Horse shutting down in dressage (indoor)

[BouncyPants]

Well... finally have got 7 year old horse to point where we are not scared of each other or other things, and have done some nice tests at BD Novice (64-65 with an odd 70). I have had him since he was 2, so I know him inside out but still can't fathom his 'logic'!!
He used to be a complete muppet (and dangerous) in terms of throwing himself about, coiling up and putting his chin on his chest, leaping in the air and then bucking but now we have found forward at home most of the time (!) and he always warms up nicely with others ....
... the problem hits when he goes into an indoor where he can't see other horses - last year he would have napped dangerously at this, but his new behaviour is to shut down to the extent that he cannot hear me or anything else - he trundles along in a slow trot or walk (even when asked for canter!) and reacts to nothing at all except to peer at the judges' tables. Now whilst I did not enjoy the leapings about, at least their was movement to work with, and now there is nothing - no reaction to rein slaps, spurs, whip, voice... I mean absolutely NO reaction - he just isn't in the room for it at all. As soon as he hits the warm up again he lights up and sets off and I can literally feel him back with me...
Any ideas? Always too concerned about it to give him an almighty crack in the middle of a test to bring him back to me, as would probably get sent home!!!!
Options at the moment that I am wondering about are (i) hiring indoor a few times and just seeing if he minds when it isn't a competition - I don't think he will as there will not be horses elsewhere (ii) not competing indoors at all - fairly impractical really (iii) ?????
Any ideas would be gratefully received, as he is not ignoring me, he is just 'not there'....

 

[BeckyD]

Firstly well done on finding forwards gear (mostly) at home.

Your horse sounds quite extreme in the amount that he shuts down - mine does it too, but to a lesser extent (I had to yell "CANTER!" in my last but one BE test as nothing was happening). We have also ground to a halt - more than once - in free walk

My way of fixing this was firstly to get him more forwards at home - ticked that box (mostly - last night excepted!). I have then "thrown" a couple of tests - warned the judge that this won't be pretty but that I can't have him dying on me like this. Then as soon as I can feel him thinking about dropping behind (usually once I've gone up the centre line and turned, then started the next movement) he's had a belt from my schooling whip. First time he didn't bat an eyelid and just dropped behind anyway, but second time he woke up and I kept doing that, really razzing him up. Oddly enough the judge said afterwards that he looked great!

I'm off to do my first BD on Sunday, indoors, so I suspect we'll be back to square one but I'll warn the judge when I go in that if things go wrong I will be taking steps to keep him in front of my leg. Fortunately I do vaguely know the judge and she knows I'm not cruel! He can stay beautifully forwards and in front of my leg for 45 minutes at home/in lessons so he can bl**dy well do it for 5 mins in a test!

I think hiring an indoor a couple of times is a great idea. Also, don't be afraid to throw a test or two, perhaps best going unaffiliated to do that though. Sounds like you have a great relationship with your horse so it's worth persevering with.

Obviously be careful that it's not you transmitting anything to him about it being a competition/more important/etc.

Good luck!

 

[atlantis]

My boy used to be very unsettled in an indoor, not in the same way as yours but it was the indoor that was the problem. I took him out to indoor dressage every week for 6 weeks and he was much better by the end. We also used our friends indoor a couple of times during the same time just pootling about which I think helped.

It might be worth a try.

 

[BouncyPants]

Thanks both - I am struggling to get to indoor venues with competitions that often, but have spotted one in about three weeks, so will do that one and warn the judge that the test might go a little haywire...
we are now so forward at home that changing the whip over in canter yesterday resulted in gallop with no brakes, but hey ho, it is better than not going forward!!!
Am on a mission with the little so and so now :-D