Indoor clapping issues

[GrumpyPony]

My pony is not a fan of the clapping when indoors, as it is magnified, and often will back up, shy away etc. Is there a way round this, bar totally recreating a show?! At home he is excellent with loud noises, lawn mowers etc
Am I allowed to use ear plugs? I don't have any, could I make some? He is a Connemara competing in junior M&M classes. Thanks

[junetimp]

My HW cob used to be just the same. I found it helped when I used to clap all around her head when she was eating her feed. Eventually she seemed to associate the clapping with being fed and food. That made a huge difference. But it doesn't happen over night. xx

[lucynlizzysmum]

could you get a cd of an audience clapping and play it to him while he is being fed/groomed/ generally having nice things done?

[judyh]

Yes,use earplugs. Cut up a sponge to the size you need. I used to dye mine chestnut so they didn't show.

[mirejaal]

Designer browbands do lovely soft sheepskin earplugs, they will help the problem if you cant cure it.

[GrumpyPony]

Glad it's not just me with this issue! Hmmm I have never used ear plugs, how do you put them in so they arent visible? The clapping while he is eating is a good idea, I don't have a CD player but might be able to download clapping on my iPhone to play around him!

[judyh]

I cut them to size and used to push them right into his ears. It was a producer who put some in for the first time and after that the only time he was shown without was at Ryedale -he was just too quiet in the collecting ring so I took them out- at the time they used to split the main ring in half. In the other half there were horses with bells or something on their in hand harnesses.
Got a super photo of a very extravagant trot he still is a lovely mover- never moved like it in the ring!!!
He could always hear my daughter, I was worried at first but they were brilliant

[dunconnie]

There are some clapping sounds on youtube - free and easy to download, pop on an mp3 player or cd and desensitise them yourself.

Try this search: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=applause+cheering+clapping&oq=applause+cheering+clapping&gs_l=youtube.3...2115.5564.0.5678.26.25.0.0.0.0.186.2610.10j14.24.0...0.0...1ac.1.4XQUE6mEOe8

Then use a site such as one of these to save the mp3 file from your chosen you tube video:

www.google.co.uk/webhp?rlz=1C1ASUT_en-GBGB428GB428&sourceid=chrome-instant&ie=UTF-8&ion=1#hl=en&rlz=1C1ASUT_en-GBGB428GB428&sclient=psy-ab&q=you%20tube%20to%20mp3&oq=&gs_l=&pbx=1&fp=4b4dc06b0214f5a3&bpcl=37189454&ion=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=643


That will save it to your computer, then pop on your mp3 player or cd player, plug into speakers and away you go! Very simple free and easy, make it a sound that the horse is just "used to" and it doesnt become startling, scary or exciting. The propblem is not the sound of clapping, its the association with a good charge around - as applause means lap of honour, excited jockey, etc. Do lots of walk and slow schooling work to your new soundtrack, I think its far better to train the horse not to feel worried by the noise rather than reaching for earplugs or calmers...

[GrumpyPony]

Well I played clapping noises on my iphone, mixture of cheers, short claps, long claps, right next to him while he had his backpad on (which he loves and chills him right out) and nothing. Barely an ear flicker! I also played it whilst calmly walking back to the yard, and again zero reaction.
I think the problem is like you said above, when he is at a show he is excited, on edge and expecting the noise to start so he can have a lap of honour. At home, there is none of that.
It's a difficult one. Next step is to play it whilst I am riding and walking around, but he just lights up at shows in a way he doesn't at home!

[tabbycat]

Its a connie thing !!!

[tabbyx]

Would definitely use ear plugs, I usually just use sponge, cut it to size and either dye to colour or cover in make up. Courtlea make good sheepskin ear plugs which are easy to use as well.

[GrumpyPony]

Well I don't have time to try out ear plugs as the show is tomorrow, so I will see how he goes and purchase some for next season if needed. Better that then have an upset pony. Especially as he is not bothered at all at home, so its not a desensitising issue.

[beauty2004]

Can vouch for ear plugs xx

[carrie17491]

Mines the same, some just don't like it.

[eventinggirl68]

my friend had a horse that really hated clapping so she asked some people at the yard to clap as she went round , it worked like a treat !

if you hire out an indoor and get people to clap as you go around that should work but then again depends on the horse.

[cheryl]

What If ear plugs move in the ear? Won't that upset the pony even more? My highland doesn't like it either and can get silly although not everytime!