry park, scho=ool round the arena when its empty and then box up and go home. Seems a good way of doing it

 

[KatB]

Calmers can help, my old lad was like this as a 4/5yr old, just used to spin when you got him off the lorry!! Started using a calmer on him, and it made a HUGE difference, he was so much nicer and more focussed. I found the Global Herbs one and the Nutriscience Anxicalm the best ones

Also, as he did more he got better aswell, but the calmer made him more manageable at the time

 

[DollyDolls]

Can they send him to a professional for a few weeks who's based at a comp yard, then he'll be worked by someone experienced and who can properly assess what's going on.

 

[Cyberchick]

I agree with the above and take him out as much as possible and don't compete. It would be interesting to see how his reaction is when the pressure is off and the rider is not competing to see if her nerves or adrenaline affects his reaction.
Before I started to compete my horse again, I boxed him up and took him to a couple of friends arenas for a school and back home again just to get him out.
Can she also go with a friend so it makes the day a bit more fun and she isn't just concentrating on herself?