MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Had a brilliant flatwork lesson yesterday, horse was going so well. But why the hell can't I get him going this nicely in the dressage arena?! Getting so frustrated. How does everybody else do it?
Bloody Dressage
- Thread starter MagicMelon
- Start date
Judie
Well-Known Member
Not sure we do!! Lessons are ALWAYS better than tests..if you find the answer let me know
Eccles
Well-Known Member
Oh I know what you mean! My horse goes really well at home and in the warm-up but then in the arena he switches off! So frustrating! When he first started competing and didn't know what it was about he went really well inside the boards (but not outside them!!) and now its the other way round!!
Tempi
Well-Known Member
If Archie went as well as he did in lessons in his tests id be one very happy person!!
FREESTYLER
Well-Known Member
Well my boy too is not as good in lesson/warm-up. I think for me it is because I am concentrating soooo much on the test itself. It helped when I practiced the test or parts of the test in the lesson and then put it all together!! If that makes sense!
PaddyMonty
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
But why the hell can't I get him going this nicely in the dressage arena?!
[/ QUOTE ]
The answer is simple
the solution is way more difficult.
In lessons you can do things over and over again. Your not being judged and it doesn't matter if you dont get it right first time. This generally results in the rider working the horse in a much more forward and open manner.
Hop in the areana and it all changes. You only get one shot, every point counts so the riding changes. So most riders start to ride more defensively or to put it another way....they play it safe.
Net result is horse is restricted from really moving. It gets contained and a little locked down so it cant really make too much of a hash, but it cant shine either
How do you get to ride the same in the areana as the lesson?
If I knew the answer to that then I'd be a multi millionaire
But why the hell can't I get him going this nicely in the dressage arena?!
[/ QUOTE ]
The answer is simple
In lessons you can do things over and over again. Your not being judged and it doesn't matter if you dont get it right first time. This generally results in the rider working the horse in a much more forward and open manner.
Hop in the areana and it all changes. You only get one shot, every point counts so the riding changes. So most riders start to ride more defensively or to put it another way....they play it safe.
Net result is horse is restricted from really moving. It gets contained and a little locked down so it cant really make too much of a hash, but it cant shine either
How do you get to ride the same in the areana as the lesson?
If I knew the answer to that then I'd be a multi millionaire
MrsMagoo
Well-Known Member
I have the oppasite problem - she is a madam to school at home and i get sooo frustrated
But then when we go to a show, she is complety different and so easy to ride. Think she likes showing of
But the things i get noted for in my tests, its hard to work on at home cause she's not the same!!!!
But the things i get noted for in my tests, its hard to work on at home cause she's not the same!!!!
Sarah_Jane
Well-Known Member
Have exactly the same problem can't produce 50% of the performance in my tests. Have come to the conclusion it is me, I always want to do so well that puts presurre on and makes us both tense. It is so frustrating
Malibu
Well-Known Member
I used to have that problem with Malibu, when I evented him, he was tense and a proper little sh*t in the dressage arena, but at home, in lessons, or even schooling in fields out on hacks he was an angel! I never cracked it except I try and remain calm and relaxed.
Tierra
Well-Known Member
Because you ride differently in the arena than you do at home
Can almost guarentee it
Obviously then the horse responds differently
catembi
Well-Known Member
Oooohh that's my theory too - in lessons you can go round & round til you get it right, but in a test you get one go. That's why I'm also utterly cr*p in my piano lessons!!
The 'cure' is to make your long-suffering o/h take a couple of test sheets out when you're schooling & read out bits of them so you can 'practice' only having 1 shot at the movements, & also get used to how quickly they follow on from each other. Whereas if you're schooling by yourself, you end up doing 20 circles followed by 20 serpentines etc.
It's a bit disheartening cos you then find out that, in a 'test' situation at home, your horse goes just as cr*p as he does at shows ie head in the air, off the bit etc. But at least you then won't be disappointed at your next show!!!
The 'cure' is to make your long-suffering o/h take a couple of test sheets out when you're schooling & read out bits of them so you can 'practice' only having 1 shot at the movements, & also get used to how quickly they follow on from each other. Whereas if you're schooling by yourself, you end up doing 20 circles followed by 20 serpentines etc.
It's a bit disheartening cos you then find out that, in a 'test' situation at home, your horse goes just as cr*p as he does at shows ie head in the air, off the bit etc. But at least you then won't be disappointed at your next show!!!
parsley
Well-Known Member
In theory by focusing on enjoying the ride on a good surface with the knowledge that your "instructor" wants watch you work before commenting on your performance rather than bellowing as you go around. i.e. riding as you would at home.
I haven't cracked it yet - I nearly faint from lack of breathing while tensing up all my muscles by the end of the test
I learning to do it OK in showing classes though so there is hope
I haven't cracked it yet - I nearly faint from lack of breathing while tensing up all my muscles by the end of the test