How to settle nervous horse at shows

llohcins123

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Have just started taking my horse out and about for lessons/ clinics etc and he gets very nervous in new surroundings, calm as anything at home but huffs and puffs at everything when away. Obviously I will continue to do as much as I can and hope this improves him but just wondered if anyone could give me any tips to help settle him and keep his cool? We have shows coming up, some in indoor arenas and he has terrible seperation anxiety so I just hope he isnt going to blow a fuse!
 

Kelly Marks

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Can you go and not compete a couple of times? Is it possible to long line for 20 minutes and lead him around and just 'hang out' for an hour or so? Can you stay as long as necessary (hours) after your class just hanging out and so he goes home on really low adrenalin?
Just asking!
 

stormox

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I think most horses are excitable when they first get to new surrounding, lots of horses etc. I remember one of mine absolutely freaking at the sight of a miniature pony! I think the best thing is to make sure you get there early, to give your horse as much time as possible to settle. Also, take a lunge rope and whip, and find somewhere to give him a lunge. If a horse wont behave on the lunge, it won't when you ride it. If the adrenalin level is too high it cant help but obey its instincts rather than you. When it first gets on the lunge it may fly round, and buck. Let it 'let off steam' before you ask for proper work, and mount up when he's settled and listening to you. The more you go out the easier he'll become to settle down and eventually you will find he will be totally sensible when you get him out at an event.
 

khalswitz

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Mine is a nightmare at comps, and I've found that best thing is to get there really early, tack up and lead around for half an hour before getting on - if the warm up is quiet I even go and sneakily lead him round there so he gets a good look (entering the first class of the day helps with this!). I try and give myself as much time to warm up as poss so he can wander round and have a good look and have plenty of time to settle, and if the warm up gets too busy I can take him out and just walk him round the car park for the last ten minutes.

Once I'm on I always make sure that I'm asking things of him - riding forwards, asking for bend etc. I tend to bend, then half circle, then leg yield, then onto a circle the opposite direction - lots of changes of pace/direction/bend to keep his mind occupied.

It will take a wee while, but forget about scores for your first few shows and just concentrate on getting him settled. Once he has enough experience and realises what is going on, he will settle down.

Saying that, I still can't get my horse in a jump warm up ring as all the cantering horses freak him out. However we are getting there!
 

Wheels

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I would keep going with the clinics and group lesson type things and ensure your horse is settled in those situations before moving on to shows
 

llohcins123

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Yes he seems really upset today so obviously having quite an impact on him. He is 7 and Irish Sports Horse- has competed from a baby with previous owner, and at big shows etc. Yes I can get him there early etc. Does anyone use a calmer just for show days? Definately doesnt need it at home so just thinking of something to make going out less scary at the mo.
 

flirtygerty

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Can you go and not compete a couple of times? Is it possible to long line for 20 minutes and lead him around and just 'hang out' for an hour or so? Can you stay as long as necessary (hours) after your class just hanging out and so he goes home on really low adrenalin?
Just asking!

This, my 3yr old cob is taken out with my TB for fun rides etc, he sometimes gets excited, but we just walk him round letting him look, while the TB does his stuff, when he settles, we practice inhand moves with him, or just let him graze, when he does go to compete, he's an old hand and unfazed by what's going on
 
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