I'm with everyone else on the no drugging thing- I don't agree with it and never have. I do wonder, though- did you just stall the horse all day and not ride until the class? If it were me, I would have taken him for several walks to eat grass, check things out, get groomed, and I probably would have had a short school early in the day and then a warm-up before the class. Maybe you just left that out, but if not I would strongly recommend something along those lines when in an unfamiliar place. I also disagree with the trainer to leave the ring- standing there and spinning was probably worse and more dangerous than trying to work through it- Many times on a stressed horse just keeping moving, doing tiny shoulder-ins and leg yields as you travel will give them something else to think about instead of freaking.

pdj: Um, it was a schooling show. That's what they are for- to learn and gain experience. Many many horses have a bad first or third or fifth show, but then they learn, and mature, and improve. Unless the horse is a total disaster I don't have a problem with it. She wasn't at the Olympics or anything. And sometimes, horses just have bad days, too. I know of one prelim event horse that just went bonkers in the dressage, left the ring three times, and then almost knocked the judge down! Normally a fabulous horse. Things happen. Making a comment like yours wasn't very productive.



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