This was kinda inspired by the ACE thing. The last show I went to, I had to be there at like 6AM because we were trailering my friend and her horse and they
were in the first division. Ringo was happy in his stall, not excited at all. He actually had a really good trailer ride, and loaded the best he ever had (he
has trailer issues but we're getting through them =) ). So my divisision starts at FIVE o'clock (yeah LONG wait), and Ringo was still calm. He was a
gentleman when I tacked him up and lead him to just behind where everyone was standing. They split our flat class into two, because the show was indoors and
there was about 30 of us. So I got on, and he was a bit tense, but okay. Well the girl told me to get off, so I did, and I think that unsettled him a bit or
something, because he became a bit more nervous. So I go to mount (and I'm the last one, everyone else is in the ring), and he FREAKS. He shoots backwards
(thank goodness all the other horses were gone), and I get him under control, and my trainer got me up. We go into the ring, and my normally calm, unspooky
thoroughbred is bouncing off the walls. He was prancing, dancing, passaging, moving completely sideways...but he didn't bolt or buck, surprisingly. He was
terrified of something, and that was added on top of his freshness. So we go through the class, but there was just SO many horses in there I was scared Ringo
would hurt someone. I managed a trot, and he calmed down a bit. then the canter came and he lunged and started being crazy again. I looked at my trainer and
she told me to leave the ring. Of course no one would let me leave, so my horse stood in the middle in the end of the ring near the gait, spinning and such.
Finally I got out. Now Ringo has been 'fresh' at shows I've taken him to before, but NEVER unrideable. Last year, my first year with him I was
terrified of him. So I figured now that I'm not, I'll be able to ride him out of it. I made sure to work him hard every day before the show, he had
arena turnout before we got him on the trailer that morning, and he's in a big pasture. So being unable to lunge him (ground too hard and snow lol), my
trainer asked me if I wanted to sedate him. I was actually shocked. I've NEVER drugged my horses at a show. The one time I had to sedate a horse was my old
one to pull his mane - and I worked him out of the issue and we never had to again, thankfully - so I was just kinda surprised. I asked my trainer what she
thought and she told me theres other horses that are drugged here, its not illegal because it is just a schooling show (that was rated lol), but it was up to
me. I said no, because if I had won with the drugs in him, it would have been a VERY hollow victory. And I just couldn't do it. And I would have had to
give him the needle (I'm the needle giver lol), and I don't think I would have been able to do it. Was I right or wrong?? We ended up going home,
because he was just not going to be able to handle it. I hope I made the right decision, but part of me wonders if I should have, just for the experience? To
get him to do it? It's not like he's new to showing or anything. I had a video of the wild ride too, but my trainer told my boyfriend to delete it. And
he did. =(
