Dressage

[Vikki89]

Does anyone elses horse/pony work really well and do a really nice dressage test at home when your practicing but then when you get to doing the real test at the show they just wont concentrate or calm down?
Would/Do you carry on trying as you know they can do it well?

 

[Tempi]

Its all about practise! The more you take them out the more they (and you!) learn to relax.

Any chance you could take your instructor with you? Having someone to give you pointers when you are warming up might help.

 

[china]

yes, he goes nice at home, then i he goes lush in the warm up then go to do the test and it all goes splat!

 

[Vikki89]

He is 17 this year and has been competeing for a long time but mainly jumping i think which he loves!
I have him on loan and when i told his owner we were trying dressage she said 'good luck, he will think he is going jumping' and that is exactly what he did i think.
It was the first time i had ever done dressage so i was a bit nervous but i would like to try again this summer, just not sure if he will settle down, maybe i will have to get there early and spend lots of time warming up.

 

[dianchi]

Would say it sounds like your nerves are the problem! Go out as much as possible you'll be more relaxed and it will be fine. Would stick to your normal routine you have for riding at home, otherwise you'll over tire him and you and then it is more likely to go wrong