Ex-racehorse napping in show ring

K

kristinaclay5

New User
Joined
28 January 2012
Messages
9
Visit site
Hi, i have been showing my ex racehorse in-hand with great success, so decided to try some ridden, however as soon as we g,et into the ring he napps, rearing, spinning, bucking and backing up towards the exit. I have tried calmers, and i try to be reinforcing the leg and forward movement, but sometimes its just safer and kinder to the others for me to leave the ring, trouble is that only reinforces the napping! Any one any ideas how to overcome this fear or should i just give up on showing? He doesnt do this when we do dressage comps always goes really well. Teeth, tack etc all fine. Thanks :-)
 
Does he hack out alone? Its going to be mileage and time I'm afraid. Take him to shows to use the warm ups (ask the secretary and pay the first aid though) and get him used to the basics, including standing around and being bored for hours. in hand is EASY for ex racers as they've been paraded around in hand many a time!
 
Agree, mileage and time. Also do you hang around the entrance, mine is better if I go straight from warm up into the ring, if I wait in the collection ring we can be a bit backwards in our mind.
 
Hacks out alone all the time, lives alone. Also competes dressage with no problems, even in warm up. Tried going straight into ring, no difference, tried walking around showground lots but only gets worse each time we go out. Its as if his security is the trailer and is very happy if as close to it as he can be, any distance away and he panics. Imnotsure if its a confidence thing around other horses as he seems fine on own.? Thanks for your advice, :-)
 
My exracer is terrible around the other horse - have had to stop showing him completely as he finds show grounds way too stressfulwith all the other horses, tannoys etc. He is fine in a jumping ring where he knows his job, or on the XC, but he can't cope showing. I want to event him, so it's not a dream-breaker, but as my instructor said they are horses with a lot of blood, and as exracers they have their issues - they aren't horses to play on and there are things they may never do. I'm working with mine at PC rallies to try and get him used to the environment and atmosphere, well see if that makes a difference.
 
I am by all means not that knowledgeable but if you are keen to show I would try going to some riding club clinics so that he gets used to working with other horses. I did a handful with my straight off the track horse before taking him to his first show. Fortunately he was fine but it was good education for him. As you know you have a problem, you probably need to clear it with the riding club people as not fair otherwise to inflict a problem on a group who may have their own issues, then perhaps see if you can find a showing clinic or something similar. Then perhaps see if you can do an inhand class followed in the same ring by a ridden class so he has already been in there or perhaps do something ridden like a turn out class where he only has to walk around. Just some thoughts. I would also say and it may be that you don't - but don't get stressed thinking he is the only one!!
 
I'm not very experienced with ex-racers personally but I've seen this happen more than once in ex-racer classes, so you're not alone!

Could you hire a local area, get some friends down and simulate a show ring environment? Have everyone enter and go clockwise so you can follow on in the same manner. It might help to identify if it's the following/in the middle of a line of horses that's the problem, or if it is the general show environment? Showing shows do tend to be buzzier than dressage shows, so it might be he's lacking confidence in that environment when he doesn't have you on the ground to follow.
 
Thank you s bird, was thinking of trying that one out, sadly not much where I live, will try to get in touch with someone local. I agree with what you say though as he does follow me. he was in a very bad way when I got him 2 yrs ago and has come on masses, so im very happy with the progress he has made so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top