Gorgeous George
Well-Known Member
Hi, I'm sorry you are having such a rough time at the moment when all you want to be doing is enjoying your horse and progressing 
I don't know if this helps at all, George and I only do prelim dressage (for the last 3 years
) sometimes we do ok and get placed and other times it is dire! At the beginning of the year I thought I'd cracked it, but then it was 10 paces back again Like you I was struggling with confidence, belief and costs and went from fortnightly lessons to one a month, but at the same time decided to have some proper fun with George.
We got the map out (well I did
) and worked out some longer hacks round different routes, I got the opportunity to go out with my friend and gallop over her husband's stubble fields (never done that before) and I took George on our first pleasure ride and had a great day. I think for at least a month I didn't do any schooling.
Then I had a lesson, George went like an angel, my instructor kept commenting that I must of bought a different horse and I was grinning from ear to ear So now I'm trying to keep schooling to a minimum in the hope it keeps him (and me) fresh.................I will let you know if it works after my dressage comp on Sun!
Don't give up, or think you've ruined your horse - you haven't, but why not do something totally different for a change and see if it helps you both?
I don't know if this helps at all, George and I only do prelim dressage (for the last 3 years
) sometimes we do ok and get placed and other times it is dire! At the beginning of the year I thought I'd cracked it, but then it was 10 paces back again Like you I was struggling with confidence, belief and costs and went from fortnightly lessons to one a month, but at the same time decided to have some proper fun with George.We got the map out (well I did
) and worked out some longer hacks round different routes, I got the opportunity to go out with my friend and gallop over her husband's stubble fields (never done that before) and I took George on our first pleasure ride and had a great day. I think for at least a month I didn't do any schooling.Then I had a lesson, George went like an angel, my instructor kept commenting that I must of bought a different horse and I was grinning from ear to ear
So now I'm trying to keep schooling to a minimum in the hope it keeps him (and me) fresh.................I will let you know if it works after my dressage comp on Sun!Don't give up, or think you've ruined your horse - you haven't, but why not do something totally different for a change and see if it helps you both?