Who takes companion horses to shows with theirs and why?

[karenjj]

Just a general question my friend told me she won't be competing anymore for a while as she is pregnant and so I am faced with either taking my boy on his own to shows or taking the shetland along as a companion for him. He is quite clingy and gets in a bit of a flap on his own generally but is it a case of he'll just have to get used to it or taking the shetland along for a travelling buddy? Not sure, wondered what everyone else did?

 

[angela_l_b]

Have you ever tried taking him alone? Mine is actually worse when I take company. If I take the two together they know the other one is somewhere near and get worked up if they can't see them; if they go out alone they don't get so bothered.

Maybe try him alone to a relaxed occasion like a clinic and take some help with you so you can try it out before the stress of a show.

 

[hoggedmane]

I agree - my stressy pony is much better on her own than with a field mate. I just give her a while to settle when we first arrive and she is then chilled all day! If the field companion is there she neighs the whole time if she can't see him.

 

[MardyMare]

I am the same as Angela. My horse is far better on her own. Actually at home she is quite clingy to my other horse and will leave her but can still see her from the school and if I hack away from her its hard work but at a show is absolutely fine. I started with short trips and training sessions and now she seems to know what is expected. If I take a friend she starts neighing and looking around for the other horse

but on her own she just gets on with it.

 

[MissMoo]

I agree with the above comments, I won't take my mare out competing with another horse. The one and only time I tried it was a complete and utter disaster.

On her own she is an absolute pleasure!

 

[humblepie]

Ditto MissMoo. Mine are perfectly behaved on their own. They compete at totally different levels but at a mixed show thought it would be fun to take them both.....they were so daft about each other it was not true. Did end up with some lovely photos of the pair of them but use those as a reminder to stick to taking them to different events! If you are uncertain can you perhaps take your horse to a clinic or lesson somewhere different to see how he behaves on his own before you go to a show?

 

[hairycob]

Iused to take my mare as my son's pony was a sod to load on his own but with another on the trailer he would walk on by himself. She was happy to munch away on a hay net & he wasn't bothered with her once we were there.