Dressage - totally lost faith in my horse and feeling beaten.

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Notimetoride

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Ive been progressing nicely with my pony, starting at Intro and more recently unaff novice. Joined BD and qualified for Pet Plan straight away. So weve been working very hard on giving our performance some polish and have entered Pet Plan.
I entered a little unaff percentage class yesterday to run through our test and ooooh boy did my horse let me down. They were running late so we were a very long time in the warm up but i had absolutely no incling that anything was wrong. She is usually pretty chilled out and worked in absolutely fine. Then we went in to do our test and she just decided she didnt want to be there and wanted to be back with her new friends in the warm up. So, going away from home was bl'dy hard work, heading for home we have an out of control steam train !!! I didnt even attempt canter at the far end as she just wanted to run ! I would have totally lost her. We entered twice so i was sure she would have settled in the second test but no - she was worse and at one point she planted and bunny hopped in defiance. I kicked on and she didnt win, and then afterwards went back in the warm up and worked her jolly hard for another 10 mins, but she had now started whinnying constantly(at what I have no idea) This is just not like her - she very rarely whinnys at shows. At no point was I actually scared, but i knew if i wasnt careful and one step ahead of her, that i would lose control completely.
Its unlikely to be hormones as shes on Regumate (she is very hormonal without it) and her ovaries are fine as they have been scanned. She was just on one and her desire to be with her friends was far stronger than her wish to co-operate with me.
Shes done so very well up to this point, any maybe ive taken things a bit for granted, but we do have a napping problem sometimes in the dressage arena (usually only slight and after a mild scolding we sort it out).
Im just absolutely shocked at her behaviour, so disappointed, and now so worried that at Pet Plan shes going to be the same. I just wonder how on earth people come back from set backs like this as I have to be honest, im not used to it ?
 
It sounds to me as if you are putting too much pressure on yourself and therefore also on your horse and forgetting that it is supposed to be fun, yes doing well makes it more enjoyable and progressing up the levels gives you a focus on the training but at the end of the day it is only a dressage competition not a matter of life or death.

I suspect she is sensing your nerves are building as the PP becomes ever closer and that rather than her intending to misbehave or let you down she is simply losing her self confidence and reacted as many equines will in similar situations they want to get out of the situation and back to other equines, it is not acceptable and we train them so they will be independent but when nerves take over they will forget that training and instincts will take over to a certain extent, she is inclined to nap anyway so when it all becomes too much that tendency takes over.

I think you are overreacting by saying you have totally lost faith in her, think of it as a warning that she is not coping with what you are doing and rather than set about trying to tackle it head on go a different route take a step back do some fun things, hack, jump and build her confidence and trust in you, it works both ways so as she starts to trust you you can trust her again, maybe have a lesson with your trainer but try and view it as a positive lesson rather than an attempt to fix what probably isn't broken just slightly damaged, if you can rebuild the partnership there is no reason to think the PP will be a disaster, it is all a learning curve look forward and don't dwell on one bad day.

As for what other people do they either do what I said, use it as a learning experience and look forward or they chuck in the towel and give up but if we did that every time we had a bad day training or competing with horses not many of us would ride as there are frequently more bad, difficult or could do better days than good ones for the average competition rider.
 
be positive said:
It sounds to me as if you are putting too much pressure on yourself and therefore also on your horse and forgetting that it is supposed to be fun, yes doing well makes it more enjoyable and progressing up the levels gives you a focus on the training but at the end of the day it is only a dressage competition not a matter of life or death.

I suspect she is sensing your nerves are building as the PP becomes ever closer and that rather than her intending to misbehave or let you down she is simply losing her self confidence and reacted as many equines will in similar situations they want to get out of the situation and back to other equines, it is not acceptable and we train them so they will be independent but when nerves take over they will forget that training and instincts will take over to a certain extent, she is inclined to nap anyway so when it all becomes too much that tendency takes over.

