I'm glad I did the right thing by not drugging him. I don't believe in it at all, and it definitely would be a hollow victory.

"It's dangerous and a pain in the ass to other exhibitors when there are stupid, unhandleable horses on the show grounds. And did you not warm him up? Am I reading it right that you just went into the arena and tried to do your thing? Where was your "trainer"...??? No trainer worth keeping would let a girl on a horse who hadn't warmed up or longed compete. Utter bullsh.it.'"

First off, my horse is NOT like this at home, he can have moments, but he was NEVER like that. And he wasn't rearing, or kicking other horses, he was just freaking out with in himself. I agree when they are dangerous - this was UNEXPECTED. If it had been expected I would have ridden in every warm up period to get him used to it. He has been to TONS of shows, and he was never that unsettled - and it was JUST in the ring. In his stall, outside, the trailer...it was just as I got on and went into the ring.

They also didn't allow us to warm up because it was simply a walk, trot, canter flat class. It was inside, and there was snow outside and the ground was hard - other wise he would have been longed. We had warm up periods of 20 minutes before the jumping classes, as there was only one indoor ring.

"Just a thought.....Why not learn to ride & how to handle your horse safely BEFORE you go to a horse show? Just seems to me it would be safer for you,your horse & those at the show that know what they are doing & have a horse that fits their experience......Be careful with the ace,it makes some horses nuttier than they were.Especially if you give it to them after they are worked up...."

I can ride, at least somewhat. I hope. He didn't outright explode thankfully, and its not like I was afraid, or he was threatening to hurt other horses. It was self contained terror. I can't describe it really. No one expected him to do it - and thats part of being around horses.

~cursivenight
To me, horses and freedom are synonymous
FFV MASCOT, 500 Club Mascot, OSL

http://www.torideahorse.blogspot.com