Any advice....stressage

[Bills]

Hi all,
Wandered if anyone can help?? Why is it when i ride in the school at home my mare goes like a dream, (most of the time!!)

Then when we get to a show she turns into a hollow plank of wood monster that only has 2 movements - rear or super fast!!!

When we sj, ok she gets excited but we cope, as when we get in the ring she knows her job, she settles into a rhythm and we get round and very often get placed well. But as soon as we enter the dressage arena, the judges aren't so kind on a rearing, bouncing speed machine, that locks on to the arena white boards as if it was a sj (we have jumped out a few times lol

) Now i know i dont help as i do tense up a little (working on that) and im getting her to as many dressage comps as possible. But i dont think its the show environment thats a problem as we go to lots. Its just the dresage. Now i know it will all come with time but its so frustrating as i know how beautifully she goes at home.

Im pretty sure i've answered a lot of my own questions here

but i just wanted a moan! Anyone else been through anything similar? Would love to hear some success stories so i know not all is lost!!

Mint Aero bubbles if anyone got to the end!!

 

[chestnut cob]

I know the feeling...mine spends DR with his head in the air doing giraffe impressions and neighing at everyone...out hunting, which should be far more interesting, he is a total angel and you could put a child on him. Go figure

Why don't you try an instant calmer for dressage comps?

 

[Grey_Eventer]

argh, i ahd this exact problem with mine- minus rearing etc. he just locked his neck,head,jaw, back and probably tail and just went round awfully.... i think our worst moment was when i judge wrote that he needs to relax not only physically but also mentally, but he also needs to rlax in his whole body.... that was a bad moment for us, after that we got his back checked, was out of place, put back in... improved but not vastly... i have now taken off his flash and he has really started to improve.... ive also taken my instructor with me to events and this REALLY helps, could you try that?
it really is just practice, also do you pracitce in an arena? i find if you practice in a field with markers this can help!
we really ahve now started to improve, instead of always being in the 40s, were just dropping down (eventing) to lower and lower 30s

good luck, this has taken me 2 1/2 years LOL!

 

[Bills]

I did think about that actually. Any good ones i could try?? Yup she is an angel on the hunting field too!! Its all backward lol!!

 

[Bills]

Thanks PourToi - 2 1/2 yrs eek!! lol!!

I've had teeth, saddle, back checked regularly etc.. All is fine there.
Good idea about taking my instructor (she'd be sneaking me calming pills not the mare lol

) I dont help by tensing up but the airs above the ground take the pee lol!!

She thinks she looks good all the way up there im sure!!
We took the flash off which does loosen her up slightly but then we have SERIOUS breaks issues when we come to do our canter work,

so think were going to have to put it back on for a while?
Yeah i practise in the school at home, think white boards on grass is going to be helpful so she gets the idea they're not shrunken sj's lol!

 

[Kenzo]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi all,
Wandered if anyone can help?? Why is it when i ride in the school at home my mare goes like a dream, (most of the time!!)

Then when we get to a show she turns into a hollow plank of wood

[/ QUOTE ]

It's just the way horses rock and roll, the sooner you get used to it, the less it will do your head in.

Only kidding, they get better the more outings they have, meantime they just like to show us up

 

[smirnoff_ice07]

Mine does that at the start of the summer season, he is fantastic out hunting and as that season has just finished he is still in the hit-grass-and-race-everything frame of mind!
Usually tends to settle down when the weather heats up and I just about get some sense out of him come September - just in time for him to lose it all out hunting again!!!