Dressage - stage fright - best venue - Sparsholt/Hartpury

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Notimetoride

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I have a horse which I am starting to think actually suffers with stagefright. Weve attempted two Area Festivals and both times shes literally exploded in the arena. I have one qualification left and have a choice of Sparsholt and Hartpury. I need the 'quietest' venue, difficult at an Area Festival, but I need the best venue for a green horse who hasn't had much exposure to this type of environment and panics. If it happens again at our third attempt I'm going to knock championships on the head and just stick to low key local competitions with no atmosphere.
 
Well I'm swerving hartpury (which is my local ) with my nervous one, she finds it a bit of a difficult venue. They haven't had an area festival there before recently so it's hard to predict whether they will use the outdoor arenas. Mine finds the indoor a bit much. Worth a phone call to ask if that's a factor with yours . It's the last one so will probably be busy.

Never been to sparsholt sorry. I'm heading to Beacons instead ;)
 
It's difficult to advise as they are quite different and also depends what arena you are in. I competed quite a tense spooky mare and in general she was better in a big arena where the boards weren't at the fenceline.

But she went exceptionally well at Sparsholt indoors (which I had pegged for a potential meltdown) and she was tricky the 3 times at Hartpury which should theoretically have suited her better. So I give up trying to second guess!
 
Generally sparsholt will use their big outdoor with 2 arenas set up next to each other. One arena will have people/horses walking beside it and the catering van and possibly a marquee as well. The other arena may have horses in it that occasionally canter off/play (as horses do) next to it as next to the fields. There are a few banners around the outside as well. It might be worth giving the secretary a ring, Emma just to check this years set up. Sorry can't help with the comparison but gives you an idea of what Sparsholt might be like for a spooky horse!
 
Omg mine absolutely lost the plot at Hartpury! I think we are blacklisted!!! :D And The Hand, if you remember that venue. We used to flippin take him there and lunge twice a week but he never got any better.

Are there any unaff or clinics etc you can do at either venue in the meantime?
 
Pigeon said:
Omg mine absolutely lost the plot at Hartpury! I think we are blacklisted!!! :D And The Hand, if you remember that venue. We used to flippin take him there and lunge twice a week but he never got any better.

Are there any unaff or clinics etc you can do at either venue in the meantime?
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I wish i could but both are too far away and time just wont allow. Im just hoping Sparsholt has a slightly quieter atmosphere as that is my preference and i cant bare any more explosions from my horse.
 
Sparsholt can be a funny one for sensitive horses as it's very 'farmy'! I know a few horses (Spartsholt is local for us) that just don't go well there, whether its the smell or what i have no idea!

The 'occasion' feels bigger at Hartpury so depends which your horse is more sensitive too!
 
LeannePip said:
Sparsholt can be a funny one for sensitive horses as it's very 'farmy'! I know a few horses (Spartsholt is local for us) that just don't go well there, whether its the smell or what i have no idea!

The 'occasion' feels bigger at Hartpury so depends which your horse is more sensitive too!
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We definitely need less of an 'occasion' so i wonder if we might be ok at Sparsholt. I think we may just about cope with a few cows and muck spreading.
 
I would say that Spartsholt will feel like less of an 'occasion' than if you went to Hartpury. But as others have said it is very "Farmy" they do try to not have tests going on when they are moving the cows though.

My horse can be pretty sensitive but he tends to not be too bad at Sparsholt.

Im going to Sparsholt on the 5th of August before the AF as they are running the AF tests i know a few people going for a practice run before areas so it might be worth doing that if you are free that day?
 
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