We were shocked this weekend to discover that Kenny is about a thousand times better at a horse show than at home. (Of course, there is always a chance that he will change his mind in three months, but we're going with this idea for now...)

Anyone else find this the case with their horses?

Pillsbury was always much easier to ride at shows!

Jake is always a lot more forward at shows, which really helps me out considering he's just about the laziest horse I've ever ridden.

At home Morgan is a dirty little monster, but at shows it's like he knows that if he misbehaves we're not going to win. I'm convinced that he's more into winning than I am.

Yes, there's more to look at away from home. At home they are comfortable and familiar with their surroundings and feel free to screw off. At the show they have to pay attention to where their going, less time to mess around. I've had several horses like that. One of the ones I currently ride is an absolute TOOL in the schooling ring- spooks at other horses when they come at him, scoots sideways, grinds his teeth on the bit, just generally all over the place. Then when he gets in the show ring he's a doll.

Sometimes I think Bouncer likes to embarrass me at horse shows. Like the time he tried to buck me off in the middle of a stadium course for no reason whatsoever. Or when he screams the whole walk back from cross-country. Or in the middle of cross-country. And that time he spun/spooked before we even got to the start flags of our stadium course...oh, wait, he did that on two separate occasions.

Haha, actually, despite my whining, my horse is nearly perfect at horse shows, he just likes putting on a show/making sure I'm awake up there.

Umm I meant to where THEY'RE going. Wow--sweet. Sorry. Just woke up from a food poisoning coma. :(


PS kenny looks sooo adorable

I have no interesting input other than that Kenny DOES look adorable. And I think you guys look like a splendid match!