Spooky fillers at competitions

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foxy1

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Feeling a bit disheartened.

Took my 5 year old to his first little jumping competition yesterday. We've done loads of prep- jumping fillers/ tarps draped over poles/ flower pots etc at home, been to lots of clinics at new venues and we got to the point where he was spooking at nothing.
Yesterday we jumped two clear rounds in the clear round ring (no fillers), went in to do the class and it was eyes on stalks, spooking at all fillers. We got round in a fashion with only one stop but I'd really hoped we would be better than that now!

Any tips?
 
I would count that as a successful first outing most horses will have a good look the first time they see a full course with fillers away from home, however much prep has been done there is the added pressure of other horses in the warm up, a bell going and probably a commentator announcing you are about to start, they may be only minor but do add to the atmosphere that cannot be created until you compete.
As it was a positive experience for him and he was well prepared I would expect the next outing to be much better with him feeling more confident generally, I sometimes feel we forget how strange it must be for the horse when we take it all in our stride.
 
Thank you, yes I'm sure you are right. I suppose it's a case of doing more actual competitions, as nothing is quite like the real thing?
 
This is only to be expected for the vast majority of young horses. I would also class that as a positive first competition. I would go out again soon either to arena hire with plenty of fillers or another comp, I'm sure it will be better still
 
I've done lots of work with fillers as my horse would always spook at them, and at 10 he should know better! I think part of it was down to me worrying he was going to spook at them so the braver I got the better he got. Plus as a previous poster said, at a competition venue everything is much less relaxed so they can get a bit looky, I would count that as a success!
 
In the clinics has he been in the ring on his own or with others? It sounds pretty successful to me but I would probably do some arena hires/clear round days with the main jumps if offered too.
 
Even my 12yo still spooks at the odd filler - I wouldn’t be too worried. Any chance you tensed up and he felt that?

The positive thing is that you got round - it’s not about being stylish when they’re young and spooky, it’s about being proactive and effective.
 
Thanks everyone for thoughts.
Yes, on reflection I guess he's had to leave all the others and go in a new arena on his own which he has never had to do before.
Onwards and upwards! :D
 
Id try to book courses to have a play round right after a competition finishes, so the course is fully set up with fillers etc. and other horses are still around creating that event atmosphere. I wouldn't be worried about a spooky youngster on his first outing at all, I would be a bit gutted about the refusal but as long as the horse went back over it nicely then I wouldnt worry too much about it, Id just ensure I only tried small enough courses meantime that should he stop again, he can do it from a stand still as I hate teaching horses they can turn away at all.
 
foxy1 said:
Feeling a bit disheartened.

Took my 5 year old to his first little jumping competition yesterday. We've done loads of prep- jumping fillers/ tarps draped over poles/ flower pots etc at home, been to lots of clinics at new venues and we got to the point where he was spooking at nothing.
Yesterday we jumped two clear rounds in the clear round ring (no fillers), went in to do the class and it was eyes on stalks, spooking at all fillers. We got round in a fashion with only one stop but I'd really hoped we would be better than that now!

Any tips?
Click to expand...
What sort did he spook at?? as my late mare met a snake plank well one snake on each plank so I made myself a snake set of three planks .
 
My horse has been going to shows regularly at the same height since March and he STILL looks so hard at anything even vaguely unusual, or even just brightly coloured poles. We've had countless stops and run outs but it is improving now (and even had a few clears) by just going out time and time again, new places, new situations. He can be beautiful one show and the next one he'll find a pink pole terrifying, but overall there's an upwards trajectory.

I've also started making him jump tiny spooky jumps more often - probably 4 or 5 times a week. After I've ridden I'll have him jump a 40cm jump with a tablecloth or brightly coloured cavaletti - just once or twice, and end there. Or if I'm lunging I'll put a few buckets under a pole and have him go over it at a height where he can go from a standstill if necessary. Once he's done it twice calmly, I remove it and we carry on. Out hacking we'll jump a log or something if possible. Just so that he sees and jumps new things ALL THE TIME and it becomes part of his routine.

It's been a long journey though, I can't lie!
 
JustMe22 said:
My horse has been going to shows regularly at the same height since March and he STILL looks so hard at anything even vaguely unusual, or even just brightly coloured poles. We've had countless stops and run outs but it is improving now (and even had a few clears) by just going out time and time again, new places, new situations. He can be beautiful one show and the next one he'll find a pink pole terrifying, but overall there's an upwards trajectory.
Click to expand...

Sounds just like my horse! We're getting there too :D
 
MagicMelon said:
Id try to book courses to have a play round right after a competition finishes, so the course is fully set up with fillers etc. and other horses are still around creating that event atmosphere. I wouldn't be worried about a spooky youngster on his first outing at all, I would be a bit gutted about the refusal but as long as the horse went back over it nicely then I wouldnt worry too much about it, Id just ensure I only tried small enough courses meantime that should he stop again, he can do it from a stand still as I hate teaching horses they can turn away at all.
Click to expand...

I was really annoyed at the stop, it was white planks with writing on, second part of a one stride double. He did jump it second time though, and I didn't say in my OP but I went again at the end of the class (HC) and jumped the course again clear.
Just got to keep getting out I guess.
 
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