Scary behaviour at show...

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Charla

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My 4 year is going nicely. He's really chilled out on hacks and generally schools nicely. I've been taking him to shows and doing inhand to get him used to the atmosphere. At first it was all a bit much for him and he literally exploded but several shows later he is really calm and well behaved at them. So much so that I decided to try him in a ridden class. I had him tacked up and let him settle and he seemed quite happy munching grass etc. However, the minute I got on was a different story. He began neighing and wouldn't stand still. I tried walking him up to the practise ring and he bolted and then bronco'ed nearly having me off. He was then threatening to rear and just generally panicking. On numerous occasions he would just ping in to the air throwing himself around from a stand still. All this is out of character and I assume he is just lacking confidence in the situation. Do I just need to perservere? Thanks.
 
Forgot to add, I did take him in to the class where he bolted and bucked again. He then calmed down somewhat during the class but was extremely tight through his back.
 
Maybe take him in In Hand classes initially so he has you to "protect" him, also been on the ground at his head may give him confidence? Worth a try
 
It might be worth taking him to a show and not entering anything, then take him to the next show and do an in-hand class. Once he is more used to the show atmosphere you can start entering under saddle classes again. :)
 
Continue with taking him into in hand classes then when he has got the hang of them and is more settled at shows I would then put him into tack and turnout classes (ridden). All he has to do is walk round and stand for ages, and you dont get the added bonus of all the other horses trotting and cantering around you!! I did this with my youngster years ago and after a short while she soon settled at shows.:)
 
I'd take him to as many clinics as possible. Round here riding clubs run them with groups of 2 - 4 riders for normaly an hour. You've got all the excitment of a mini show with none of the pressure, if he's not behavouring you can do your own thing, no one else is worried about you upsetting their horse during a competition plus an expert on hand to offer advice. If it all goes perfectly and an hours too much mentally then you just relax at the side and watch.
Good luck he will settle they all have their "it's party time" momments!
 
Sportyspots said:
I'd take him to as many clinics as possible. Round here riding clubs run them with groups of 2 - 4 riders for normaly an hour. You've got all the excitment of a mini show with none of the pressure, if he's not behavouring you can do your own thing, no one else is worried about you upsetting their horse during a competition plus an expert on hand to offer advice. If it all goes perfectly and an hours too much mentally then you just relax at the side and watch.
Good luck he will settle they all have their "it's party time" momments!
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Agree, I'd start with clinics and lessons for the ridding side but still do some in hand classes as well.
Hope he settles
 
I normally start my horses off with in hand classes, then for their first couple of riddens will go to a local show, and do an inhand, then do a ridden class such as tack and turnout..

I do this as it eases them into the overal you are on thier back and they are in a group, you dont leave walk in this type of class but you do the go around, then the standing about bit.

I also wouldnt go into a warm up area at this stage, id just pootle about the show ground, as horse relaxes id then bring in trot etc. again vary rarely do i even at county level go into a warm up area. I prefure horse to be relaxed in the atmosphere and listening to me.
 
Lunge, lunge, lunge! Find a quiet corner of the show ground and take some time to get the edge off. Then as the others said, in hand class first - good luck!
 
Keep on with in hand, don't do ridden classes, but do a few in hand, lunge if necessary to get excess energy off, change the feed if needs be so he is if anything a bit lacking in omph for the moment.

After doing some in hand and lunging at a small show, then get on and just go for a hack round the show ground. Do not go in the warm up area - these can be very challenging. If he does well at this after a few shows, then go in something like tack and turnout or a walk and trot showing class - many shows run these. Still avoid the warm up area.

When he is ok at this, then continue and try to see if you can walk round the warm up area and build up to doing some proper working in.

Then try another showing class at a small venue and work up to larger competitions.

I did this with my lad, though he was out doing in hand from the age of two, so when it came to being ridden it was not such a huge leap and after four or five small shows was ready to go out and do affiliated showing at the larger venues.

Two years on, I can go anywhere with him no matter how busy, and he gets into the ring and on with his job. He still hates crowed warmup areas - never does anything but finds them restrictive at having to keep start and stop, change direction, to avoid others. Hence I often just go for a walk round the venue and if possible do a bit of trotting. I don't need to tire my lad out or school him before going into a class, just give him a stretch which for me is great.
 
Work him HARD the day before the show, lunge him BEFORE you leave the yard on the day of the show, lunge him when you get to the show, and when you are convinced he is fairly tired, then get on him.

Do not hang around changing stirrups, doing up girth and general faffing - just get right on with getting him going forward at the speed and in the direction you want to go.
 
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