Pony Ruined in evening performance

[09rebel99]

Mine goes crazy in any kind of indoor situation where it's noisy or lots of music and people.
If people clap he'd spin, go side ways, throw his front legs out ect ect.
He never ran and I did always feel in control but it use to stress him out.
I think it's amazing that the horses cope aswell as they do as mine is a saint outdoors and in the heaviest of traffic.
Thats why I always prefered the evening to be outdoors in the grandstand as it wasn't as buzzy but some people love that kind of atmosphere.
In this case the majority love it and very few dislike it so it will probably carry on and be the same.

[chloesmum]

So sorry that your pony has been so scared - to be honest I think that some rise to the occassion and some are just terrified and you have to accept that and not put them in that position.
Our old ISRT (RIP) never got used to the big indoor events and we feel he was claustophobic - he won RIHS and Royal Windsor several times and loved a big ring but always hated HOYS (old Wembley venue because everyone was so closs and he could not cope with the noise and clapping behind him. He went Supreme at BSPS and we were on tenderhooks as we thought he might completley blow it - Chloe nearly fell off him when the clapping startedand he leaped and spun but she managed to ontain him. In the pictures you can see the whites of his eyes! Before he retired he went to Equifest but she would not put him in an evening performance there, even though he won classes as we knew he would hate it and also be a danger to others.
Sorry but if your pony is really terrified I am not sure that any amount of calmers; ear plugs or work will ever stop the reaction. This year the little Dartmoor she rides just loved it and went better than he does outside, horses for courses I am afraid. I did not think it was too over the top this year and I do agree that people should contain the screaming and clapping particularly for young riders. Sensible appreciation is great but not rattling and banging.

[sjm]

i wouldnt take your ponies equefest because of that reason , there is just no need for all the hype in the evening performance, scares the ponies too much with crowds all over the walls and the really loud music its too much.

[thatboythatgirl]

Bsps champs have changed since I last went then when people used to bang there feets on the granstand floor during the evening performances and scream and whistle as loud as they can. I remember the one year the family of the kid that came 2nd when mental cause they new if they made enough noise the 1st pony would flip which happened then there kid won the class

I do agree that there is too much of a party disco atsmosphere in that arena of a night, what annoyxed me this year was peopsle who would be reserve de iding they gallop out the arena as though theyd won it

[teabag]

My mare is one of those that rises to the occasion and performs even better in the noise / lights / atmosphere at equifest. It's a fantastic atmosphere, brilliant to ride in, and one of the reasons we go every year ....

[gilly]

last year we got into eve perf., but didnt take up the offer this year i thought he would handle it. thank goodness he did.

[bunny]

my little section A absolutely loves it despite not really having any experience of that situation prior ... I think mine was one of a very few not being held in the FR concours, he really comes alive on the go round then goes in to stand like a rock, doesnt move a foot regardless of what goes on around him - never had a calmer or ear plug or any type of preperation. I have had another pony however that despite constant preperation at home before/various calming feeds/plugs etc I wouldnt have taken anywhere near an evening performance.

[eventing09]

I understand your anger if it has 'ruined' your pony, but I think it would be unfair to completely tone down the eve performance because some ponies don't like the noise and hype especially when some ponies clearly thrive from it. I could say the same that my pony needs the hype in order to get the best out of him especially when we are outdoors yet for other ponies loud music playing into the outdoor rings would be completely unfair if you understand me? What I am trying to say is that the eve performance is what it is, this year it was a lot more calm where it was needed and its a main attraction for equifesters. If your pony can't handle it then don't go in it.

[honeypot]

You could have just have easily said 'hunting ruined my pony', some ponies love hunting switch off at the coverts and love the buzz and some ponies it makes anxious and 'blows their brains' and you can never really tell until you take them.
We get so used to putting ponies in extreme situations and them coping and then we are surprised when they do not. Every time I see a horse walk into a horsebox I marvel that an animal engineered by nature to live on the open plains walks into a space not much bigger than it, with no line of sight and then the floor tips from side to side.

[heather1989]

maybe if that was the first time he had his ears plugged that could be what has freaked him out and now that he has freaked the jockey may be more tense when riding? i know i get a bit uneasy with earplugs, you see things but cant really hear or what you can hear is muffled. its not a nice feeling.

just a thought when you said it was the first time he had been plugged