Exploding horse!

[BigBird146]

My horse is 16 and I got him as a 4 year old to bring on and compete, wanted to SJ him. To cut a long story short, I gave up trying to compete him about 6 years ago because he's such a pain in the a**e at shows. He's difficult to load, travels badly and when i get there he is just totally switched off from me. I could ride around the warm up area and he'd go OK for a few strides, then literally explode, leaping, running backwards rearing, you name it (he's never worked out how to buck with me on thankfully or I'm sure that would have been the end of me!). I just got sick of never knowing wether it would be a 'refuse 3 times at the 1st fence' day or a ' go home with ribbons' day and at times he felt dangerous. So, I've just been a happy hacker since then. This has suited us both just fine whilst my time and efforts had to be concentrated elsewhere in life. Anyway, I decided a few months ago that I would like to do a bit more again, and as he's a fit, healthy, low-milage 16 year old now I'd hoped he'd be a bit calmer! Not so! I've been having a few lessons and wondered about doing a dressage test at the local showground (5 mins ride away) so went along on him for a look on Saturday and he was totally up to his old tricks even though I was only walking him around the warm up area.
I'd really like to do one later in June and in everyday life he's fine, forward but not too spooky, a bit full of himself at the minute (as most are at this time of year) so I really don't want to change his feed (Ride and Relax) as I don't think it's that. It's as if he just can't cope with the pressure (thought dressage might be less excitable than a full on show day) of even a little event, it blows his mind. Incidentally I did a pleasure ride on him a few weeks ago and he was absolutley fine with that, even when we ended up in the middle of a group cantering up a track.
Anybody got any ideas to help him deal with things a bit better?
He's a Hanovarian x TB.

 

[Maesfen]

Grit your teeth and keep taking him to as many places as possible, not just once in a while but as many days a week as you can manage. Hopefully in the end the boredom of it will change his ways. Incidentally make him work don't give him time to stop, spook or be stupid, get after him; lunge him there too, don't make it a fun day for him, he has to work with a big fat capitol W!

 

[ajn1610]

It sounds like your problems are in the warm up and then carry over to the ring. Some horse cannot warm up with others. Have you tried riding him away from the warm up or lunging him and then getting on and going straight in.
One horse I worked with couldn't bear being in an enclosed space with other horses wouldn't even lunge on the show ground used to go spare. We used to give him a full body massage in the lorry to warm his muscles up and then rider would get on and take him in with no other work not even a practice fence this worked for him.
My advice would be to try as many different ways of warming up as you can think of and see if you can find a system that works for him.

 

[YorkshireLass]

It might help him if you start off by taking him out for short rides in the trailer, then get home, feed him and turn him out. Thenv take him to every show or competition etc you can find. Go through the fuss of getting him ready. Arrive. Lead him about, then go home. Then build up to riding him about or showing inhand as he improves. He needs to think that going out is mundane and unexciting and stress free.

 

[Gemsie]

Hi There, My young Hannoverian mare used to get very very stressy travelling, hacking, jumping etc and I have found that using blue chip karma (its a fairly new product) has helped loads and loads - my little girlie is now pretty much stress free - she still gets wound up occasionally - but I can ride through the stress and its over as soon as it starts. Its particuarly good when travelling as you can give an additional 25ml an hour before you go - its fully competition legal. I really would recommend it, combined with as much work as possible and get your horse out to see and do as much as you can and I am sure he will learn that life really doesnt need to be so stressful! Good Luck x