I haven’t showed at many multi-day shows, so I’m basing my hypothesis on…well, me! I am still like a little kid in that when I get tired, I often get a little manic-happy then BOOM! I crash. Could it be your guy just isn’t ready for a full three days of showing? I know you mentioned having him for 1.5 years, so is there a chance he’ll mellow with a few more seasons under his girth?
Other than that, sounds like you’re already doing a lot of great things for him. I can’t wait to hear what works!
I wanted to add (since the OP is getting some flack for it) that mine that has similar behavior has also been scoped and has a clean stomach. His stomach is so clean that two vets from the hospital called me to let me know that he had the cleanest stomach of any they had ever seen and he should be in a vet book.
Yes of course he could have hind gut ulcers but the likelihood with such a clean stomach and his laid back personality (everywhere except multiple day shows) would lead them to not consider it.
I would guess that some horses just have anxiety at away shows and it may not be tied to ulcers. The real question is how to manage these horses when ulcers are NOT the issue.
Thanks; I’ve also used Omeprazole, the generic and the name-brand, and have found Ranitidine to be far more effective and faster-acting, especially for my mare specifically. Omeprazole took 5-7 days to see effects in her, Ranitidine shows improvement in her same day. Some work better for some horses, IMO.
Isn’t there studies around the use of PPIs long term and that they can cause hind gut issues?
Another thing to consider trying might be to have him get used to being in his stall at home for 3 days. Like, do the same kind of routine you would at a show (if possible- I know it might be hard to work into your normal life) but at home just so he can maybe feel more comfortable with being kept in a stall he knows well and then he might be more willing to settle at an actual show.
I have this horse. He’s a hunter so we spend more days at a show, but our prep might work for your horse. We figured out that 1) he gets no turn out at shows, 2) he’s curious by nature, 3) he needs to become familiar with EVERYTHING at the show, and 4) he needs to understand where he is… The day he comes off the trailer, he gets thrown in a stall to pee. 30 minutes later he’s on a lunge line and allowed to buck, squeal, and act like a banshee. Cool down and have a bath. Then comes the boring part. He gets hand walked and hand grazed for at least 2 hours, more if he doesn’t settle. I walk him around all the rings, the lunge area, graze, look around, on to the next arena or scary place. Most of our shows are outdoors where I live, so there’s usually some grass around. This works for him. He figures out where he’s at, takes everything in, becomes familiar with it, and is an angel the rest of the show. No amount of lunging or riding prep will affect him unless he gets his day of discovery. It’s time consuming and I have to be there to do it. My trainer and the grooms just don’t have the time. This horse is 14 this year and we’ve been doing this with him since he was 4.
A hunter pro-turned dressage pro friend of mine told me that drugs would eventually come to dressage. And here we are.
I have this horse. EXACT same routine. He has to be longed within an hour off the trailer or you’ll have problems.
I’ve tried the perfect prep route with him, and actually found the Cavalor paste in concert with Grand Calm to do a better job at helping him settle.
FTR, treating mine for ulcers made no difference. I can’t offer an opinion on the calming supplements as I feel if they work they are against the spirit of the rules, and if they don’t work they are pointless.
We had a mare who would get nervous in the cross ties just knowing she was going somewhere. She was super easy to handle, and not too spooky, but the poor girl would poop, and poop, and poop until it was just water coming out.
Perfect Prep and their Training Day daily powder helped her out so much. She would only poop two or three times and not clear her whole system out. So my opinion is that it is worth trying!
Pony Fixer (kind of ironic)- the way to fix this is not PP. It is more work on your part and helping your horse adjust. Changing your “prep” not administering agents. You have some good advice upstream about acclimating the horse to the environment. I do all excluding letting my horse graze.
Even if PP works- it is a band aid. Especially since he is good the first day. He needs to be in a routine, second day is lunge or long walks, repeat. There are not any quick fixes. More time on your end and some work. He’ll get the routine.
Maybe it’s the hay? Orchard grass hay can be pretty rich, and with the alfalfa, and if he’s not eating any hay at home right now…just a thought.
I’ve never had a horse get hot off orchard grass and I’d assume the OP isn’t randomly switching hay types.
I’m glad that’s worked for you. And I should have stipulated that I use the PPIs daily for a couple of weeks surrounding anything that could be regarded as stressful, not every day/365.
Actually I have done this! He had a minor pasture incident and then developed cellulitis. He was in his (large, 15’ by 15’) stall for 2-3 days. The vet school recommended he stay in for closer to a week, with hand walking after day 2-3. He was not walkable after a few days in the stall and it was exactly like he is at shows. They said a small paddock would be fine (mine is only 15’ by 30’ attached to the stalls, and that was enough to get him back to himself. I really don’t think it’s anxiety about the shows per se, I really think it’s the lack of turnout. So maybe it would be helpful to just get him “used to” more time in the stall, because that part I can replicate. Unfortunately I have them out because I think that is what is best/healthiest, so I haven’t “tried this at home” on purpose of that reason. I guess we are damned if we do/don’t with horses!
Well, if you’ve read my thread and responses, you will see I have done several management adjustments and trials already. Since he’s been to only 4 overnight shows so far in his life, it’s gonna be slow going figuring out what combination of things may help with his excitement as the show goes on. (And since at 1 day shows and trailering to lessons and clinics–which he has done A LOT–he is his normal, laid back self it’s not the “show” environment itself.) The whole purpose of my question was to see if a particular supplement (recommended by a friend who is also a vet) might help until he “grows” out of it or we find a different/better combination of things that work for him. Of course it’s a band aid. But considering every decision we’ve (me and my coach) have made this show season have been based on his reactions and for his comfort–I’m OK with that. We qualified for Nationals–not going for just this reason.
I absolutely love the condescension on this board. It’s why I left for years. :sigh:
Is trying herbal / mineral / vitamin supplements proven to have little effect really in the same category as given Depo, Resperine or whatever the calming drug of choice is these days in the hunter ring?
And I’m pretty sure that treating for ulcer prevention to keep a horse happy and healthy at a show isn’t quite the same as drugging to improve performance or boost scores, but maybe that’s just me.
Or maybe I’m misunderstanding the post above?
I know it’s not super helpful, and would be a total PITA, but depending on where you’re showing, could you find somewhere to stable nearby where he could be turned out? It sounds like he has a great routine that works for him, it’s just not available at a showgrounds.
I’ve not tried Perfect Prep, but have used Via Calm for similar purposes (basically when I know a horse will have a more stressful day for whatever reason). I think results vary depending on the horse, some it’s great and some it does nothing. Maybe some placebo effect for the owner too.
I did also used to have a very high strung TB who loved an audience, and I used to have to take him off to the middle of nowhere to hand graze at shows. Otherwise he was busy putting on a show for the crowd, if no one was around to watch he got bored and ate grass :-). Oh, and the other thing you might try is those hydration hay bricks - I know not everyone loves feeding a strange product at a show, but if you want to get forage and water into one, that stuff is like crack. Maybe even just soaked hay cubes?
And if you notice, the “here come the drugs” post got several likes, and my response, the only response from someone who has actually used the specific product you were asking about, (so far) has gotten zero likes.
I don’t know why people can’t just move along when they don’t agree with a post, it really makes for a hostile environment and keeps people like me who might occasionally have something useful to add stay far away, again. I don’t have time for extracurricular drama in my life, so yeah, back to lurking…
You know, I love COTH, the information, the support, etc. what I don’t like is that lurkers start to speak up on a topic that are are interested or invested in, and are slammed by others. People who may have valuable info and or resources have just been suppressed.
(I won’t mention the people who can’t read for comprehension… grammar police we have; maybe comprehension police can be added?)
If anyone thinks that a stressed horse being given some support via herbs or amino acids etc, is drugs entering the sport perhaps they are the ones that shouldn’t be posting.
I too have skipped Nationals because it was a bad decision for my horse and his long term well being. Giving some herbal or amino acid support when needed so we can train the horse isn’t drugging them. It’s trying to get the anxiety under control enough that they can process and learn coping skills.
If everyone actually READ this thread they would notice that the OP and myself and others have a horse that is outside the common scenario. We are looking for ways to work and train through it so we have a more normal horse in the end. Maybe it’s possible, maybe it’s not, however OP is asking for info on things that have worked for others and or new ideas.
Isn’t that sort of the WHOLE reason for COTH…??
Sorry if this comes off snarky… lack of sleep and coffee… and quite frankly this just pisses me off this am!
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