Dressage Today - Little Monster

Grumbledor

Grumbledor

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Thought I'd write a report today since some lovely HHOers helped me out with a test question last night.

Went off to local unaff. dressage - 3rd time we've been to this venue and he's always been bad in the tests there. Did the Nov 20 and Ele 48 (our very first Elementary!).

Got into the warm up and he was brill, relaxed, managed to walk, trot and canter with him really stretched down then picked him up and he warmed up fantastically.

Went in to do the Novice (one of two arenas marked out by boards in large outdoor school, short arena) and he did what he always does in these arenas, stick his head up and ignore all my efforts to encourage him to soften, accept the bridle and work through his back. Awful test.

Put the double straight on for the Elementary and really worked him for 20 mins before the test, which was in the indoor school, long arena, and the test was a push for us, a few mistakes but he was willing and listening - much better test
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we made it to the other side of our first Elementary!

I'm just so frustrated about his Novice, he's been going lovely in the snaffle (loose ring lozinge) recently at home and was fab in the warm up - how can I get his attention in the test?! I have done tests in snaffles at other venues and he's been alot better (particularly in indoor schools, despite the fact that we don't have one at home!)
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its frustrating isn't it! to be honest i am now just really picky about where i go to compete...i stick to places where i know they will go well/ won't be distracted etc... sorry i realise this isn't a solution but its what i honestly do!
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well done on your elementary tho! whats next?
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Maybe it's partly because you EXPECT him to not go well in those arenas, so you are tense and don't ride him as positively? In the past if one of mine is going cr&p in the test, I just pretend I'm at home and try and ride them through it rather than backing off and hoping the judge wont' notice - not saying this is what you do but at least they learn they can't get away with it and you never know judge might give you credit for using it as a schooling exercise!
 
Diggerbez - thank you, and that does make sense! Only thing is I plan to do BD next year (which answers your 'what next' question
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)and there are few local centres that run aff. competitions - I'm going to try a different venue in a few weekends time and see what happens.

Donadea - you're quite right I think, I do need ride him more strongly in the test, but the way he is when he's in there if I overcheck him with my hands his head will only go up further, and if I push him forward I worry I'll never make it round the corner! He definately needs to learn he can't get away with it! I just need to swallow my pride (not that I have any after the shambles that was today) and ride him properly in the arena and not worry about the judge!
 
how about trying to get to a clinic where you can ride a test but not as part of a competition or as suggested just go for it and to hell what the judge thinks! i'm a bit like you i think- i just freeze and worry that the judge will notice what i'm doing...when in reality this is a tad ineffective of me!
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At a total loss! I know my big grey just won't do dressage at one venue - so now we've just said "why waste the entry fee?"!!

Such a shame, but well done on making it through your ele! At least you could do it in a double - P hates it so had to do it in a snaffle
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was the only one!
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I was one of the few in a double! I always feel there is a bit of a stigma about riding in doubles and that you should be able to do everything in a snaffle, but my horse is 17hh and it just makes communication a whole lot easier as was evident today!
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well done on the elementary. I wouldn't worry too much about the double, you ride in what you feel your horse goes best in.

i too have venues to avoid, as my horse is not a happy chappy in realy small and enclosed dark indoor arenas, he goes better in larger indoor arenas (alot bigger than 20x40), the light and airy type, but goes even better outdoors. Just accepted it'sone of those things, and is confidence is slowly coming with time indoors, but he still can be very nervy and spooky if it's realy quiet.
 
This is always frustrating for the rider, and can be a combination of tension in the horse and tension in the rider. It shouldnt be a case of 'over-checking' with your hands. You must create the forward impulsion that take the horse forward to your hand, not check in front and hope he will drop his head. Make sure he understands the request to 'soften' with a 'diagonal' aid. By that i mean inside leg on the girth creates the forward movement to teh outside hand, while the inside hand asks, gives and asks again for inside flexion. The outside hand has to control any excess forward movement, and allow the flexion to the inside while controlling the amount of bend to the inside. The outside leg should be behind the girth to control the quarters and create a slight bend in the body, or more bend when asking the horse to soften and be attentive to you (even on a straight line). When the horse does soften his jaw to the inside hand you should feel that his mouth is now connected to your hand/arm/body and that by giving that inside hand a little the horse will look for the outside hand, this is the real key, for him to remaon attentive to you he must always look for the outside hand, with the amount of bend for corners and circles being directed by the bend in his body (depending on level of training) and the amount of bend asked for by teh inside hand. Sometimes you have to be prepared to throw away a couple of tests (warn the organiser and judge that you are looking to do a training test) and make more of asking teh horse to be attentive than to be accurate to the markers for movements, even throw in a couple of circles that will get you errors of course, but will show the horse that the competition arena is still a place to work together!
 
I sympathise---there's one outdoor school where the spooky pony predictably tries to take off with me and leave the arena during the canter circles. It's gradually improving, but I suspect my expectation of trouble is actually contributing to it. I end up riding too cautiously until the inevitable explosion, and then riding much more positively once it's behind us. I'm steeling myself to just push him onwards from the beginning the next time, and simply accept that we may get an extended canter up the centre line rather than a working trot.
 
Oops - not been online for the last few days and just seen these replys- thanks HW, Selt and SP for your replies. All very useful info - I definately shouldn't worry about what people think - with regards to riding in the double and what I do with him in the arena. Glad to know I'm not the only one SpookyPony!
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