HELP FOR HORSE-RIDERS

COMPETING - Tips & advice

Having a hard time with your horse at the showground? Try these calming techniques to settle him down.

Going to a show or competition can be exciting - and not only for the horse! Naturally, you want to do well and you want the horse to behave himself. All this creates tension or pressure to which the horse often responds by being difficult.

Like everything else we ask him to do, going to shows is something the horse has to get used to. The first time he goes to one, he will probably find it all very stimulating.

From the horse's point of view, it is a very strange environment. There is a sense of chaos with stuff going on all over the place. There are more vehicles than he has seen before at any one time, many horses randomly moving about, or tied up as the case may be and people everywhere. There are unfamiliar noises and a lot of bustle. Excitement hangs in the air like a cloud.

The first time they go to a show, most horses react with surprise and some fear. They don't know what to expect and the general air of excitement is unsettling. Almost inevitably, they get anxious. When horses are anxious, they get fidgety and need to move about. With so much going on, an even greater need is to explore and investigate. They need to reassure themselves that nothing here is threatening.

This is all very well and most of you probably don't have first timers. On the contrary, you have a horse who has been to shows many times before - and he still behaves badly.

He won't stand still

1. Before your class:
He has 'first timer' anxiety. Even if he has been many times before, he still gets wound up at the prospect of what's coming next.

THE SOLUTION
Walk him round randomly on a fairly loose rein until he seems calmer and more relaxed. The last thing he needs right now is too much control, which will only upset him more.

If the showground is big enough, take him to an area away from all the noise and bustle and go through the calming exercise. Allow extra time for this, if you know he's going to be tense and anxious.

When he has worked off his surplus energy and calmed down, work your way quietly towards the collecting ring.

2. Between classes
Most horses do calm down, once they have been through the first class. The adrenaline rush is dissipated and he is able to settle down. If not, do much the same as before. Walk him round quietly.

This may be tedious as you would prefer to stop and take a break. However, if you show him that you understand his anxiety and allow him to do what he needs to do, in due course, he will stop being anxious.

3. In the collecting ring
By the time you get to the collecting ring, tension is rising. Both you and the horse know what's coming next and there is always a degree of tension while you wait for your number to be called.

THE SOLUTION
Dismount and hold your horse loosely by the reins. There is no shame in it. If you stand still and quietly, you show by example what you want. He may still jiggle about a bit at first, but will soon get the message. Again, this is a training technique. In due course, he will learn to stand and wait quietly in the collecting ring.

He won't tie up
This is more of the same. He is anxious or over-excited. The restraint of being tied up is too much for him. He wants to be moving about - somewhere, anywhere.

THE SOLUTION
You have a choice here. If you don't have long to wait for your next class, walk him around in hand and encourage him to graze. Horses will only graze when they feel comfortable and relaxed. Many showgrounds have better grass than the horse has at home, so he is likely to be tempted.

If you have a long wait for your next class, the other solution is to put him back in the box and shut him in. If he has a window or aperture to look through, so much the better. At least he can see a bit of what's going on. Most horses understand that, shut into the box, there's not much they can do about it.

He won't go into the ring
The horse knows that, once in the ring, he has to produce a performance when he'd rather stand about in the collecting ring, or better still, go back home. Curiously, once he's in the ring, he usually performs well enough. He knows the job, and now he has no choice, he gets on with it.

THE SOLUTION
Either ask some one to lead him into the ring, or dismount, lead him in yourself and then re-mount. Again, there is no shame in doing this. People do understand that some horses can be a little difficult and if leading him into the ring gets him there, so be it. They would much rather see that than you going red in the face and fighting over it!

All of these ploys are little training techniques which are based on giving the horse what he wants or needs at the time. Over time he learns that there is nothing to be anxious about and comes to behave like a normal horse. How long it takes depends on the horse and his level of anxiety. You may get results after 3 or 4 shows, or it make take most of the season.

The key is not to worry or get wound up about it yourself. Accept your horse as he is at the time and be delighted by any improvement - however small!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.