BD people - prep for regionals/champs etc?

[Bounty]

Do any of you do extra preparation with horses that you have qualified for regionals etc, or do you just expect them to cope with the added 'buzz' and decoration?

 

[Bananaman]

If they are 'old hands' then nothing but with the youngsters or more nervy types I put up 'banners'. gazebos, rent a friend to run about and make a lot of noise!!!

If practical, I would also go and compete at the championship venue in the weeks leading up to a big comp.

 

[Jo C]

I have never worried about it before (am only going to AFs) but P has started to turn into a dressage diva even though he has coped with county shows and Ponies UK Champs without batting an eyelid, suddenly white boards and flower pots are scary so we are going to have some planted around the arena at home I think.

 

[_jetset_]

Quite a few venues run regional warm up competitions with flowers etc etc. so look out for those before these big events.

 

[Jo C]

Oh I've not seen those, I'll have to keep a look out, I really can't understand why they have become scary all of a sudden though, I guess its a new trick to keep me on my toes.

 

[Bounty]

Horse concerned will go out and compete regularly without batting an eyelid, and performs sparkly tests (exuberant but controlled, if you know what I mean!) every time out, until he gets to a bigger event. Twice in a row now he has qualified for the regionals with his eyes shut, but then gets there and completely loses the plot and blows up.
Rider says she doesn't pile the pressure on them, and genuinely doesn't think she gets any more nervous about the test than usual.

He is a bit of a 'precious' dressage diva type, so I have been volunteered to get him out to some busy country shows asap to get him some more exposure, but obviously they are coming to an end now and I was wondering what else I could do between now and the winters.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[CSYMolly]

Since mine can be a spook monster (although seems to be recently converted!) I will make sure I compete there a couple times leading up to the comp. Problem is they don't always have all the flowers and banners out but you could try get hold of some at home.
The thing Molly hated the most was spectators standing around the arena so I had to get people to hang about in the arena whilst I was riding.
Wanna try take her to Oldencraig but I don't think I will get her anywhere near the flags so need to get preparing for that one!

 

[seche]

Having only ever "ponced" about at Bromyard and Burrows Court when we got to Hartpury we were in for a shock - MIRRORS and the case of the "oh my loooord mummy there is a handsome horse trotting straight at me - we are playing chicken!" dilema ensued. . . next time we took him there he was fine, some dont like the lovely flowers they do by the letters!

 

[Booboos]

As far as I know most regionals will have a 'warm up test' either on the first day or in the morning every day, plus a half hour slot first thing every day when you can walk your horse around the arena. That might help?