What's everyones plan for builing a colt's confidence away from home and familiar locations? I have a 5 year old that is ready to start being seasoned. He came from a bad past as a 3-4 year old where he was pushed way too soon, way too fast. He got beat on when he was hauled to a few races when he had no clue what he was doing. When I got him, went back to the basics. Got him really fancy broke, using his body correct, and slowly adding all those skills to the pattern. He drills MAYBE once a week at home on barrels, if that. Then I'll haul him to a friends house to do the drills some weeks. He works PERFECT at home and her house. Take him to a jackpot, and he completely looses it. He's not crazy, just acts like he completely doesn't know what he's doing. I am only doing exhibitions on him right now.  Any tips to help him build confidence? 

I love ear plugs for colts. They really help them focus and keep out the noise of a jackpot.

Lots of patience! If he makes mistakes thats ok, no need to nit pik at the show. That errods confidence. Making little mistakes without getting into trouble builds confidence. Gear down for a few shows, if you are loping back down to a trot. I am not big on walking thru cause it gives a lookey horse time to look for boogers.Try to arrive in time to ride in the pen before the exhibitions start. If he needs a freind thats ok too. Lastly YOU ride with confidence. He needs to feel that you are confident and not nervous. They feed off that stuff.

This is really good good advice..

I have seen it to where the riders that need the confidence as well, the horse will work really good at home and places where its quite and at a relaxing place but when you go to a barrel race then the rider changes themself and gets a bit nervious and then the young horse feels it themselves and everything just kinda gos down hill. The rider seems to get kinda tense at the races sometimes because they are on a young green horse, happens all the time, the young horse is good but when the rider gets tense so does the horse.