Cragrat
Well-Known Member
We have 3 horses kept at home, one of which is basically retired.
Of the other 2, one mare has competed quite a lot, mostly by herself, sometimes with the now retired mare.
Now however, we have started taking her to places with the other horse, an inexperienced gelding.
It's a nightmare. Every time. They shout and whinny to each other constantly, always spinning and stressing to see where the other is. They aren't ever in the same SJ class, so we have tried keeping one on the lorry whilst the other competes, and tried bringing both out together so they can see each other. Neither works. Dressage, they do often do the same test, so we warm them them together- they are fine in warm up, but as soon as they separate to go in the ring, the stressing starts.
At home, they DO NOT always work together- we have always, always made a point of taking each horse out by itself, several times a week, and they do this calmly and quietly. Equally, they hack out together happily.
For the last competition, I tried giving them both oxyshot, but it had no effect whatsoever
Any tips either for training or calmer? I think this year they have been to about a dozen venues, with NO improvement- will time eventually help? Our nearest venue is 45 mins each direction, so unfortunately I can't go every night of the week until they got over it- though it's tempting!
Thank you if you read this far - didn't realise it would turn into such an essay!
Of the other 2, one mare has competed quite a lot, mostly by herself, sometimes with the now retired mare.
Now however, we have started taking her to places with the other horse, an inexperienced gelding.
It's a nightmare. Every time. They shout and whinny to each other constantly, always spinning and stressing to see where the other is. They aren't ever in the same SJ class, so we have tried keeping one on the lorry whilst the other competes, and tried bringing both out together so they can see each other. Neither works. Dressage, they do often do the same test, so we warm them them together- they are fine in warm up, but as soon as they separate to go in the ring, the stressing starts.
At home, they DO NOT always work together- we have always, always made a point of taking each horse out by itself, several times a week, and they do this calmly and quietly. Equally, they hack out together happily.
For the last competition, I tried giving them both oxyshot, but it had no effect whatsoever
Any tips either for training or calmer? I think this year they have been to about a dozen venues, with NO improvement- will time eventually help? Our nearest venue is 45 mins each direction, so unfortunately I can't go every night of the week until they got over it- though it's tempting!
Thank you if you read this far - didn't realise it would turn into such an essay!
