imnumberjuan wrote:I wonder about their, the horses, reactions the next time they go into a ring? As creatures of habit - I would think the second time through the ring would be less stressful.
Actually the opposite is true (once through a ring isn't enough to form a habit or get them used to it.) Their second time they're usually worse because now they know what to expect and they know they don't like it.
For the same reason, most horses are reasonably calm before their first race. It's the second race that really makes them nervous.