Horse having trouble walking into the arena - schooling shows

[jvanrens]

Agreed. Maybe try keeping your horse back from the group at the gate. It sounds like it’s becoming a “hang out” type place for him. I’d suggest keeping him back when it’s getting close to your time to go and keep him moving and when it’s your time to go into the ring, just march him right forward to the gate. Hopefully he won’t be in relax mode. Of course keep your coach on standby at the gate, just in case.

[Tha_Ridge]

That’s only for classics and most “exclusive” shows—think Devon or indoors.

“Led in” is sort of a misnomer. In my experience, it’s a firm grip to the rein or the martingale to the threshold of the ring and sending the horse in with a little “oomph.” No one is entering the ring with the horse.

[skydy]

I see.

[ATXmom]

Well, he did get “dinged” for disobedience in his first under saddle for planting his feet when he was meant to canter but he’s a baby, so he didn’t know what he was supposed to do! Thankfully, he seems to be over that particular trick…

[skydy]

[TheDBYC]

@fivestrideline

Have you had trainer on board to see if he does it with them? How hard is he working at these shows vs at home? I will say that for a lot of horses, show weekend at the schooling shows is HARD work. Harder than a weeklong rated show. And they know the difference vs home and are tired, so you see behaviors there that you don’t see elsewhere.

Edited: you may not immediately think the shows are more work, but the trailer ride + warmup(s) + 2 divisions (common) + hacks + standing around being held or sat on = a very long day for both horse and rider.

This is a great point. Daughter’s jumper gets anxious and requires support to refocus at schooling shows. She took him to their first A/AA rated show together yesterday. We booked a stall even though it’s only 10 minutes from our barn. He hopped right off the trailer despite a water tanker truck and a 52’ commercial rig roaring just yards away, strolled to his stall on a flat lead, and started right in on his hay. He lay down in his stall overnight manure stains on his face this morning) and even took a nap laying down midmorning despite the hustle and bustle. He hacked calmly in a massive field – something that never happens at home. No frantic screaming trying to get other horses screaming back, dancing on the end of his lead, etc, despite being the only one from the barn to go.

Seeing how relaxed he is really drove home how tiring schooling shows can be for the horse. I’M so exhausted that I can’t form a coherent sentence and rerolling standing wraps was more challenging than solving a Rubik’s Cube. The horse appears to be living his best life!