Get a nervous horse to focus at shows?

Question

I have a green 5 year old Appy and I'm starting to take him to shows. Even when we go to just spectate he gets so nervous and spooks like crazy. Nothing uncontrollable at all, but very frequent and unpredictable. When he's not spooking he looking at everything CONSTANTLY, he looks around head high and nostils flared, and as you can imagine, with his head high like this I cannot get him to work in a frame like we school at home. I've tried transitions, leg yields, half-halts, you name it, he'll listen but his attention is still elsewhere. Any tips on how I can get him to relax and focus at shows.

P.S.- We show in hunters.

Answer 1

My horse used to have the same problem. Then I tried a supplement called Ex Stress (a supplement that gives back natural minerals that a horse loses in stressful situations, i.e. showing, trailering etc.)

This has made a huge huge difference! I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, try lunging him at home before you go to the show so maybe he will be a little tired by the time you get there.

The supplment can be found here: http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Answer 2

At home set up things that you might see at horse shows and try to get him to be used to them at home. If you have a field where you ride or a trail ride him out there to get used to more things. Show him flowers and bushes and things you may encounter at the show. If you're at the show and he's still tense you may consider just doing the shows to get him experienced and there's a pressure point behind their ears that you can rub and it may help him relax.

Answer 3

cool and calm

Answer 4

This is really common.  Your horse is fascinated by everything going on.  At the show don't reprimand him it is meant to be enjoyable with no worries.  Take him to as many shows as you can if you can do about 3 a week so he starts to expect it and take it in his stride he will soon get fed up with the show scene!.

A good idea would be to put him on a calmer such as Nupa Fed which is a supplement which goes in the feed and also comes in a syringe for the show day it is completely legal at FEI competitions.  

The idea is to ensure he is as happy as possible.  I always travel my youngster to the shows with an older horse that they live with, the older horse sets the routine and the younger one tucks in behind and follows suits.  They pick up on the older horses vibes and as long as you take one that is relaxed and an old hand at shows the younger one will be quieter.

Answer 5

maybe you should practice with some noise works 4 me

Answer 6

Try to get him focused before you enter the show ring. In warmup, do a lot of transitions inside the gait. For example, pick up the trot and pick a spot in the ring. once you get to that spot, bring your horse almost to the walk, then push him forward again. Also, when you're schooling him at home, introduce him to "scary" objects that might come up at a show. Also get him accustomed to riding with many horses in the ring with him, and ride him on windy days. Another idea would be to trailer him to school at another barn, without a show, so he can get used to trailering to somewhere new and not having to deal with a show environment.

Answer 7

make weird noises and keep sayin his a name so he is focused on u and not anything else i show to that always works for me

Answer 8

There are a few things you can do in this situation to try to help your horse get more comfortable in the show ring.

-Taking him to shows to hang out and see what its like is a great start.  It gets him used to the environment and lets him see that there really is nothing to be worried about.  Since he does spook unpredictably, try to keep him away from the show ring so he doesn't spook someone during their round.

-You can try a calming supplement but just double check that the ingredients are legal to compete on for hunters.  You can go to the USEF website and find the list of prohibited substances and a list of acceptable ones and what the allowed dosages are.

-Since you're horse is highly stressed and will most likely get an ulcer, if he does not have one already, from the stress I would give them a supplement to benefit their digestive system and help protect it rather then just a calmer.  There is one, ALLAY by adeptus, that does both.  It is a digestive aid that helps both the fore gut and the hind gut that has magnesium-calcium carbonate that not only aids in neutralizing acidic pH in the digestive tract, its a natural calmer on the nervous system.  

-There is also a supplement called Tahitian NONI.  Its a liquid supplement that is supposed to be the miracle juice.  I didn't notice it making any difference in the horses joints or feet or coat but I did notice it help my show hunter focus ALOT more in the ring then when he was not on the juice.  If you google it you can find it.

-You can try ear plugs to help all the sounds of the show be less of a distraction for your horse.  This helps especially in the flat classes with my horses.  They can focus on what I ask them and not the croud or surround horses.  They are very enexpensive too.

-As suggested, expose your horse to everything he might some across at the show so it is not so scary.  Practice at home where he is comfortable so it is not adding to the stress of a new place and new horses and everything different.

-It sucks, but entering classes and just doing a schooling round (non judged) to get him around in the show will help.  It still costs money but puttin gon draw reins or martingales or whatever you normally use at home and schooling him through a round at the show will get him more comfortable.  Just make sure the show you do that in does allow that.  Or even some county shows that are in expensive may allow training in the show and still include you in the pinning.

-Lastly, you may just have to realize your horse may just not be cut out for the show ring.  Each horse has their dicipline they excell in.  Not all horses do well in the show ring.  Its not fair to force him to show when its so stressful for him and you dont want to cause any problems forcing him to do something.  

I would definatly use the Allay and earplugs and invest the money into schooling the horse through rounds.  If those dont work after a handful of shows you may want to reconsider showing your horse if he is not calming down.  You wouldnt want to cause him harm with ulcers or a hear attack or him spooking and injuring himself.  If he is that stressed he most likely already has an ulcer so you may want to have him checked too.

Good luck