Dressage test for the 13th of May (bits..please help)

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Hemirjtm

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I'm doing a little fun day on the 13th of May, I have decided what SJ classes im going to do...plus a dressage test!!!

At the moment Hemir is not listening very well and we are finding it i bit difficult...suppose it didn't help that we just hacked out for 4 months
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He was in a pelham but as soon as i put a nose band on him the pelham became too strong fo him and he was overbending
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Then i put a d-ring snaffle with copper rollers in, but he didn't respod well to this, kept snatching the bit and jsut seemed unhappy
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We have now put a waterford on, at the begining he seemed to like it and was responding well toeverything i asked, would soften and go on the bit, but for my last lesson (last thursday) he went round like a giraffe, I put his pelham back on for hacking on Friday, he had saturday off, and Sunday he had the pelham in again because i did some 'XC' out on a hack. Yesterday was ok but he still felt like a bit of a giraffe and just wouldn't strike off into canter, so mum went and got my spurs
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that helped but he still wouldn't soften, he felt like he was working better from behind though
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Then today i practiced the Dressage test (prelim 7) and just felt like he wasn't going well, his head was stuck up in the air! The cantering was ok though
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it felt like our transitions were quite good too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPiSTo4i_SU

I think it may be me
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In the video my hands look stiff and i'm rising quite high and i don't know why
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It's just going downhill
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I'm not sure if he likes the waterford or not but i don't think it is working for us
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He has settled down and doesn't take off with me anymore which is good! I really like the waterford but not sure wether to persevere (sp!) or to try something else?
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What do you think? If i was to change bits what would you suggest?
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sorry for long post, and thankyou if you got this far
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are you allowed the waterford for dressage?if you are then i would say persevere but im having the same prob!!
 
What a lovely horse! My first thoughts were that he wasnt happy in his mouth. To rule out any tension in your arms I would have the EDT take a look at his teeth. If that has already been covered, then I would have his back checked as there is little softness, and tension in the neck. He isnt always tracking up either.

You do seem to be fighting with him at times - do you have regular instruction? If so, what is he like with your trainer?

Its easy to put a stronger bit in their mouths in the hope that it will make them listen, but often it is the rider who needs to soften and use their legs to create the soft outline.

You have a good seat. I would work with a good trainer to improve your leg position and to soften your hands/arms.

The best of luck to you. Keep striving for perfection as we all do. If you want it enough then it's there for the taking.
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I agree with Llwyncwn - I'm no expert but have been having issues with Ty in the mouth. Put him in a loose ring snaffle and had riding lessons! Your hands are moving around quite a bit and you need to create a level, steady contact - that was were I've been going wrong for ages! Once you get him accepting that then you can worry about bringing his head down. He seems to move forward ok but wasn't sure if that was the video or not.....

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