In hand showing a jumpy baby

[Hackback]

I'm very tentatively thinking of taking my 3 year old to a local show next month just to get him out. The trouble is as soon as he gets out of his comfort zone he gets very stressy. We can do really good things on the yard, leading, yielding, standing nicely at the mounting block etc, but as soon as I take him off the yard he gets ridiculously excited.

I don't have a school so today I took him in the field. With his rope headcollar and long lead rope we were fine - his default is to half rear and try to pull away but with the rope headcollar I can keep hold, and after a few attempts to take off he started to think about things and calm down.

But what's the best headgear to show him in? He's bitted but I don't like to yank on his mouth if he turns to take off. I know bo diddly squat about showing so no idea what is allowed and what isn't.

 

[Auslander]

I wouldn't be taking him out anywhere until he's happy and confident with anything you throw at him when you're out and about close to home. Taking a youngster who isn't settled when he isn't in his safe space out to a show sounds like a recipe for disaster to me!

 

[Hackback]

That does worry me.

Thing is we don't go out and about close to home - that's what the show was for. I know I'll need to get him down the road a few times before we go (that's why its a tentative plan because it depends how it goes) but just thinking ahead really. I'd like to have something to aim for even if we don't make it this time.

 

[Auslander]

I think you are running before you can walk. Id be doing a lot of baby steps to get him comfortable with having his horizons broadened. Out and about doesn't mean shows - it means going down the road and back til he's bold and relaxed, or round a field he doesn't know - small wins, until he doesn't think everything is so stressful that he's rearing and trying to get away from you. A horse who is acting like you describe - I wouldn't even think about consider taking him somewhere with lots of unfamiliar horses, with an atmosphere. Not only can you not guarantee that he will be calm and controllable, but you cannot predict how many other horses will be dicking around, which could blow his mind further. If an unfamiliar field is giving him the heeby jeebies, a showground is going to be hell!
Some youngsters have been going out all their lives, or are laidback enough to cope with going to parties. Some need to do a lot of homework - and your guy sounds like he's the latter. It's not a bad thing - it's just how he is, and you need to act accordingly

 

[sassandbells]

Does he ever leave the yard at all, for walks in hand or anything? Show environments can be quite overwhelming for youngsters especially if they’re not used to going out and about normally.

would it be an option to box up and go out for an in hand walk with another steady horse first to see how he is?

 

[dottylottie]

if he’s started being backed you can use his bridle with the reins over his head, or an inhand bridle and leather lead - you can get chain couplings to provide a bit more control. make sure bridle is appropriate for his breed/type of course, so plain for m&m, velvet browband for part welsh/arab etc.

some good practice for things at home would be things like umbrellas, things flapping on fences, scary jump fillers (in case you’re next to a sj/workers ring!), all things you can introduce him to at home so he’s not as baffled when he’s out! if it’s a small local level show, i don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking him for a look at everything going on but not going in a class! get him prepped the way you would if you were entering, but take him down and let him see the sights and have a jog round the warmup (provided you’re not going to disrupt people riding for example) but without the pressure on either of you with going in the ring.

i agree that you should get him walking round some quiet lanes etc at home first, but provided you’re definitely in control and he’s not a danger to those around you (or yourself!) a bit of spooking and prancing can be managed. he’s still a baby and the only way for him to truly get used to that environment is to take him - obviously you wouldn’t take him to a big show if you know he’s dancing around like a loon lol, but at small local shows i think you’ll be fine!

 

[spacefaer]

I'd hire a local arena and get him used to travelling, and being away from home before I contemplated taking him anywhere in public with other horses, an unpredictable environment, etc. You should he able to do anything to him at home and away by himself before you think of taking him in public
Small local shows are highly likely to have small kids, ponies, pushchairs, tannoys - it's not fair on him to take him without proper preparation. It'll only lead to bigger problems down the line
Also, showing in hand youngstock, you have to use a proper bitted bridle with leather leads. No headcollars - so you need to have proper control in a bridle

 

[Hackback]

Thanks everyone for your advice, it seems I am trying to run before we can walk. Just for context I have him at home with my older horse, I've had him since June and I don't have an arena, hence doing stuff with him on the yard. The field I take him in for practice is his own field, so not scary or new, it's just doing anything different gets him really excited.

He used to do the semi rear and pull away thing every time I turned him out but he got over that eventually, although he stood and quivered until I let him off - just sheer excitement. I expect that when I start putting him on the summer grazing I'll have to go through it all again.

It's a really good idea about hiring a local arena - it's a couple of hundred yards down the road and is actually the venue for the show. I'd never thought of it because it's normally hired out for jumping.

Thanks for the advice re the bridle for showing @spacefaer. We have that so I guess we just need to get comfortable with it before we venture anywhere.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Also, showing in hand youngstock, you have to use a proper bitted bridle with leather leads. No headcollars - so you need to have proper control in a bridle

Completely and utterly wrong. Colts 2yo and above MUST be bitted. Fillies, geldings and yearlings can be shown in filly slips bitless. 4yo and over horses are expected to be bitted and shown in double reins with the exception of sports horses who can still wear inhand bridles but they don't have to be (with the exception of RoR's) it's just traditional to have animals of a working age shown in a ridden bridle.

