Nuts at Shows

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rachier

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I cant blame my horse for being a nut when he goes away because he is an ex racehorse, but i was just wondering if anybody had any ideas to calm him when we get there.

He travels fab, almost pulls u on the trailer lol, and u never hear a peep from him when in wagon / trailer, but when he comes off and has a chance to see where he is there is smoke coming out of his ears and nostrils.

Once the rider is on he doesnt really try to bolt (unless cantering and he wants to go fast), but he dances about and does some fab dressage moves!!!

I have been taking friends to help (thank god they dont mind) to settle him, but i am a nervous rider as it is.

He is PERFECT when at home thou!!
 
Hi - I get exactly the same thing with my ex racer as well. I find (personally) the best thing is to get on ASAP and not let them prat around for too long when they come out of the lorry. Agree it can be rather hairy but once I am on top at least most of the wilder moves (especially his own version of airs above the ground
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) stop. Would be interested to hear though if anyone on teh forum has ideas for calmers though. I ahve tried ALOT of calmers but nothing seems to make a difference. I just think its the way racers (or at least some of them) have their brains wired.
 
Hi there S Costello!!

Nice to know im not the only person with the ex racehorse problems lol!

Vet, feed and physio Bills arnt nice!! Nothing majorly goes wrong, its all the little things that build up - think i must have only had about 35 weeks of riding this year!!
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Nope you are not the only one! They are wonderful animals ex racers but they find all sorts of ways to get into trouble. If it makes you feel any better have a look at my blog (linked below) - I spend my life either with the vet or the physio!
 
I feel as though I'm reading about my own horse.....!!

The chestnut below carries on in exactly the same way. However having said that the more outings he goes to the better he's got.

His last outing last month was as a 'guinea pig' in an ex racers lecture demo given by Ian Stark along with 5 other ex racers. He came off the lorry dripping in sweat and snorting like a stallion! BUT once in the arena and working he was an absolute gem - no bucking, getting wound up or just messing around.

Nobody was more surprised than me I can tell you!! So it seems that perseverence is the way. My grey horse is also en ex racer now aged 24 - he still competes regularly - and he is a complete gentleman at shows, never hots up. So yes I think there is hope for us all - eventually!!
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ETA - mine is also perfectly well behaved at home - a saint to hack out in the heaviest traffic!
 
Mine doesnt do that but he get very tense and will sometimes nap going into the SJ ring.

I give him tempralax (NAF), and talk to him and give him long reassuring strokes along his neck.
 
I found when I took my ex-racer to a dressage comp recently that he found it all very exciting, but settled when I asked him to work - ie give him something to think about. I think the problem lies in the anticipation.

If you're not conifident on him at first, you could always lunge him or do some groundwork as a warm up?
 
rescue remedy, give him some on a piece of apple before traveling and some 10 mins before getting him off the trailer/box. it sorted my ex point to pointer out.
 
Sounds just like what my little man used to be like! I used to lunge him for about 5/10 mins to just take the edge off him and that worked really well make sure if your working in to do it in a fairy quite area. I also used to take him to other peoples schools, get on him fairy soon and not faff too much and get him used to going to diff places. Now he's a laid back chap and behaves himself
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Has he been like this for a long time? Or he still quite new to it all. If so, then I guess its just practice! The more you go out, the more he should (in theory) relax. Lungeing might be something to try (like Fairy_Dust suggested) so he can have his "fun moments" safely!
 
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