Dressage- Loosing the will to live

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colourednut

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Hi Everyone,
is there anyone to help me. I was competing unaff dressage prelim on my 5 year warmblood and consistently getting between 68 - and 76%. Wanted to aff but thought better try novice un aff first started getting 62's which is ok but now getting 58 - 60%. We were medium troting, were medium canter etc but not anymore. I'm getting tight and disillusioned cos although she was ok apprarently she is not now. Can't understand why her working paces have fallen down. Any ideas good and bad. I'm really not happy about competing now all though I still want to. Should I get a new trainer to help me. Ot let someone who has not seen us before. One Judge consistently gives us low scores. My current trainer came today and just can't understand why we got such a low mark. HELP!!!!!
 
Welcome to dressage
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It goes like that!

What sort of comments are you getting from the judges?

When you say you 'were' medium trotting & walking, as you don't do those in prelim do you mean at home but it's fallen apart at the competition?
 
I have to agree with Tog in that Dressage can be like this at times, however i have found unaffiliated to be slightly more inconsistent in the marking than that of affiliated dressage classes.

Do you know if any of the tests you have ridden have been judged by a listed judge at all??
 
Thanks for replying
In my medium trot I'm getting comments like rushing and no true medium trot shown. No true medium canter shown, Im getting wobbly centre lines. WC to short in neck not forwards. But at the end got Very obedient horse needs to be more soft and forward. But lots to like so keep on working at it. Don't know waht she did like. We did Nov 30 today and admit we fluffed the changes across diagonals from canter to trot on one because she wouldn't get her back legs underneath her. In her halt she walked on before 4 seconds. But the rest I felt and my trainer felt was good. Yeahh she mediums at home. I'm sure I'm getting tense and not allowing her to come up and through underneath me. But from her comments throughout the test I'm trying to find the bits she liked. I''m not a sore looser I take criticism and work on it but I'm completely miffed
 
Dont know. Do BD have a list of Approved Judges I'd Love to know if this judge is on there list because this is the third time she has judge me a given avery low mark, Where as others haven't. Desperately want to aff because horse deserves it. Now got I'm not good enough. Needs a better rider which is sad cos I've owned since she was 2 backed and broke her and feel we have a really good understanding of each other. We work as a team, so I thought. She has been successfull was 5th BEF Young Evalaution final 2005
 
Obviously it's very difficult without seeing your horse in action, but with comments like that I would stab a guess at:

You are tensing up a little in the test, possible keeping the handbrake on a little therefore not allowing her natural rhythm to come through, this would also have an impact on the softness through her neck, which would then lead her to 'run' in her medium work because her hind quarters are not actually working.

I know that sounds a little negative but it can be easily put right, loads of half halts, sending forward and bringing back. To be honest if your trainer couldn't see this was happening then maybe it would worth trying some one else to see what their take on it is. Some times 'trainers' can get a little stale.

With Christmas coming up take the opportunity to do some homework with her and start the new year fresh. I personally with your prelim %'s would go affliated, that way you will get more consistency with the judging. I don't think you actually have to join at prelim level unless you qualify.

Don't loose the will the live, it's a naff time of year, hard work and even the horses get a bit stale of the same old thing. Do you vary her work as she is still quite young?
 
yes, I do I jump her as well at home and hack her. I have thoughout at having a stab at a prelim aff to see what happens. I live quite close to Oldencraig and Belmoredean. I've got one more comp before Xmas and then thoughout about maybe booking some clinics with some other dressage trainers in Jan and starting again once I feel better about us
 
Hi,

Yes you can obtain a booklet of Listed BD judges from BD, as Tog has said in the previous post it may be worth getting a 'fresh pair of eyes' on the situation to assess what your weaknesses are and perhaps offer ways in which to correct them. If i were you though i would have a go at some aff dress on a ticket to give you a fairer idea as to where you are at competitively. Perhaps do a couple of prelims and an easier novice test to get you going and take it from there??
 
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maybe booking some clinics with some other dressage trainers in Jan

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Sounds like a good plan!

Keep your chin up, we all go through these stages..
 
Thanks benjis_girl. Which ones would you consider the easier tests. First test she did was nov 21 and got 62% at Belmoreden which I though would be much harder to get good marks than where she went today
 
Thanks Tog for your help. Will not worry about it. The one good thing my trainer said today to keep my chin up was remember " You and her are Work in progress"
 
The earlier Novice tests are less technical, such as 21 and 24 for example as apposed to the late Novices with counter canter, medium trot, medium canter on a half 20m circle etc. It would just be interesting to see what % you got and where you came in the placings..

Good luck and let us know how you get on..

Try not to worry though we all feel like this at times, its what makes it interesting!! LOL!!
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Also are you sure your horse is physically right. Have you had her back checked. I have a back person (Bowen) treat my dressage horse every 10 weeks or so- he is working at a higher level) to keep his muscles loose. If she is tight then will not want to go forwards. Wobbly centre lines are largely due to lack of forward. I would get her checked out and then get a different trainer to help you. Hope you get sorted out
 
Have not read the replies so sorry if repeating others.

I wouldn't really blame the judges - the odd time you may feel that they got it wrong but on the whole the judges want to give you what you deserve....they wouldn't be harsh just to you for the sake of it - there is nothing more soul destroying than sitting at C giving bad mark after bad mark, the judge wants you to do well!! Put your scores in context though - watch other tests and see what they get - some judges are harsher than others but it will be across the board to everyone so if you watch others you will know when this is the case.

You do seem to say in you post that your horses general way of going has deteriorated so you need to decide whether it is your riding causing this, if so maybe get a good trainer to ride your horse a bit as s/he will be easily influenced at 5 years old and it would be a shame to ruin him - you need to be brutally honest as to whether you are the problem. While someone (prefferably accredited and with a proven past record in dressage) is riding your horse you should get lessons on a school master or something.

If you really think that your trainer is the problem then change. However, don't be too quick to always blame the trainer. It should be quite obvious if this is the problem though because you would know if what they are telling you to do is wrong / not working. Remember that you should never do something your trainer says unless you understand why you are doing it and what it is supposed to achieve. Also critically asses if you think you are really carrying out what they tell you ie. the trainer may be saying the right things but you are not doing exactly as they tell you so it doesn't work.

It may be that when you are teaching your horse mediums you are running him onto the forehand and tightening him through his back - which will show through into his working paces - make sure the mediums are from behind and loose.
And don't pick him up any higher than your prelim outline if either of you are not ready.

I think you are right not to compete until you have addressed the problem - it won't do anyone any good!

Good luck
 
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