Dear Shaboom,

                I have a bit of a problem with my show horse. He used to be great and we won a lot of ribbons but now he doesn’t like to go into the arena and he no longer does his best.  What can I do to fix this? 

                                                                                                             Mary from British Columbia, Canada

Dear Mary,

                Your problem is not uncommon.  It sounds like your horse may have arena sour. This can happen when a horse does the same thing over and over.  We horses can become bored just like people can.  I suggest taking your horse out of the arena for trail rides or other fun activities.  Give him something new to see and do a few times a week and I think he will be happier. After a while he will be ready to re-enter the show ring and be more focused and able to do his job.

Did you know…

Fun Facts about horses

1.        Young horses prepare themselves for adult life by spending time with older horses and copying them.

2.       A horse can be persuaded to alter his natural skills.  In the wild, horses never race, but trained by man they can be urged to run their fastest if they have a bold character.

3.       Horses cannot focus on objects straight in front or directly behind them.  Their vision is best to the sides.

4.       The hairs just inside the horse’s ears are for protection. They stop insects, seeds and dust particles going into the ear and causing damage.

5.       A horse’s character is shaped by the way he lives. In domestication he is influenced by his stable mates and the people who look after him.

Hey kids,

                Send us your questions,

event dates, show schedules, and results, we would be happy to post them on the website.  We would love to hear from you and receive your stories, experiences, and questions.

Shaboom and Clyde