How to Get Your Horse Used to a Show Atmosphere
Consider bringing your horse to the first show just to be there., Stay with your horse at all times., Try to park your trailer/van in a quieter spacey area of the park with more space if you cannot stall your horse., Unload your horse and lead him...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Consider bringing your horse to the first show just to be there.
This means not entering your horse in any classes but going through all the relevant procedures, such as transportation, housing in a stall, feeding during the day, allowing the horse to see lots of people, getting your horse used to the noise, etc.
Give your horse treats to reward him each time that he does something good. -
Step 2: Stay with your horse at all times.
When it is your horse's first show, staying by his side will help your horse to feel relaxed. , Do not cramp him. , Do not put him in a strange stall until you have carefully checked it for nails and dangerous objects.
Have it bedded, with a bucket of water, and a hay net before you put him in it.
You may want to use a shank across his nose or under his chin as you lead him from the trailer.
Also, use trailing boots. , Keep your horse occupied with toys and hay. , If your horse starts neighing, let it slide unless it gets really serious.
In this case, it may not be a good idea.
Wait for a moment of calmness and stop the trailer.
This shows that good things (trailer stopped) happen when he is calm.
Go over to your horse, wait for calmness once again, and then pet him.
If he neighs, back away.
When your horse has stopped freaking out, try again. , Do this after he has had some time to settle in his stall and has had a few treats and some hay.
A little neighing is OK, but make him pay attention to you.
Be kind and firm.
He may get overexcited.
Make sure to give him plenty of space, and let him see everything around him.
The walk should end on a good note, meaning stop when he is behaving well, if you can. , That way, he feels safe, especially if you plan to ride him.
When he is calm on the longe, then move him to where the horses are.
Do not use a horse show as a venue to longe (lunge) your horse if he is not safe on the longe at home.
Remember, if you can not control your horse, you have no business taking him to a show endangering other people who paid good money to come.
The longe should be no more than 20 minutes. , Walk, trot, and canter.
Halt.
Pet him and tell him he's good.
Sit up straight, and try jiggling the reins.
Nudge him and gently say walk, but do not be a passenger.
That means, do what you want, do not let the horse control you.
If you see any improvement at the walk, try a slow trot.
More improvement? Try some collection.
When you succeed, slow back to a walk and try a canter.
If your horse misbehaves uncontrollably, bring him to a walk and wait until he is calm, then hop off.
Pet him a little, then try again, much, much slower. , Practice passing the other horse.
Again, end on a good note. -
Step 3: Try to park your trailer/van in a quieter spacey area of the park with more space if you cannot stall your horse.
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Step 4: Unload your horse and lead him directly to his stall and give him some hay.
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Step 5: Head on over to the show.
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Step 6: Deal with negative reaction quickly.
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Step 7: Lead him around and let him get used to things.
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Step 8: Lounge your horse in an area with horses around
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Step 9: but not in it.
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Step 10: Before your class
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Step 11: ride in a quiet arena.
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Step 12: Finally
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Step 13: join a different ring where other horses are also being ridden.
Detailed Guide
This means not entering your horse in any classes but going through all the relevant procedures, such as transportation, housing in a stall, feeding during the day, allowing the horse to see lots of people, getting your horse used to the noise, etc.
Give your horse treats to reward him each time that he does something good.
When it is your horse's first show, staying by his side will help your horse to feel relaxed. , Do not cramp him. , Do not put him in a strange stall until you have carefully checked it for nails and dangerous objects.
Have it bedded, with a bucket of water, and a hay net before you put him in it.
You may want to use a shank across his nose or under his chin as you lead him from the trailer.
Also, use trailing boots. , Keep your horse occupied with toys and hay. , If your horse starts neighing, let it slide unless it gets really serious.
In this case, it may not be a good idea.
Wait for a moment of calmness and stop the trailer.
This shows that good things (trailer stopped) happen when he is calm.
Go over to your horse, wait for calmness once again, and then pet him.
If he neighs, back away.
When your horse has stopped freaking out, try again. , Do this after he has had some time to settle in his stall and has had a few treats and some hay.
A little neighing is OK, but make him pay attention to you.
Be kind and firm.
He may get overexcited.
Make sure to give him plenty of space, and let him see everything around him.
The walk should end on a good note, meaning stop when he is behaving well, if you can. , That way, he feels safe, especially if you plan to ride him.
When he is calm on the longe, then move him to where the horses are.
Do not use a horse show as a venue to longe (lunge) your horse if he is not safe on the longe at home.
Remember, if you can not control your horse, you have no business taking him to a show endangering other people who paid good money to come.
The longe should be no more than 20 minutes. , Walk, trot, and canter.
Halt.
Pet him and tell him he's good.
Sit up straight, and try jiggling the reins.
Nudge him and gently say walk, but do not be a passenger.
That means, do what you want, do not let the horse control you.
If you see any improvement at the walk, try a slow trot.
More improvement? Try some collection.
When you succeed, slow back to a walk and try a canter.
If your horse misbehaves uncontrollably, bring him to a walk and wait until he is calm, then hop off.
Pet him a little, then try again, much, much slower. , Practice passing the other horse.
Again, end on a good note.
About the Author
Marilyn Murphy
Experienced content creator specializing in organization guides and tutorials.
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