thespanishmane
Well-Known Member
I have taken the Spanish boy to the Suffolk show for the past two years, so year 3 came today. Firstly my OH had decided he wasnt going to come as he was 'too busy' at work, so it was a case of go on my own or not at all. No. 1 horse decided he was not going to go on the lorry on his own, so I had to drag No.2 horse out of field, who loads like a dream. so,instead of 1 horse and 2 people, it ended up as 1 person and 2 horses!.
Got a good parking space at the show ground, unloaded both who were quiet. tacked No.1 up to go and warm up, put No.2 back on lorry. so far so good. Then, No.1 decided he couldnt possibly walk on the tarmac. Then his whole world came crashing down. As we tried to find the warm up arena, all the four in hand carriage horses appeared. not one, but about nine! he went bananas - reared and reared and reared. Meanwhile, joe public and kiddies want to take his picture, whilst nearly getting killed. Why, why oh why does the committee allow the B****y public around the horse/stables/warm up area? He nearly leapt on a push chair and squashed a dad. I have to say mine wasnt the only going nuts, there were others!. Feeling a bit sick by now, I decided to take him into the warm up area, where he proceeded to perform airs above the ground. luckily I had a balance strap on otherwise I would have hit the deck for sure.
He isnt normally like this at all - I guess it was sensory overload, but I was so annoyed about the stupidiy of the non horsey public. I was then asked to leave the warm up area as he was upsetting the others. Believe me, I was desperate to get him out too!. however. a kind lady (not) decided to grab his bridle to lead him out, when he went up telegraph pole style and nearly knocked her over. After this, i tried to make my way back to the lorry (almost in tears) on the way back the local hunt came towards us, blowing their horn, followed by a pack of donkeys pulling carts. I had just dismounted to tie him up at this time - and i felt he was so stressed i thought he was going to throw himself on the floor.
The upshot of all this was that i decided not to enter my class, and take him home. I was really upset as you can imagine. I had no 'groom' either, so would have had to have untacked him to show him in hand, and get back on again. (I watched my class after putting him back on the lorry).
So. lessons learned
1. Just becuase your horse has seen it all before, he might react differently another time
2. Dont go on your own, with two horses
3. Shoot your OH for being uncooperative
And, to cap it all, one of the numnahs fell off the saddle rack on the lorry and No.2 horse P***ed on it........
Got a good parking space at the show ground, unloaded both who were quiet. tacked No.1 up to go and warm up, put No.2 back on lorry. so far so good. Then, No.1 decided he couldnt possibly walk on the tarmac. Then his whole world came crashing down. As we tried to find the warm up arena, all the four in hand carriage horses appeared. not one, but about nine! he went bananas - reared and reared and reared. Meanwhile, joe public and kiddies want to take his picture, whilst nearly getting killed. Why, why oh why does the committee allow the B****y public around the horse/stables/warm up area? He nearly leapt on a push chair and squashed a dad. I have to say mine wasnt the only going nuts, there were others!. Feeling a bit sick by now, I decided to take him into the warm up area, where he proceeded to perform airs above the ground. luckily I had a balance strap on otherwise I would have hit the deck for sure.
He isnt normally like this at all - I guess it was sensory overload, but I was so annoyed about the stupidiy of the non horsey public. I was then asked to leave the warm up area as he was upsetting the others. Believe me, I was desperate to get him out too!. however. a kind lady (not) decided to grab his bridle to lead him out, when he went up telegraph pole style and nearly knocked her over. After this, i tried to make my way back to the lorry (almost in tears) on the way back the local hunt came towards us, blowing their horn, followed by a pack of donkeys pulling carts. I had just dismounted to tie him up at this time - and i felt he was so stressed i thought he was going to throw himself on the floor.
The upshot of all this was that i decided not to enter my class, and take him home. I was really upset as you can imagine. I had no 'groom' either, so would have had to have untacked him to show him in hand, and get back on again. (I watched my class after putting him back on the lorry).
So. lessons learned
1. Just becuase your horse has seen it all before, he might react differently another time
2. Dont go on your own, with two horses
3. Shoot your OH for being uncooperative
And, to cap it all, one of the numnahs fell off the saddle rack on the lorry and No.2 horse P***ed on it........
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Glad you and the horses got back safe and sound eventually. We have a local show that does helicopter rides and I have complained but to no avail. The helicopters must make a lot of money for the show I guess but flying them over the horse rings seems like madness and I've voted with my feet (and hooves) and will never go there again 