It depends what type your horse is too as some are shown in white rope halters, some with plain flat leatherwork, blingy browbands, brass browbands etc. Some filly slips have a crank type noseband/lead rein set up which can be used with leather or chain.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Thanks everyone for your advice, it seems I am trying to run before we can walk. Just for context I have him at home with my older horse, I've had him since June and I don't have an arena, hence doing stuff with him on the yard. The field I take him in for practice is his own field, so not scary or new, it's just doing anything different gets him really excited.

He used to do the semi rear and pull away thing every time I turned him out but he got over that eventually, although he stood and quivered until I let him off - just sheer excitement. I expect that when I start putting him on the summer grazing I'll have to go through it all again.

It's a really good idea about hiring a local arena - it's a couple of hundred yards down the road and is actually the venue for the show. I'd never thought of it because it's normally hired out for jumping.

Thanks for the advice re the bridle for showing @spacefaer. We have that so I guess we just need to get comfortable with it before we venture anywhere.

We walked Mim in-hand for miles and miles between 2 and 3.5. We went to watch harvesting, met all kinds of stock, watched a wedding tent being set up, played in rivers, watched the rubbish collection on rubbish day. We crossed bridges, looked at trains, went to pubs and Mim was greeted and patted by all sorts of people, including lots of excited children. We just walked, walked, walked.

By the time we started doing arena hires and clinics etc, Mim was already very confident. She actually hasn’t been to her first show yet - my fault, I just haven’t had my act together due to work. But I’m confident she will be absolutely fine because we have done so much.

I cannot recommend walking in-hand highly enough. I still do it from time to time just because she enjoys it so much.

 

[Hackback]

OK thanks. He's an Arab (gelding). I know Arabs have their own fancy showing halters but I didn't want to go that far and they don't have Arab classes at the local shows anyway.

I must start walking him out, but that scares me in a way more than going to a show, in case he did get away from me on the road. I took him out at the back end of last year, with OH and other horse for company, but bad timing a tractor came flying round the bend behind us and scared both horses to death. I managed to hang onto him but it wasn't a pleasant experience.

He's a year younger than my old horse was when I got him, but I don't remember the old one being this excitable.

 

[Caol Ila]

I did the same as LG. Walked my youngster for miles. We went through housing estates, industrial estates, past and underneath a busy train line, over motorway bridges, etc. etc.

She has never been to a show (tbh, I can't imagine anything less fun than what you guys call showing but that's just me) but when I moved yards in November, she took the change gracefully and calmly.

 

[Barton Bounty]

That does worry me.

Thing is we don't go out and about close to home - that's what the show was for. I know I'll need to get him down the road a few times before we go (that's why its a tentative plan because it depends how it goes) but just thinking ahead really. I'd like to have something to aim for even if we don't make it this time.

Can you box him up and take him to another arena, start that way and build yourself up to more busy places?

 

[ihatework]

OK thanks. He's an Arab (gelding). I know Arabs have their own fancy showing halters but I didn't want to go that far and they don't have Arab classes at the local shows anyway.

I must start walking him out, but that scares me in a way more than going to a show, in case he did get away from me on the road. I took him out at the back end of last year, with OH and other horse for company, but bad timing a tractor came flying round the bend behind us and scared both horses to death. I managed to hang onto him but it wasn't a pleasant experience.

He's a year younger than my old horse was when I got him, but I don't remember the old one being this excitable.

When and who is going to back this horse?

He sounds like the type I’d want to send away for early backing sooner rather than later. Try and get a few buttons programmed in and have him grow up a bit. Doesn’t mean riding him to death btw

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

OK thanks. He's an Arab (gelding). I know Arabs have their own fancy showing halters but I didn't want to go that far and they don't have Arab classes at the local shows anyway.

I must start walking him out, but that scares me in a way more than going to a show, in case he did get away from me on the road. I took him out at the back end of last year, with OH and other horse for company, but bad timing a tractor came flying round the bend behind us and scared both horses to death. I managed to hang onto him but it wasn't a pleasant experience.

He's a year younger than my old horse was when I got him, but I don't remember the old one being this excitable.

I actually think the Arabs have even funnier bitted bridle rules in that I don't think you have to have a bit at all, even on the stallions. But that is proper affiliated showing. If in doubt check with the show secretary what they require.

 

[Hackback]

When and who is going to back this horse?

He sounds like the type I’d want to send away for early backing sooner rather than later. Try and get a few buttons programmed in and have him grow up a bit. Doesn’t mean riding him to death btw

A professional on the yard I used to be on, who I know will do a great job and get him going in traffic too. He isn't actually 3 until next month and he is quite physically immature so at the earliest he will be backed late summer and then he won't do much until next year. That's depending on how much he matures this summer.

He does love something to do and learns quickly. He's bitted, has roller and side reins on and my bareback pad and stands square at the mounting block while I faff about with him. He leads nicely, backs up and yields quarters and shoulders on the yard. He's a real sweetie who loves a fuss and a pamper.

Take him off the yard and he turns into a loony tune. It's genuine excitement/fear, not naughtiness. My older Arab was like a diluted version - I know their brain just pops and fizzes when they go into overload, but this one seems to have a much lower threshold and is harder to persuade back into the realms of normality.

I tried to load him (to get him to the farrier) soon after I got him but only got as far as putting two front feet on. He had a long journey to get to us, with an overnight stop. Apparently he loaded ok at home but after his stopover it took the transporters (Eric Gilles) an hour and 40 minutes to get him back on, so I organised an EP to visit us instead and decided to leave the loading until we've got normal leading sorted.