In two weeks I'll be taking my 4 year old to his first 25 mile endurance
ride. Notice I said "ride" and not race. This horse normally rides well in
groups, is not spooky, and doesn't get upset about seeing other horses ahead
or behind on the trail, etc. However, he does have the ability to act like
an Arab and when he gets excited he does this prancy-jig thing. It looks
really pretty, but.... So far on the rides at home I have been able to stop
him from doing that by doing circles and bringing his attention back to me,
or turning around and heading a different way until he starts to pay
attention again. I hope I will be able to do this on the ride with him if
he does this.
My biggest concern is how he will do at the vet checks. Mainly, the
check-in. Do any of you have any ideas on how to keep or get him calm.
Should I just hang out at the vet area with him and let him look around for
awhile? He is normally very calm and quiet at home, but I want to be
prepared for the worst in case he does act silly. Don't even tell him to
try Ttouch on his ears - if he is "up" and looking around, I won't even be
able to reach him - I'm short, he's 15hh and his head goes about 10 feet in
the air when he puts it up.
I've been riding him by as many horse events at the local fairgrounds as I
can trying to get him prepared for this. He is totally fine walking thru
all the events, however, his heart rate goes up to around 100 and doesn't
come down until we leave. I have yet to stay for more than few minutes
though. Hopefully this week I can take him up there again and stay longer.
I don't even know of my other horse was this way when I started him because
I didn't have the heart monitor yet.
Do you guys think this is normal for a young horse? I know his recoveries
are very good on training rides, but that won't do me any good if he gets
excited. Am I being more concerned about this than I need to be? This young
horse will be with my other (very calm) horse during the ride and at the vet
checks.
Thanks,
Karen in Gardnerville, NV