Reducing horse's nerves when first arriving at show venue?

[dressage_diva]

I recently purchased a green 8yr old WB for dressage who is lovely in every way, but he's a sensitive chap and can get quite anxious in new/strange situations, especially show grounds. He's an absolute saint when I'm riding in strange arenas, but before I get on, when he first arrives at a show venue he is very nervous and on edge.

I make sure to allow plenty of time for him to take in all the sights and usually leave him on the lorry for 10-15mins with the ramp down to get used to all the noises, before bringing him off and tying him up and I make sure someone always stays with him. However, yesterday at our 3rd show together (and about his 5th one ever), he spooked at a loud noise from another lorry whilst tied up, pulled back and snapped his leather head collar before running loose in the lorry park! He was genuinely terrified and I really want to help him learn that it's all ok!

He's fine with loud noises when being ridden, and he's fine if I clatter things around him when in-hand at home, but at shows he's very nervous! After he's done his tests, he's so chilled out and will stand by the lorry snoozing in the sunshine, so it's just the period of time between arriving and me getting on that he finds scary!

Other than taking him out lots to get him more used to stuff what can I do to help him chill out? I've been doing some ground work with him and plan to spend lots more time despooking him at home too as I realise that will help his confidence overall, but he is just not as nervous at home as he is at a show! I've taken him to other people's yards for lessons too and then he's generally not as nervous as he is at a show ground and he settles much more quickly - I'm sure it's the buzz of other people and lorries.

I appreciate that time will be the biggest factor in getting him to chill out (and also learn to trust me), so realise that the more shows he goes to, the more he'll chill out. But equally I want to do as much as possible to help him in our preparation as I don't want him panicking again like he did yesterday and running off loose in the lorry park again! Thanks

 

[alice.j]

If he's fine when you're on him, maybe don't give him so much time before you ride? If he realises that everything's fine when he's being ridden, he'll eventually realise it's fine when he isn't!

 

[Equi]

I went to my first show with my stallion a few weeks ago. I arrived at 11am to find out my class wasn't until 5pm. During that time i took him out to lunge and see things (so i could see his reaction to it all) and he was ok..a bit uppity but nothing i didn't expect from a stallion that has shown only once or twice a year if at all (he is 8)

As the day went on he got worse and at the end he was rearing and trashing about in the box (which was very inconvenient as he had someone interested in his breeding and he wasn't being very good!) so we went home.

Next show, i got there and was nervous as all hell because of the last time we went out. I had about 30mins to spare, so he was left in the box all closed up so he couldn't see/hear and when it was time to go i got him out and went right to the ring. Took champion and first in all his classes.

Moral of the story, don't give them time to think about all the stress. Get them focused immediately on working or showing. In your case, get him and get on asap. Walk about for as long as you need too, let him see and hear everything.

 

[Red-1]

When I have a new one I will make sure they are well used to travelling and then waiting, for example if my lesson is at a large busy yard I will be there an hour early, put the ramp down and leave well alone until the horse is quiet. I start somewhere quiet and build it up.

If we get somewhere and they are then noisy I don't go in with them until they are calm. The noise gets them nowhere, but before I am called a bad mother I also build up the business of places in the run up to the show so they know the score.

 

[EQUIDAE]

I'm another one (also with a stallion) who is in the 'don't give them time to think about it' camp. I turn up, (barely) warm up, go in, then go home. Initially he was a bit of a pain but the more I take him the better he is getting and we stay for a bit longer afterwards. We never turn up early though.

 

[caulfield_jo]

I've used Confidence EQ on my youngster and that really helped her concentrate on what I was asking in stressful situations

 

[Barnacle]

A factor people forget about is other horses... Horses, naturally, take cues from other horses and are very perceptive to how other horses are feeling. At shows, it's not just nervy humans and lorries whizzing by - it's anxious horses as well. So all the desensitising in the world won't address that specific issue. What I would do is try to travel with a steady companion, if at all possible or take him out to lots of events where there will be other horses in a similar anxious state of mind without worrying about competing. This can be a clinic or lesson as well - doesn't have to be a competition. Even going out for a hack with strangers and/or fun rides in strange places. If he can learn to take his cues from you over other horses - especially from the ground so take time to lead him and work with him in-hand in the aforementioned contexts - you should notice some shift in his behaviour. Other than that though, experience and groundwork at home... Which you're already doing!

 

[silv]

Personally I would take him out of the lorry straight away and walk him around the grounds, let him have a look and possibly a pick of grass. When he is settled return him to the lorry until you are ready to tack up and ride. Keep very calm and don't react if he gets spooky, just be quiet around him and matter of fact so he not will pick up any anxiety vibes from you. That way hopefully he will realise it is just another boring showground which means work. I had a very impatient horse and this worked well with him.