Nuaghty horse at shows?

Question

hey guys,

i asked a similar question, but it didnt go into the horse category

i have a 15.3 conn x tb 8 year old mare, she is an angel at home, schooled well, jumps well, mixes well with people and other horses...

as soon as se gets to a show she miss behaves, she rears up and will not stand still.

iv had her since she was 3, and up and till the last year or so she behaved very well at shows, but now she has matured she seems to play up, if another horse from our yard goes she wants to be with that horse constantly, when we seperate to go in diffrent classes this is when she plays up...

is there any suggestions that i can get her out of the habbit of clinging to her friends

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Answer 1

Hmmmm, could be any number of things I'm afraid and without further info very difficult to give a helpful answer to. Has she had some type of traumatic event linked with a show? Is it linked to her being in season? Is she clinging to any horse in particular? Could she be picking up nervousness from you? You need to find out the reason behind her behaviour change before you can really address it successfully I'm afraid.

Answer 2

Two techniques are used here in conjunction with each other.  

Technique one.  Extended tie outs out of sight of her friends.  3 and 4 hours is not too much to ask for.  I usually do 2 to 3 though.  The rule is at the end of that time they have to have stood for at least 30 minutes without pawing or pitching a fit before I release them.  I will warn you though that sometimes they dig a hole in the yard.  Do not relent however.

Technique two.  Ride your horse and every time it pitches a fit to return to the other horse...do so...BUT go immediately into HARD work.  Soon the horse will begin to learn that buddy = hard work.  Once that connection is made then the horse will stop throwing the fits.   The important thing here is that you have to work the horse hard enough that they are really tired and ready to quit and then work them a little longer still.  If they are still fresh then you have rewarded them by returning them to their buddy.  No they have to be tired enough not to consider returning a reward.

Answer 3

When a horse starts to misbhave when she's not with her friends, that means you should problably get her out of the habbit,

Maybe turn her out by herself in the feild, some where were she can't see any of the other horses. And as for the shows, i sugest you walk her around the grounds on foot for five mins or so, and then when u get on do some leg yeilding, ex. troting, ect. somthing to put all that extra engergy into some possitive work.

Hope this Helps!

Answer 4

I wouldnt drug the horse!!!!! Bring a lounge line so that she can get out all that excess nervous energy =]

Answer 5

Are these overnight shows or haul in and go shows?

If these are haul in and go... the only thing you can do to prevent this is work her butt off when she starts being herd bound.. She goes out in the arena and acts like a brat, you pull into the middle and you work her.  You will have to just blow classes so I suggest just attending some cheap shows until you get this under control.  You want to keep her busy, so side passing, pivots on the front and back, backing, framing up, set ups... anything and keep her at it until she focuses back on you.

Also when you get to the show, never let your horse and the other horse shes bonded to together and if she starts that outside the arena, you start your training again.

If its a over night show... seperate the horses into different stalls that they can't see each other.. different barns works better.  Then do the above also.

Answer 6

This little gal is obviously tired of showing!  Many horses are good for a long time and some never act up but there are a few that say to you enough is enough.  

I had a gelding like this.  He was perfect for many years, then all of a sudden WHAM, he started acting up.  When the judge asked for a lope, he would take off at a gallop passing everyone twice!  I could not stop him.  I could not believe it!  IT was so embarrassing!

I bought a bit with a very high port and used it at the shows.  He become controllable again and pretty soon I did not have to use it at all as he was back to his normal self.

Answer 7

Sounds like she's throwing a tempertantum!  

What I would do and had to do this with my niece horse (mustang) and with my girl it worked for throwing her head, (and bad) is when ever they did it or if I could catch them before or in the middle is, "put them to work", we would back (bring the head down) go right, go left, and back again to a whoa, and if the continued I would then first make them "give to pressure" with the head into your leg, (taking them off balance there fore stopping the behavior, and put them to work.  Do this calmly and when done say good girl with a pet?  Took my girl 2 wk and the mustang 6 wks.:)  Can be done, and if you need to find a riding partner at home to work on this find it:)  She's going through terrible two's a bit late, lol.  Best of luck

EDIT

sounds like she's scarred and comfy with her buddy around so when that horse leaves she wants to be with her.  Taking her to the show ur self be-careful, she needs to build her confidence.  Either way with the buddy or not, put her to work, make her focus on you and that if your okay she's okay, and your not gonna let anything happen to her.  Best of luck at the show and enjoy, remember to have fun that's what it's about.

Answer 8

I have a great sollution to your problem! My horse used to do the same thing. Then we put her on a supplement calles

Ex Stress and now shes a perfect angle. All it does is take away the stress caused by trailering and showing. Click the link below for more info:).

Answer 9

sounds as though she has developed a nasty habit. You should use some exercises to deter this situation. Keep her feet moving. Try some circles when you feel she is going to rear. Horses can't rear up if there front feet are in constant motion on the ground.