horses in the showring = Adrenaline = Stress

[Janette]

I think I've figured out what part of Star's problem is, when she's in a show ring. It's being with 'new' horses.
At home, in the school, with all her horsey mates, she works like a dream - relaxed, correct bend, sensitive to the leg, the most gorgeous outline. I think having the 'family' around gives her confidence (For those who don't know, she's on working livery, so works a lot with other horses in the ring.)
However, when we go to shows, the horses are new/different and that's when the tensness comes back and there we are, rushing around the ring, incorrect bend doing our faithfull impression of a giraffe, and with a short choppy stride.

I'm getting her out as much as I can, to give her experience of working with 'new' horses around her, but was wondering if anybody has any other ideas. She already has a calmer in her feed, but I wondered about useing those 1-shot calmers (the type in a syringe) as a 'top up'. Just to give her the idea that nobody is going to make her have to 'fight' for a place in the new pecking order. (Wish I could tell her that was the judges job ) New horses = Adrenaline = Stress

[Kanuma]

rescue remedy and lots of it!!! fed to her about 20mins before you go in the ring.

[lindz]

Yep rescue remedy!

It seems to work as well on horses as it does humans.

[_Cowgirl_]

maybe you should try lavender. My friend drives horses and 1 of the horses gets a bit over excited sometimes so they put lavender on him!!! it works a treat and now he is calmer altogether and the don't put it on as much if at all!!
am not sure if it will work with you though as your horse seems to have a problem of getting on with new horses rather than just getting excited.

:) :)

[baxter]

i'd go with RR too... and lots and lots of warmup beforehand, my lad tenses up immensley , but i use all that energy (feels like he's about to explode) to harness it all into pushing him from my leg up and into the bridle, lots and lots of transitions in the warmup, shoulder in... halt to trot, anything to take their minds off things, and also talk to your horse, keep your breathing normal and your body loose, no tense legs on her..... gentle with your hands and lots of practice, it will get better the more she is exposed to the showing world. :)

[Janette]

Thanks folks - it sounds like it just needs more time :D