Dressage today - and feeding Q!

SpottedCat

SpottedCat

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So off we went to dressage today, first up N32 - he warmed up beautifully and did such a nice test, I was very pleased. Had a heartstopping moment when the judge called me over but she just wanted to tell me I had a stunning looking horse! This si a real novelty for me, so I was very chuffed. In that one we managed 64.37% and 3rd, so pretty good reall, and close to my desired mark of consistent 65%

Then N33. It was a bit like riding in a wind-tunnel, and B was rather naughty to get 60% and 4th. Think if the disobediences hadn't been there he'd have managed a similar score to the first test really - I got a well sat on my sheet too!

So plus points is that last time out my medium paces were 5s and this time they were all 6s or 7s, and FWLR seems to now be consistently 6 not 4! (still a work in progress but hey, marks are marks!)

Anyway, as his behaviour has been less then brilliant, I have a feeling it is the feed - alfa-a. He's now back on pony nuts, and I'll give it 2 weeks before calling back and teeth man as he was done in the last couple of months. However, should I require more energy, what do people use? Last summer I had no trouble novice eventing him on half a scoop of pony nuts, but he lacked sparkle in the dressage. The year before I used straight oats - any other ideas?
 
Well done T
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Great stuff.
I would go for straight oats. Thats what i did with bal and winston. I fed a feed balancer then when I needed extra sparkle ie just before an event i would add oats.
Its instant energy as and when required. When he has his day off you dont have to feed them which means i never worried about them getting above their station when they werent ridden
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worked pretty well for 4 seasons
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Exactly what I did in his first season - pony nuts with straight oats for 3 days before a comp. It's tried and tested on him too, because he is deffo too big for his boots at the moment! He feels as full of energy as he normally does when he's fit after half a season's eventing, so ATM I am rather dreading what he may turn into!!
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Awww well done with those marks. Is this affiliated? With regards to feeding, the great dopey Irish thing has had a similar problem. Baileys #11 Racehorse Cubes sound pretty extreme, but they are non-heating and slow release, and for me provide the perfect about of sparkle, without too much fizz. All ours are on Baileys - I'm a big fan of them and I'm sure one of their 'numbers' would be suitable. (On second thoughs we also use #4 Topline Cubes too, designed for competition horses but with perhaps a little less energy than 11!)
 
Cheers - it's unaff but using listed judges and against decent horses as it is pick and pix from Novice upt to adv-medium - there were 2 adv medium horses in my second class.

I will bear Baileys in mind, could be a good option.
 
I think what is hardest is the warm-up as I try and persuade him that he does remember how to do medium strides and not look at the people around me doing flying changes on serpentines and feel intimidated by them!!
 
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Had a heartstopping moment when the judge called me over but she just wanted to tell me I had a stunning looking horse! This si a real novelty for me, so I was very chuffed.

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I will not tell Twiggy, she'll get upset that she wasn't novelty value! That could be a good name for her foal - as long as she deigns to have one that is!
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Everything crossed, only 4 months to go!

Well done on the scores, just keep on improving - easy for me to say, I'm not riding! As to feed, what about Bailey's #4; I used that on a pointer that was usually volatile on anything else?
 
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I will not tell Twiggy, she'll get upset that she wasn't novelty value! That could be a good name for her foal - as long as she deigns to have one that is!
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Everything crossed, only 4 months to go!

Well done on the scores, just keep on improving - easy for me to say, I'm not riding! As to feed, what about Bailey's #4; I used that on a pointer that was usually volatile on anything else?

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LOL, she certainly was that! I was commenting on the way back actually that I haven't had a well sat on my test sheet since I last competed her!!
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Fingers crossed for the foal - she needs to be good at something other than making the field look nice....
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Well Done, makes it worth getting up in the rain when you get nice comments.

I always used to feed the Spillers Response Slow Release Range. It worked well on my WB who needed energy but got spooky when I fed him.
 
Well done for today! Excellent..hope you enjoyed it too!!

I really like instant engery by spillers and use PAVO too...although this is quite expensive my boy does really well on this.
 
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