I think you are overreacting by saying you have totally lost faith in her, think of it as a warning that she is not coping with what you are doing and rather than set about trying to tackle it head on go a different route take a step back do some fun things, hack, jump and build her confidence and trust in you, it works both ways so as she starts to trust you you can trust her again, maybe have a lesson with your trainer but try and view it as a positive lesson rather than an attempt to fix what probably isn't broken just slightly damaged, if you can rebuild the partnership there is no reason to think the PP will be a disaster, it is all a learning curve look forward and don't dwell on one bad day.

As for what other people do they either do what I said, use it as a learning experience and look forward or they chuck in the towel and give up but if we did that every time we had a bad day training or competing with horses not many of us would ride as there are frequently more bad, difficult or could do better days than good ones for the average competition rider.
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Thank you. I appreciate this
 
I think be-positive is spot on with her assessment. You certainly won't be the first person to put extra pressure on themself in the run up to a big competition.
 
I think you're over thinking it all. All horses can have off days, just like we can. They can go off the boil, get upset, behave irrationally. I think you're being unfair on the mare to say you've lost faith in her. Just chalk it up to a bad day, take off the pressure with a couple of nice hacks or maybe even a fun ride, then get back to normal with your DR.

If it makes you feel any better, my usually impeccably behaved horse had a sudden meltdown 2 weeks ago at a new venue. He screamed his head off throughout the test, refused to go near the flower pots, did a mini rear, took off twice & had the biggest strop ever when I wouldn't let him canter off. Don't know what got into him. He's been fine ever since so just one of those days where you have to laugh!
 
As others have said, it sounds like you're over-emphasising and over-thinking this one experience - I'd put it down to a bad day and carry on having fun.

I had a bizarre experience with my boy a couple of months ago. He's only been competing for a year and he's been very reliable, not particularly spooky and getting on with the job. We went to Quainton in May for a Team Quest competition where he warmed up fine, felt great as we trotted around the arena but as the bell went I suddenly felt I 'lost' him. I did a circle but worried about going over the 45 seconds, so headed down the centre line without really feeling I'd got him back with me. Well blow me - he stuck his head in the air and galloped towards the judge! Somehow I got him back before we got to C and we managed a cautious and tense test. I put it to the back of my mind, laughed it off as just one of those things and carried on competing as normal. I still have no idea what happened and he's done nothing like it since!

Although now you've got me worried as we have our Pet Plan tomorrow ;)
 
Agree that you put too much pressure on yourself, I sold a pony to a young rider just starting to event, she found dressage really intimidating and because she was tense and over-thinking, the pony really picked up on it. My simple advice was "focus on keeping your pony calm and relaxed, and you will relax too" . Worked a treat and now they are winning ! Having said that, we all have off days in any discipline so don't worry :) Put it behind you and enjoy what's ahead.
 
Thank you all.

I have just put an incredible amount of effort (not to mention the pennies!) into this and her 'off day' just couldn't have come at a worse time. Just when I thought things ought to be in place by now.

J1ffy, good luck for tomorrow. I hope you have a lovely time :-)
 
Thing is though that horses aren't machines. She doesn't know how much money you've spent getting to this point. She's just behaving like a horse and unfortunately they sometimes do things we don't want them to. In fact isnt the whole art of dressage to keep the horse on your side despite its natural inclination to run away or react?

Try not to get too worked up about it. I used to get myself in a right state about DR but tbh I go out to comps so often now that it's just another schooling session. I know it's frustrating but I'm sure everything will be back to normal next time. Maybe see if you can hire the arena at that venue for schooling to work out your demons.
 
It was just one day. And like they say in the theatre, 'bad dress rehearsal, great opening night.'

Don't dwell on it. The more you worry about it happening again, the more likely it is to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. (This I know from experience.)

Visualise yourself on a happy, calm horse, going in and acing your test. As you go to sleep and wake up is a good time to do this, and when you're riding. If you can visualise what it all looks and feels like, you've a better chance of making it reality when you're doing it.

And for good measure, my embarrassing dressage story - I was convinced to ride a different horse in a test to my usual mount. The reasoning was this little mare had a slightly better education than my gelding and would be better able to perform this particular test. I knew the mare well and had ridden her lots, so I thought eh, ok. Little cow refused to canter at all in the test. Every time I asked she just trotted faster. I'm sure she just felt like being contrary that day. Lousy wench of a thing!
 
