Wake up pony!!

L

Lvrees

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20 February 2006
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www.supergroom.co.uk
Hi, I show my pacer x cob at county level, and he does very well. However he can be very lazy, expecially with the judge. He's ridden 6 days a week, and quite fit, and at home he's forward going and off the leg most of the time, at shows though he becomes backward.

I've done hours of transitions/schooling work, and this is not a schooling matter, basically he just falls asleep!

Now there are a million supplements out there that calm a horse down, what can I give him at shows to wake him up? He's fed: competition mix, oats (3 days before a show) and alfa oil. (plu garlic and soya oil).

I've tried most energy feeds, none worked! I have tried Equestro as well, but its quite messy and last time I used it it ended up all over his face!!!

Any other suggestions???
 
Surprise him! Teach him handy pony stuff ie over tarpaulins, through smoke, round umbrellas. Teach him to be ridden while you hold an open umbrella on his back! Teach him to have beach balls lobbed at him as he goes round the arena. Wake him up ... never let him know what's coming next ... appeal to his curious side and CHALLENGE him! You might also loook into a wip-wop rope to get him going forward. I know you couldn't use it in the dressage ring but HE wouldn't know that! He sounds totally gorgeous but he needs to start enjoying his work and BEING CHALLENGED! Spend all your bath/travelling time thinking up new things for him to learn. x
 
I have heard the nupafeed booster works well. That said, tried giving it to Chancer to perk him up in hand and it made little difference.

I did find the Simple Systems red grass nuts to boost him and I have to be careful with speedibeet.

Gypsy cobs are normally whilst not ploddy, very laid back, which is why I love the breed.

Have you tried hunting? Again some people with cobs find that this livens them up over the winter and keeps their sparkle for the summer.

It could be possible that he finds showing boring - why not try doing a few other things, some jumping etc and see if a more varied routine helps. I don't do more than two shows a month in summer and normally do other things from October to March so they don't get ring sour.
 
Guiness or Red Cell!!!!

My cob gets very lathergic when very fit, but some of this in her feed soon gets life back into her
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As I said though at home he is forward going, and off the leg, so throwing stuff at him wont make any difference to the way he is when we're competing, only worse as everytime I'd ga past a banner he'd think that something was going to be thrown at him!!
I jump BSJA as well and then he is forward going most of the time, I do jump in spurs though, and yeh I do hunt him and he turns into devil pony (which I love)!!!
As I said this isnt a matter of schooling, believe me I've tried it all and now hes lovely and forward at home but at shows, I suppose may be he does find it boring, but we are good at it!

I was thinking about red cell and I will have a look out for that booster stuff as well.
 
i was told yesterday to feed corn as its good for more energybut not fattening too much


iv just put my mare on country cubes for a bit more zoom
 
Competition Mixs and Oats are very high ins ugars and starch, and therefore many horses find it very heating. However it can sometimes have the oppsosite effect , you know like if we eat a sugary food it gives us a bit of energy, but if we eat loads of it we feel sluggish and lethargic. Maybe try something like slow release energy / endurance type cubes/mix? Will give him high levels of fibre and oil for stamina but no high levels of sugar which can cause peaks and troughs in energy levels.

My mare is very, very sharp and forward, which is great, but because of this wehn we get into a show situation she kind of retires in to herself if that makes sense, and almost hides! So whereas at home we are working Medium level, we are still competing at Novice as she becomes very behind the leg and backward, shows are the only situation I have to put spurs on! I'm hopeing the more we go out competing the better this will get, as we need to up the grades! Sorry if that last bit wasn't very constructive!
 
Been there done it tried them all, we've tried, slow, medium and quick release energy mixies, the best thing I've tried is competition mix with the oats, but he's still asleep in the class!!!! At home he's forward, its like he needs a boost at shows!!
 
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