I HATE DRESSAGE!!! Grrr!! *POINTLESS MOAN*

[lcharles]

Hello all!!

I need to vent my stress!! After deciding my previous beastly bucking, rearing, broncing horse that has tried to kill me - literally, on several occasions has now been 'tamed' to a degree where i can actually take him showjumping, team chasing and hunting without any 'major' incidents, i have decided that i am going to aim at eventing him as he needs something to keep his mind active and needs new challenges all the time otherwise he is an idiot!

So, i feel that our showjumping is now his best skill - where as it was his worst as he'd charge at everything and pretty much demolish it, to now being placed most times he's out. XC is very good but i need to take him out to school somewhere new before eventing him.

Well the dressage part is my weakness.....as in i have NEVER ever done dressage in 20 years, never really had any intentions of doing any either until a month ago when the eventing plan came together!! So yesterday, i did a last minute entry to Abbey dressage for tomorrow night, its for the prelim 14. Must admit its the most petrifying, nerve-racking thing i have ever experienced!! Not sure if its because im majorly out of my comfort zone, and i'm only doing it for experience before our ODE, or if i am just being a wimp!! I rode the test through last night and it started off horrific until i did it about 10 times and then he chilled out a bit.....think the fact i was in a windy shakey indoor school didnt help at first! I am worried that my stress and nerves - mainly stress is going to let my horse down....or he'll be a total idiot and be scared of any bushes and throw a massive rear, buck, zoom off somewhere mid-test!

Is it ok to trot around a couple of times, its in an indoor and ive entered for the evening as it'll be super quiet- i hope!!

I dont want to let my horsey down by forgetting the course (cant have a caller as i only know it by pattern as i dont know where the letters are ). I think once i'm sure of the course alot of the stress will go, but i think i know it but it all goes to pot when im on my horse!

I wake up in the middle of the night and have to go through the test in my head and wake up stressing about it in general! I think i've aged by 5years since yesterday!

Do i just bottle it and withdraw my entry or just go and hope for the best!! im not expecting wonders, i'd like it to be a good experience and for me to try and be accurate as possible and relax and try to enjoy it.

It'll be the first time taking my horse out in my lorry on my own as well which probably isnt helping stres levels but if im stressing this much, what am i going to do to my poor horse!! x

Pointless post really, unless anyone has any top tips on being calm!

It did help when a girl at the yard said that not many people would even ride my horse so the fact im taking him to dressage is a massive acheivement, this meant alot as im not particular close to her and she seemed to hit the nail on the head.

Im not a stressy person but i feel that i have to face my fear with this!! x argggh!!

 

[be positive]

It is too late for tonight but get a trainer that will help you learn how to test ride, the right person will make all the difference to your confidence, its not just about how to ride your horse but how to get the best out of them and yourself during the test.
This evening remember to breathe, you know the test and can do it, relax and try not to stress to much, it is not meant to be torture

In future try and learn the letters, it does help to have a reader even if you know what you are doing the fact that they are there can give that extra confidence, although for eventing you need to ride without a caller.

 

[Farma]

I learn my tests by watching youtube and I say the moves as they go ie c track left, a circle left 20 meters etc etc.

When I go in I try to pretend I am someone else riding, sounds odd but when I watch the famous dressage riders they look really calm and collected so when I am there I pretend that I am one of them (Carl Hester obv the fave choice and it really settles my nerves and I think it makes me ride better.

Worth a go?

 

[lcharles]

I am hoping that once i have my jodphurs and jacket on etc i may feel a bit better and more professional than riding in my jeans! My gaiters also seem to keep my leg more stable (probably cuz they are super tight!! lol)

I've been watching you tube as it helps with the change of direction but i havent watched loads....may put it on and keep going through it. Thanks x

Ive just prelim 14'd around the kitchen at work too!! haha x i never ever forget showjumping or xc courses so why is this sooo hard!! Last night of practising tonight!! One of the girls at the stables is really good at dressage so might see if she can watch me practise and get some, hopefully, positive feedback for some confidence!!

It just feels so awful but people have said it looks alot better than it probably feels....is this usually the case?! x

 

[PaddyMonty]

Tips to ease the nerves.....
1) On entering at A, smile at judge and imagine them sat on loo with pants around ankles. makes them seem a lot less scary.

2) Capital punishment for a low score in dressage has been abolished so you will live to try again another day.

3) Dont think of it as a test, just a schooling session in a different place.

4) Dont try and ride defensively. Go balls out for it and ride like you own the areana and dare the judge to give you anything less than 10's.

5) Unlike SJ you wont go from hero to zero with one mistake. Treat each movement seperately and dont let little errors impact on the next movement.

6) Watch a few test before you go in and try to remember where they will go next.

6) Remember it is supposed to be fun

 

[Perfect_Pirouette]

Honestly, you're worrying about this FAR too much hun.

It's an unaffilliated Prelim down the road, which you are doing for EXPERIENCE and to get your horse out. STOP worrying.

Just go, keep calm, put your ipod in in the warm up to help you relax.

Go in and just give it a go, it's nothing you havent done before, you've walked, trotted, cantered and done 20m circles before, you've changed rein and let him (I hope) do a free walk on a long rein. The only difference is you just do it in sequence.

If your hose is that nutty, i'd be FAR more nervous about SJ etc than dressage. Just think of it as a training exercise and that you're going for experience, it'll be the first of a few and not expect anything. I promise you'll enjoy yourself. SMILE and R-E-L-A-X.