Notimetoride said:
Thank you all.

I have just put an incredible amount of effort (not to mention the pennies!) into this and her 'off day' just couldn't have come at a worse time. Just when I thought things ought to be in place by now.
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You can't think like that or it will keep happening.
As above, horses aren't machines and the fun of dressage is working with your horse so as a pair you can be the best you both can be. I know it's expensive (in time and money) but you shouldn't put too much pressure on yourself or your horse.

I'm sure Carl Hester thought Nip Tuck should've got over spooking at cameras by now! But he doesn't get worked up by it despite the pressure
 
Just a thought - could she see her friends from the arena? I usually compete with a friend and we travel the horses together. They're fine going off to work separately but if they can see / hear each other from the arena we both have our work cut out. Many a show I've spent hiding behind trailers / buildings / trees to keep them out of sight of each other!

Everyone has off days - as frustrating as it is I wouldn't be worrying too much unless it became a regular behaviour.
 
Notimetoride said:
Thank you all.

I have just put an incredible amount of effort (not to mention the pennies!) into this and her 'off day' just couldn't have come at a worse time. Just when I thought things ought to be in place by now.

J1ffy, good luck for tomorrow. I hope you have a lovely time :-)
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Look at it another way, maybe you and she have got the 'off day' out of the way !
 
Horses aren't machines, they can have off days! Mine had one recently but in no way did he let me down, my first thought was "is there something wrong with my horse" not "he's being a *** and let me down".

Granted if it becomes regular behaviour then time to worry but from what I can gather it's happened once? Chin up and on to the next event! Good luck X
 
I think it's quite harsh on the mare in question to say you've lost faith in her because of one bad day. Put the boot on the other foot and maybe because she felt pressured she's lost faith in you! At the end of the day she's not in control of the situations she's put in, the training she's been going thought or the way you ride her. It's a partnership and while we are dependent on our equines to perform they are completely reliant upon us in so many ways.
Have a bit of downtime - just a fun jumping session, a nice hack or go to a farm ride - whatever it may be but take the pressure away and feel the benefits.
 
abbijay said:
I think it's quite harsh on the mare in question to say you've lost faith in her because of one bad day. Put the boot on the other foot and maybe because she felt pressured she's lost faith in you! At the end of the day she's not in control of the situations she's put in, the training she's been going thought or the way you ride her. It's a partnership and while we are dependent on our equines to perform they are completely reliant upon us in so many ways.
Have a bit of downtime - just a fun jumping session, a nice hack or go to a farm ride - whatever it may be but take the pressure away and feel the benefits.
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well, this - only this comes across slightly harsh towards the OP ;) It's understandable that you feel disappointed, but as above, she's not a machine and it's just one day.
Not sure when your petplan is, but they are all fast approaching so I know it can feel like every day counts at this stage...but it doesn't. You've done your training earlier in the year, you've put the work in - otherwise you wouldn't have qualified. What you do now is of limited value in comparison to all the months of effort that have already passed. So it's OK to take a step back for a few days. It won't set you back. Don't panic, regroup and rebuild your partnership, and then get on and enjoy it.
 
milliepops said:
well, this - only this comes across slightly harsh towards the OP ;) It's understandable that you feel disappointed, but as above, she's not a machine and it's just one day.
Not sure when your petplan is, but they are all fast approaching so I know it can feel like every day counts at this stage...but it doesn't. You've done your training earlier in the year, you've put the work in - otherwise you wouldn't have qualified. What you do now is of limited value in comparison to all the months of effort that have already passed. So it's OK to take a step back for a few days. It won't set you back. Don't panic, regroup and rebuild your partnership, and then get on and enjoy it.
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OP, apologies if I came across a bit harsh. It was only intended as a different way of looking at things.
Try to use it as a learning experience and remember to analyse your contribution to the situation in tandem with your horse's behaviour.
 
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