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Discussion on Getting Horse Mentally Ready for Showing
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 25, 2006 - 7:34 pm:
Hi all:
I'm hoping to get some input/advice from everyone. I'd like to show my mare this summer. Since I bought her 3 years ago, she has not been shown and although I know that she successfully showed somewhere in her past, I do not know how long ago it was.
Here's the thing: she and I lead pretty sheltered lives. Because of my schedule (work, family, etc) I mainly ride later in the night when there's rarely anyone else around, few distractions and in an indoor arena. My horse is quite level headed, but I can loose her attention when we work. I don't have ready access to a trailer, so I can't bring her to local schooling shows to get her exposed to the hustle & bustle.
After thinking about this, and knowing that I get tense at shows (haven't shown since prior to buying her), I thought I'd do my best to shake up her routine a bit (perhaps to reassure myself??) The other night, after some work from the ground, I tossed an empty white feed bag into the arena. It didn't bother her, so when she went down to sniff it, I waved another bag in the air around her and over her head. No big deal. I then took a lunge whip & wizzed it in circles over both our heads. Other than getting a look from her that clearly told me she thought I was nuts, again, I got little response. So, my next thoughts were for a sessions with balloons in the arena and then perhaps a tarp and an umbrella. From there, I recognize I should probably repeat these things while I'm in the saddle so I can relax.
Any other ideas out there to "test" her and desensitize her short of actually getting to a show itself?
Thanks!
Fran
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 25, 2006 - 8:16 pm:
Hi,Fran - I'm not sure what kind of showing you are planning on doing, but I've never come across any flying feed bags in the show ring! Though I have seen other strange things, like loose horses running around, both in and out of the arena, and water trucks, loud pick-ups, barking dogs, etc.
The fact that you ride in an indoor arena, solves a good part of your problem. Indoor arena's are scarey to horses not used to them.
Is it possible for you to ride with other horses? Usually, the most difficult thing is getting your horse to pay attention to you and stay calm while a lot of other horses are riding around you and passing you. At least it has been with my horses. (Esp. the stallions!)
If it's not possible to take your horse to a show and walk her around, put her in a stall for awhile or stand tied to the trailer and let her get used to all the commotion, then it would be really good to get to the show a day early (if it's a big enough show) so she can spend a day getting used to everything. It's good for you, too, as you can ride in the arena and practice with other horses and people around. This seems to take the edge off so it seems all "old hat" to both you and the horse when you're actually showing.
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 26, 2006 - 8:32 am:
Fran, I think your idea of raising the level of interest in your riding envirionment is excellent.
What you are doing is teaching or perhaps in your case re-inforcing that no matter what distractions happen your mare is to pay attention to you.
Would it be possible to get another rider in the arena with you? Have that rider waving, banging, cantering (too) close. Whatever. Turn a radio on. Perhaps you could ride early or ?? just to see how your mare does respond to other horses working around her.
When your hard work has paid off and the ring steward is handing you a ribbon I have seen many steady horses spook at their own ribbon.
It is also a good idea to ride in the same close you will show in at least once, to make sure everything fits when you are riding, sometimes shirt tails come out, hats come off, who knows.
Doing these things will also help you to feel more confidant, which helps you relax, which helps you ride better.
I do think you are on the right track, perhaps for your first show think of it as an experience, rather than a show. There will be many more to come. The foundation you are laying now will pay off for years to come.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 8:32 am:
Sara & Lori:
Thanks for your input. Sara, we will be showing dressage, so we will be in an outdoor arena for any shows. I try to get my mare outside when possible, but again, due to the late hour I ride, I can usually only get a small amount of mounted time outside during the summer. Fortunately, she's very used to barking dogs (the barn has 4), golf carts and tractors and we have also worked during hunting season when we could hear gunshots outside (not too close). We do occasionally work with one or more horses in the arena, but it is not often at all and usually by the time we are warmed up, those horses & their riders are finished for the night. These horses are distracting to my horse (and I get some ugly faces & pinned ears as we pass), but she doesn't get hot about it, I just have to work harder to keep her attention. Unfortunately, in the show ring, I won't have that kind of time to get her attention back.
Lori, I like your idea of not only having a rider in the arena with us, but banging & waving things around from their horse's back. You have hit the nail on the head: I need to increase my own confidence outside of home base so that we are both relaxed.
I showed several years back when I first started to ride (different horse). There were times during the show day that I had to question my own sanity. I had a habit of working myself up into a bundle of nerves. My horse at the time was a TB, very sensitive, but I have to say that for the most part, he took very good care of me. So, I thought if I was pro-active, I could make the up-coming shows more enjoyable and successful than in the past.
Thanks so much!
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Member:
Warwick
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Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 12:16 pm:
Hi Fran
Can you get to the barn earlier to ride when there are quite a few horses in the arena? This would help to simulate the warm-up ring that you'll encounter at the show with horses coming and going from every direction. Do you have an outdoor arena you can also work in instead of just riding indoors? It would help if it has dressage letters set up (at ground level) as sometimes the letters in show arenas initially spook horses, particularly young or inexperienced ones. Also anything that would represent a judging booth would be good to ride by as that's something you'll need to deal with during your test.
I'd also get your mare out on some trail rides to give her additional exposure to outside distractions and help put miles on her.
One more thought - I once showed a mare who would literally panic when she smelled meat being cooked. Since most shows have concession stands where you can buy meals, it was a problem if the smell of hotdogs or hamburgers was in close proximity to either the warm-up or test arenas. We desensitized her at home by microwaving hotdogs in the barn!
Good luck!
Sue
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 12:42 pm:
Sue - love the hotdog idea! I'd have never thought of that.
Fran, you need to have a few "tricks" to keep yourself calm, also. If you are calm and act like everything is "no big deal," your horse will stay a lot calmer. There are some great mental exercises posted on this board and on the web. Tapes are available also.
Most importantly, remember, you're not competing in the Olympics (yet!) and this is supposed to be fun. Look at it like a learning experience for both you and the horse, and try and relax.
If all else fails, have a swig of something strong before your classes....but not so much you fall off your horse!!
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 12:59 pm:
Hi Sue,
I'd love to ride earlier in the day when there's more activity but I work full time and I'm very reluctant to take time away from my young daughter to ride. I don't head to the barn until she's in bed. Also, the facility where I board is a very small place with few customers. The owners built the barn/arenas for their daughters' use and take on just a few boarders to defray expenses. I know the dressage letters won't bother my horse as I set some up last summer in the outdoor to practice our test (we never made it to show- my horse injured herself and 'tho it was very minor, I decided to pull out rather than take a chance with her). I never thought about the judges booth - thanks for that tip. I'll have to get creative to figure that one out. I think we are OK with the meat smells...the family that owns the place BBQs all summer long on their back deck and I've ended quite a few rides wishing I could sneak up and steal a hamburger!!
Sara...yes, I've considered the option of a flask tucked into my tack...believe me...it's high on my list of priorities!!
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Monday, Mar 27, 2006 - 1:18 pm:
Hi Fran
I just want to say don't be put off if it doesn't go well immediately. You have to KEEP taking them out to make them act like nothing is happening at all. The more you take them out the better it gets, don't get in a tizzy if it isn't all perfect first time.
I am a show secretary and the other thing I would say is allow plenty of time on show day. Most people's problems arise when they are late to arrive, late to get their numbers, in a panic they won't have time to warm up, then they have a mishap unloading/tacking up beause they are hurrying (you get the picture...)
So be REALLY early. And if you find you are too early go for a hack around the place so your horse has already seen all the spooky things, then put them away again in the box for a while.
Best of luck
Imogen
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