Advice for the warm up at a competition

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flipgina

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Hello,
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for calming horses down whilst in the warm up please. My current horse is good when warming up alone however at a competition this is not normally possible and my horse becomes stressed. She refuses to go forward and spins and rears. She leaps around swinging into other horses and if I can get her to go over the jump she launches herself at it and then bronks afterwards. I then become very nervous and when we get in the ring she becomes strong and lively.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

Many thanks
Olivia
 
If you cannot do a decent warmup before jumping the practice fence then the problem will get worse as she will be uncomfortable when jumping, unprepared to go in the ring so is going to be lively and strong which will make you even more nervous.

I would recommend having some lessons with a good trainer with the plan to get into a group or clinic, forget about competing until she is concentrating and warming up properly in lessons/ clinics and progress to taking her to somewhere quiet where you can warm up and only go in a clear round if you feel ready to do so, it may take a few months to crack but in the long run it is worth investing the time and money so you can actually be better prepared and enjoy competing once you are ready.

Horses that get so stressed at competitions are no fun for the rider and are a b**** nuisance in the warm up area for people who have worked on their horses to get them well educated before going out, everyone can have an off day but if you do your homework properly there should be no reason for them to behave in the way you describe, swinging into other horses will potentially cause an accident which with correct work can be stopped or at least controlled.
 
I do a 'double warm-up' with my horse who gets tense in the warm-up. We arrive 1.5-2 hours early, I hop up and do 10-15 mins of W/T/C without worrying about how she's going or what shes doing, just let her look around and do all her panicking :)

Then she goes back in the box for a bit while I get ready (about 30-45mins), then we get back up and do the proper warm-up.

This has helped us massively. You could also try lunging in the 'pretend warm-up' instead of riding if there is space.
 
Mine is a keen bean most of the time, and kicks if crowded by strange horses. I do an awful lot of walking around car parks to warm up as much as possible before going into the warm up. Spend minimal time in there - literally in, straight up to trot, canter, jump, out again to either stand or keep walking about until we go in to compete.

Does require a helper to hold your place/shout you in, though!
 
If your horse is quite experienced I would just cut your warm up down. My main girl is as quirky as they come so I walk her round the car park to loosen off her muscles then we go into the warm up have a walk trot canter and jump a cross x 2 an upright and then an oxer if all is going ok. The more I try to do the more stressed and un-cooperative she is.
 
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