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Marti Thompson
Member
Username: Marti
Post Number: 10
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 15, 2005 - 7:35 pm: |   |
I have a 7 year old mare that I show in AQHA Trail Class. She is well trained and has an ROM in Trail. I have owned her since she was 14 months old. I had her professionally trained and take lessons from my trainer. The mare is wonderful in almost all ways. She has one BIG hang up though. When asked to enter the show ring she freaks out and lunges through the air, spins and just acts crazy. I can feel her tense up prior to doing this, but have not been able to stop her actions. She calms down and works the trail patterns real well after she is in the ring. I have been showing her for the past 3 years and this occurs at almost every show. The gate areas are usually pretty crowded and I worry that she will hurt someone or me. So far I have managed to stay on her, but I don't know how long that will last. I am not a spring chicken and can not afford to risk an injury, but I want to keep showing her. I don't get to show her very much, only about 5 shows a year, but I haul her weekly for lessons. She only acts like this at the shows. Does anyone have any suggestions?? Help! |
Holly Wood
Member
Username: Hwood
Post Number: 541
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2005 - 11:35 am: | |
Blindfold? ;-) |
Aileen
Member
Username: Sunny66
Post Number: 637
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2005 - 11:39 am: | |
LOL Holly!
What about going to a schooling show and ask to school at the gate?
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Christos Axis
Member
Username: Christos
Post Number: 580
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 16, 2005 - 6:58 pm: | |
Hi, Marti,
Earplugs may help a lot. Cotton works well.
Removing much of the hearing removes much of the irritation from the crowd.
It will not solve the problem, but it may dull it a bit so that you can overcome it with a little patience.
Beware that earplugs are illegal in many shows and they may be perceived as mispresentation for future buyers. Do make them big enough for everyone to see and inform the judges that you are entering for training purposes and not competition. |
Kim Glaza
Member
Username: Kckohles
Post Number: 44
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 17, 2005 - 11:07 pm: | |
Marti,
Your horse is telling you something and you need to figure out what it is. There might be too much pressure right at that place for your horse to handle. Since it would be difficult to enter and exit several times, since it just isn't what you do at a show. I would ride her up to the gate and ride her away don't take her through the gate, do this until you can calmly walk her up very close and then ride away. Take all the pressure off. Once she can comfortable walk up to the gate sit horseback there and watch other riders. Keep the pressure level low and when it is your turn be really casual about going in don't have there be a lot of pressure for her to do it "right"
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Marti Thompson
Member
Username: Marti
Post Number: 11
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Jan 20, 2005 - 8:38 pm: | |
Gosh! Thanks for all of the above advise. I like all of the ideas you all have. I strongly agree with Kim, she is trying to tell me something. I took her to an open show a couple weeks ago that was at the same indoor arena that gives me the biggest problem. I rode her most of the day hoping to tire her out (Trail was the last class for the day). As soon as the trail class started and she heard a horse cross the wooden bridge she started tightening up. I made sure I was the last contestant and edged my way closer to the gate. She caught on real quick and freaked out before I even started toward the gate. When I asked her to move toward the gate it was rodeo time. I had to enter the arena through the exit gate and when inside she was too wound up to even work the trail gate (nervous acting). After the gate obstacle she was fine and more relaxed. Then she again freaked when leaving the arena as we headed toward the exit gate. I would like to try Kim's idea, but moving to the gate is the problem. She acts like a barrel horse before the run. I have had her at this arena prior to the show and have no problem going from or coming to the gate when there is no show in progress. We unfortunately do not have any schooling shows I can take her to. I was hoping to resolve the issue at the open show, but she was worse than ever. I always stall her at the show grounds to give her time to become used to the surroundings. I have shown her in halter also and she freaks out and rears and spins and acts like the devil is after her when standing waiting to enter the ring. She did also start acting nutty as soon as I put my show blanket on her. She knew it was not the work pad and started jumping around like an idiot. She is normaly very calm and stands perfectly for saddling. Maybe I should try the work saddle and leave off the chaps and hat??? I need a good rodeo rider to work her entering the ring during a show. |
