My palomino mare

Question
I have a 6 year old 16.2 Palomino Beligian/Quarter mare who has very much potential! She is amazing at home when we are schooling but when i take her out to a show she goes insane(rearing and refused to go away from the gate). She is fine at outdoor shows though. I have been to over 20 indoor shows with her trying to get her over her fear and nothing seems to be working. At every outdoor show we go to she wins ribbons. Do you have any tips to help with this problem.


I havent taken Sierra to any rated shows because im afriad that the judges wont like her. She is just as good as most of the bays and chestnuts I see there. I just worry about her not being liked. After going to many rated shows to watch i havent seen many if not any palominos. Is this going to be a problem even though she is an amazing horse. If she was chestnut or a bay would this be a different situation. Is this really fair?

Also what characteristics do you think a "A" circuit horse should have. Thank you very much for taking time to read this.
~Nicollette~

Answer
Hi Nicollette;

'A' circuit in what discipline?

You don't say if you've had her all her life.  Perhaps, something traumatic happened to her before you bought her?  If so, it would be nice to have some of her history.

Horses don't always adapt to all situations and it's quite normal to have a horse that excels in arenas, but not outdoors and vice versa.  Just as there are horses that do well on a tight jumping courses, while others do better on a course with lots of galloping.

It would be best if you could keep her some place where they have an indoor and work with her every day in the indoor and then when she's accustomed to that, try an indoor show.

Judges are suppose to be impartial and not judge based on color.  If you find a judge that is judging you unfairly, then all you can do is no longer show under that judge.

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt