Desensitizing a horse for a show?

lover · 03-11-2008, 07:09 PM

Hi, my goal is to be able to take me jumpy and not-so-good-with-other-horses Arabian to shows. I don't have a specific time when that goal needs to be met but just whenever I feel he is ready. But I was wondering how to prepare a horse to a show and for all the action that will be going on? I know exposer is key but I need help with that!

Thanks!

Simon Says · 03-12-2008, 05:53 AM

what have done in the past is just trailer them over to a schooling show and let them see everything, watch the horses and see the crowded barns, lunge them a little eat some grass, relax with them!! I have done that a couple of times before I actually showed a horse!

willeys bonanza · 03-12-2008, 07:00 AM

I would try to set up a faux show in your arena. Ask some friends to ride in an arena with you and pass back and forth like you would in a show. Have some other people in the middle and outside hte arena with umbrellas. If you dont have a bunch of people to help you can do things one at a time, go around a person like they are a judge and have them wave an umbrella. Basically do a lot of desensitizing with out the goal of a show. If you do a good enough job at htat then your horse shouldnt have a big problem at the show. That is what i had to do because i didnt have my own trailer to haul to a schooling show, and my parents wouldnt pay to haul my horse when i wasnt showing.

CowGirlUp1833 · 03-12-2008, 07:17 AM

Take her to several shows and just hang out. Get her tacked and ride around the grounds. If they open the ring for schooling, ask if you can use it. (They'll probably charge a small fee).

If you can actually go to the grounds you'll show at - even better!

The more she gets off the property, the better she'll get

AQHA1972 · 03-12-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

Take her to several shows and just hang out. Get her tacked and ride around the grounds. If they open the ring for schooling, ask if you can use it. (They'll probably charge a small fee).

If you can actually go to the grounds you'll show at - even better!

The more she gets off the property, the better she'll get

What she said!

Canadian Sage · 03-12-2008, 07:38 AM

Ditto to AQHA and Cowgirlup - go to a few shows and just chill there. The more shows the better.

I try and do that with my youngsters, I will even take them to a show just to hang out, and IF all goes well then go into a class (i usually enter the local shows around here for their first times), but I dont rush it, I wait until they are ready!

mustang_dodger · 03-12-2008, 07:57 AM

this is what i did with my old gelding. i would load him up and just go to a show and walk him around the grounds. even walked him around the arena before the show started and evey one was warming up. i would some times just ride him arund the arena too. i did that for a few shows, and then i started taking him to shows to show. i never had a problem with him after all of that.

lover · 03-12-2008, 09:33 AM

Thanks guys! Unfortunatly i don't have a trailer but I know my boy is really good with getting into them!

Anways, I was thinking of going to some shows NEXT show season (next winter) because I can't even ride him with out both of us freak.ing out.

So it will have to wait a year but hopefully by then I will have money saved to get hauled and I will be a more confident rider and we will be riding smoothly together!

03-11-2008, 07:09 PM	#1
lover Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA Posts: 705 Blog Entries: 31	Desensitizing a horse for a show? Hi, my goal is to be able to take me jumpy and not-so-good-with-other-horses Arabian to shows. I don't have a specific time when that goal needs to be met but just whenever I feel he is ready. But I was wondering how to prepare a horse to a show and for all the action that will be going on? I know exposer is key but I need help with that! Thanks!

03-12-2008, 07:00 AM	#3
willeys bonanza Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,012 Images: 44	I would try to set up a faux show in your arena. Ask some friends to ride in an arena with you and pass back and forth like you would in a show. Have some other people in the middle and outside hte arena with umbrellas. If you dont have a bunch of people to help you can do things one at a time, go around a person like they are a judge and have them wave an umbrella. Basically do a lot of desensitizing with out the goal of a show. If you do a good enough job at htat then your horse shouldnt have a big problem at the show. That is what i had to do because i didnt have my own trailer to haul to a schooling show, and my parents wouldnt pay to haul my horse when i wasnt showing. __________________ Miami Valley Pony Club Clermont County 4H Blazin' Saddles

03-12-2008, 07:17 AM	#4
CowGirlUp1833 Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Holland Lake Shore, West Michigan Posts: 16,943 Images: 412 Blog Entries: 38	Take her to several shows and just hang out. Get her tacked and ride around the grounds. If they open the ring for schooling, ask if you can use it. (They'll probably charge a small fee). If you can actually go to the grounds you'll show at - even better! The more she gets off the property, the better she'll get __________________ Learning to ride is a lifelong process. The day we believe we know it all is the day we start to regress.

03-12-2008, 07:57 AM	#7
mustang_dodger Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Illinios Posts: 17,660 Images: 475	this is what i did with my old gelding. i would load him up and just go to a show and walk him around the grounds. even walked him around the arena before the show started and evey one was warming up. i would some times just ride him arund the arena too. i did that for a few shows, and then i started taking him to shows to show. i never had a problem with him after all of that. __________________ Proud owner of Smart Devil a registered appendix, registered paint mare Eye's White Feather, and a breeding stock paint filly Firefly. I HAVE BEEN SPLATTED TWICE!

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03-12-2008, 05:53 AM	#2
Simon Says Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Covington, La Posts: 3,794 Images: 235	what have done in the past is just trailer them over to a schooling show and let them see everything, watch the horses and see the crowded barns, lunge them a little eat some grass, relax with them!! I have done that a couple of times before I actually showed a horse!

03-12-2008, 09:33 AM	#8
lover Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: USA Posts: 705 Blog Entries: 31	Thanks guys! Unfortunatly i don't have a trailer but I know my boy is really good with getting into them! Anways, I was thinking of going to some shows NEXT show season (next winter) because I can't even ride him with out both of us freak.ing out. So it will have to wait a year but hopefully by then I will have money saved to get hauled and I will be a more confident rider and we will be riding smoothly together!