Horse backing off at competitions

[GreyDot]

In training everything is going peachy but my dressage horse really backs off at competitions, especially in the warm-up. Basically, it feels like his ribcage goes all tight, as I am sitting on a drum and when I give him a leg aid, I get zero reaction, it's suddenly like riding a riding-school pony, no gas at all.
At home he has plenty of power and gears and it's just become such a struggle at the competitions. In the actual test, he is better, but still really not off my leg and it all feels very laboured. He's not particularly tired afterwards either, and I have worked a lot on his stamina and he is fit (for a dressage horse!) and when we go to training sessions, they are intense and he deals with it all very well.
So basically - I know it is to do with anxiety and he is tense, I have asked my trainer for advise and they suggested really working on transitions within the paces and getting him off my leg in the warm-up. I have tried this, but it still feels very laboured and I feel (like I said) that I am sitting on a tense drum.
Does anyone have any advice, or suppleness exercises that can be done in a warm-up arena (which is inevitably a busy place)? Just trying to think of a way to really get him relaxed so we can show our best work.

 

[View]

Arena hires with the boards, clinics with others, invite others in when you are working in the school at home, just anything to make working with others atound normal.

 

[GreyDot]

I have done quite a few arena hires and clinics and he doesn't act the same, even when they are at the same competition venues.

 

[Lady Jane]

If you have venues you go to often, they may let you work on show day, maybe for a fee? Or pay your entry, go and withdraw on the day? Do you think you feel tense at competion without realising?

 

[J&S]

Sounds like you some how keep the brakes on when you go out to compete. Can you take one of your instructors/educated friends with you next time just to watch you and see what you might be doing? Do you use any different equipment when you compete? Some thing he is not used to that is perhaps uncomfortable? ( Numnah/girth/bridle/bit.... what ever?) Do you find your own clothes restrictive? I always hated having to put on a proper jacket and long boots! When you are in the warm up think about how you can relax yourself, do some gentle exercises, sing as you trot round. Don't ask for too much too soon, maybe try doing a few tests just going for accuracy and forward riding. Good luck.

 

[AmyMay]

Have you ever not warmed up, other than to just quietly ridden around (not in the WU arena)?

 

[ycbm]

I have a friend who had a horse like this, extremely well breed German Warmblood. He was wonderful at home but shut down in competition. She just couldn't get him through it though she took all the advice she could find, and sold him. I hope you have better luck.
.

 

[LEC]

Flexion and lateral work. I used a lot of flexion and counter flexion to try and relax the jaw and connect the body. Combined with things like leg yield, shoulder in, travers and renvers. Basically I avoid riding straight so they have to yield through their body. Flexion and counter flexion on a circle. I particularly like making them go banana shaped round the leg then changing the bend the opposite way.

It can be done in walk if need be. Then you can work at getting them off the leg. If really that dead to the leg my warm up with be letting go of the front end and walk to gallop. Doing that however many times. I also practice my warm ups at home so the horse has a routine at a comp they are comfortable with.

 

[Boulty]

Would it be an option to have your instructor come to a competition & help you warm up so that they can see exactly what is going on?

How are your own nerves? Could it be that you are a bit tense & stressed on competition days & are passing it onto him? (Might be interesting to go & compete HC with the pressure off but all of the atmosphere / things that could be upsetting the horse the same?)

 

[GreyDot]

Thank you all, some great advice here, especially riding HC or going and entering more as an arena hire experience rather than a competition. I don't think I feel nervous competing, as he is well within his abilities, but I definitely know I am transmitting some anxiety as I get frustrated with the feeling of no-go underneath me, so that won't be helping!
@LEC - those are some very good tips, I definitely feel that he has no bend, just tightness in the ribcage, almost like he is blowing out, so lateral work and flexion is something I am going to concentrate on at the next warm-up, as well as the walk to gallop.

I have tried stepping down a level to take the pressure off, but to be honest, the issue isn't with his ability, it's with the tension in the warm-up which creeps over into the test, and I had exactly the same issue a level lower - tbf, the horse didn't know he was entered into a lower class, so quite obviously was just as tense/backward as at our usual level!

Will persevere and use some of these tips and see how we go.