Also, how can i improve him bolting and on the rail during a show? He can't keep still. He's the only misbehaving horse in the class. . . i can't keep up with my points! we do well in trail, however, it's just rail classes. level intermediate (advanced rider, silly horse holding me back!) he's in training, though he's 14! how can i stay relaxed during all this, too?
2006-06-25 13:07:18 · 7 answers · asked by horsegal 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I'm not sure why you think at 14 he should be fully trained - every time you step on you're training. If he's bolting in the ring he's telling you he's NOT HAPPY. It's real easy to blame the horse but there's two parts to that team and you're not relaxed either. One feeds the other. You're tense, he feels it, he tenses, you react he bolts. Increasing work alone won't do it...if anything it'll have the opposite affect. He'll get fitter and gets the message you want him going faster. He needs control not work. Relax yourself - it's not life or death out there. Working at home when he speeds up circle him. When he's working at the speed and in the frame you want leave him alone. If he doesn't like working with other horses and gets goofy with that work him at home with other horses around. Work on walk and trot and putting him in a circle where you want him when you want him there - do some patterns. Work on flexibility and control. If he's not working for you and you don't have the patience to teach him then sell him and trade up for something you can sit on and win. But he'll teach you a lot more if you let him.
2006-06-25 13:45:26 · answer #1 · answered by Jan H 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well sorry to say, but some horses just dont like to show! My mom got a very well bred western pleasure horse that moves awesome, but he acted up at shows. We trail ride ( I used to show). He loves his new life, easy going, no stress.
Horses can really catch on to if you are expecting something or if you are nervous.
If he likes to bolt, he probably isnt cut out to be a western pleasure horse.
You can try and take him to some shows as practice, so you arent nervous and you can reprimand him if he behaves badly and you dont have to worry about losing points or a ribbon. Lunge him in the arena if it is possible before the show.
I know it is hard to stay relaxed when he is being bad, but after awhile he may be acting badly because you are getting nervous because you are expecting him to misbehave. Visous circle!
Lastly, do you HAVE to show in rail classes? If he is better in trail then focus on that! He obviously enjoys that more (more thinking going on there, maybe he is bored going around in circles slowly! I would be if I was horse!)
Good Luck!
2006-06-25 20:59:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
some people use medicine. if you go to a horse suplly store look for something like calm mare or trailer calm or show calm or something. the controversy is is that it is a mild sedative, like for ADHD for humans, and some people say it affects the behavior like the horse wont feel cues, etc. others say that is untrue, they are well behaved and perfect mannered horses with the stuff.
the idea behind it is that the horse uses the stuff a few times then you try the same situation without it and the horse has realiised that it dosent need to be hyper.
or, you can use more oats, not grain, and not before or after excercising(dont want colic) this is said to calm horses. as for you, it may even solve this problem just for you to calm down. keep looking straight forward, remember that horses are fun, and breathe deep and rythmically, maybe use the horses hoofbeats as beat for your breathing. like two steps equals a breath in or something.
also- check your show tack. is it different than your working tack? if so, maybe the show tack dosent fit right, like the saddle is too small or the bridle too tight, who knows. you may just have an excitable horse.
one more is that maybe he is reacting to different noises in the show arena. You can buy horse colored ear poufs like ear plugs, but virtually invisible to put on in the show ring, which may help the horse calm down.
2006-06-25 20:20:03 · answer #3 · answered by jazzmyn_girl 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I'm not a western person but my horse was like that. All you have to do is work him supper hard everyday. After each day he will mellow out. Then you can minimize it down to every other day after awhile. Another thing is take him to more shows and get him used to the showing idea. For you, just think of something happy and think about that the horse can feel your feelings. Remember that he is not used to this and give him time.
2006-06-25 20:19:33 · answer #4 · answered by horselver_05 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lay off the grain! Try riding him outside the arena more. Horses get dingy when they only have one job!
2006-06-26 12:22:43 · answer #5 · answered by Lynn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can give more oaks or exercise him like hell starting two days before the show if you horse is anything like mine , she gets very hyper at shows also in cutting,barrels,reining.etc i always work her very hard two days before the event but if you do this don't forget to give them more feed to keep their help up . or you can lounge him just before you saddle him up use a towel to dry him off show he looks good but is to tired to cause a fuss but not to tired to show off
2006-06-25 20:13:33 · answer #6 · answered by barrel_racing_chick_333 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tough-in girl!!!! Pull back those reigns like ya mean it... it cuts of his air way so he knows to stop.I have 2 Arabs,both seven,They are little spitfires but, they are all the way trained.My horses use to do the same thing but i just taught em' whose boss.
Any more ?? your more than welcome to email me
2006-06-25 20:21:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