Horse shutting down in the ring

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keepitugly

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I have a lovely 5yo who is schooling really well at home. I took her out competing at the weekend, only her second time in the ring properly although has been schooling a few places. She's quite an anxious type, she called and called and trotted sideways the whole way round to the collecting ring, so you'd expect her to light up when anxious. But I'm coming to a problem where she warms up great, goes in the ring and dies on me, drops really behind the leg to the point where I can actually kick and nothing happens, this is a horse that is sharp and very well schooled off the aids.

I was really disappointed in our test at the weekend as I felt it was just a sloppy, slow mess and that I must've looked like I was nagging a riding school pony round, she won anyway haha, but I felt deflated afterwards. I've been speaking to my trainer and I'm just going to take her to as many places as possible as she thinks she just shuts down because she's anxious.

Any thoughts or advice?
 
As she is only 5 I would say it's just a baby thing she probably feels a bit overwhelmed with it all, I am sure the more you do the better she will be, maybe hire out a local arena to ride in a few times a month to give her some more practice at different places.

It couldn't have been as bad as you think at least you won the class try not to stress over it keep calm and relaxed and it will help her relax, well done on your win :)
 
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Its a baby thing! Mine was like this for a good few times when she first went out. I'd come out of the dressage ring bright red & half dying haha they get over it though just takes a while :) keep taking her places & she will get there :)
 
I agree on the baby thing! Mine does this (as well as go sideways if I stop paying attention!) but he's getting so much better. Keep going out, and she'll get it :)
 
My youngster did this too, it was awful! She was fine if she was somewhere she had been before but not if it was a new venue! She appears to be growing out of this now, she was 5 in April
 
Might be worth trying NAF magic - was recommended to me but never got chance to try it (horse off long term currently). It shouldn't take anything away but may help the horse cope with the atmosphere better, the trainer who recommended it swore by it for her GP horse.
 
at 5 i wouldnt worry, go to loads of shows and it will get better.

before the bell in the ring have a good canter round and get her thinking forward and happy, so lots of forward canter lots of pats etc, keep it fun and it will come together :)
 
Was the test indoors? Sister's horse is huge and always a bit less forward inside. Practice makes it better! I would also say that I know I ride slightly differently in a test - try to stay relaxed yourself and be consistent, even if it means 'throwing away' some marks for the next few tests by allowing her to do things more gradually or taking a wider line to make things easier for her.
 
It was indoors but it was bigger than our indoor at home and she's only 15.1 she hasn't got the excuse of being huge haha. I just felt a bit embarrassed because it looked like I hadn't schooled her to go off the leg at all, she felt like she was about to grind to a halt in the walk, can't have looked as bad as it felt.

Thanks for the reassurance I've never come across this before in the ring, it's usually the opposite!
 
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