I'm so disappointed... my BD report!

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I took Hannah out this morning and for the Prelim she warmed up absolutely fantastically. She was in front of my leg, really up and open in her shoulder, the best she has ever felt away from home. However, as soon as we went into the arena she completely shut down
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She ended up coming out with 60% and was awful to ride
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Then I warmed her up for the Novice with my spurs on and again she was a star... really reacting from my leg, her mediums were great and her walk felt forwards and soft. The same thing happened though, as soon as we got into the arena she shut down on me and even when I dig my spurs in a bit there was nothing!!! There were some nice moments in the Novice, her second medium trot and her first medium canter but ended up on 56%... she has never had such a low percentage before
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She has been dreadful every time we have been to this venue... the last three times this has happened
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Last week, it was all outdoor and she was so much better!

I just don't understand it
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She is warming up so well, but then within seconds of being in the arena she just changes. I don't think I am riding her any differently between the two, the only difference is that the warm up is outdoors and the test indoors!

The other thing she has started doing is pretending she needs to poo... she puts her tail up, backs off my leg but when I stop she doesn't need to do it.
 
Awww hun, im sorry to hear this.

Maybe she doesnt like being indoors at this place. Is it a bit dark, or the surface not so good or something? Sounds a bit like she is inverting into herself and losing confidence so therefore not moving forward or being relaxed. If its a place that you want to go to a bit could you hire it for an hour to see how she reacts?

Gen has a pet venue hate and although its a lovely place and not too far I have just not taken him there for nearly 18 months now. Might have to try again sometime to see how he is.
 
It is a fabulous venue... very light and airy, and surface is fantastic as it is waxed
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I just wonder whether she just doesn't want to do it anymore and I am fighting a losing battle
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It's as if she just shuts down completely, not willing to listen or react when I ask something of her! Even when I gave her a good dig, there was just nothing
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Is she the sort of horse who prefers being ridden in company? So in the warm-up she is fine, but when asked to work on her own in the test she gets a bit worried and backward thinking? I don't know the venue but is it one where the test actually takes place a little way away from the other horses so she feels a bit isolated?
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If this is the case, then it would explain why she may be better outdoors where she can probably still see other horses.
 
She is ridden on her own at home, and in lessons at my trainers without any issues whatsoever. Horses come in and go all the time when we are working, and she is not bothered at all. It just seems that when she sees the white boards she closes down
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She doesn't feel worried about it, just shuts down.
 
You will have to tell her off in a test ,she thinks that you will do nothing once you have started a test. Give her a shock and give her a smack behind your leg to back up your aids .
 
Thanks The_Carthorse... I think this has definitely got something to do with it.

A friend has recommended me going HC for a few and really getting after her without thinking about the judges comments etc etc.

I just feel so down about today
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When she was warming up I couldn't help but think, "We actually stand a chance today!"
 
My daughter used to have one at medium level that was like that indoors and outdoors so she used to do loads of medium canter and walk to canter when she got to the arena to get his blood up then he started to take her forward, his was all about confidence so she did a lot of training sections til he felt better.
 
Thanks... I never ever canter when waiting for the bell to ring, I always just trot around for some reason
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Perhaps that might help a little, and I will try it if I decide to take her out competing again.

At the moment I just feel that she is telling me she doesn't want to do it... It's such a shame because she looks great at the moment.

I even considered giving her a more fizzy feed... but then wonder whether that would help and if it is worth trying.
 
i have the same problem but mine is just as soon as she goes into the arena...she was being fab in the warmup and i mean fab and then went in and ok it wasnt that bad but we only got 64% and then a 61%. she just goes dead...so i am going to try her with some spurs.
i do think that i ride quieter in the test as i am trying to look neat so next time i think i will ride very strongly even if it isnt pretty just so she knows she HAS to work when doing a test.
 
Oh dear, what a shame! I would echo The_Carthorse and give her a sharp reminder next time. Dont let it get you down; we all have days like this. The only thing is, if you go HC and give her a whack, you may do an excellent test, and it wont count!
 
Going HC wouldn't make a difference to me as I'm not too bothered about people seeing my results etc etc.
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It wouldn't change how I rode her either to be honest!

I have decided to give her some additional feed to her diet, as I am now starting to wonder whether perhaps adrenalin keeps her going when she is warming up and then when she gets in the quiet arena on her own, she goes flat... worth a try!
 
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i have the same problem but mine is just as soon as she goes into the arena...she was being fab in the warmup and i mean fab and then went in and ok it wasnt that bad but we only got 64% and then a 61%. she just goes dead...so i am going to try her with some spurs.
i do think that i ride quieter in the test as i am trying to look neat so next time i think i will ride very strongly even if it isnt pretty just so she knows she HAS to work when doing a test.

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That is how Hannah felt today... flat in the arena but amazing in the warm up. That is why I was so disappointed. If she had been dreadful in the warmup too, I would put it down to a bad day, but she was the best she has ever been in the warmup. Her medium trots really opened up and felt great
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Corroy used to be a nightmare for this. A pro rider suggested that I hire a comp arena and when she doesn't go forward tell her off. I agree they get to know that you are not going to get after them in a test-mares are clever.
 
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You will have to tell her off in a test ,she thinks that you will do nothing once you have started a test. Give her a shock and give her a smack behind your leg to back up your aids .

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Agree - you need to take her out and do a test (i suggest unaffliated) and give her a bl00dy good telling off when she shuts down on you in the test - it sounds like shes taking the p*ss.

I did this with Archie as he used to come down the centre line and slam on the breaks - i wacked him one time twice quite hard and he hasnt done it since
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Han slams on at the centre line too
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But only the second time up it... it's as if she knows!

I don't think she is taking the mickey... it doesn't feel like that when she does it. She has pretty major evasions, but they have not been present recently. It almost feels as though she shuts down to cope.
 
Hello!! I think I saw some of Hannahs Novice test today!
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I thought she looked good! If you don't think she's backing off in a lazy way (i.e. dropping off the leg) - which she didn't look like she was really.
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It almost feels as though she shuts down to cope.

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We have a mare that was very much like this. Agree with the others- go HC/Training or Unaff and rather than attack her forwards get her really long and low - I'm talking head on the floor with the back really up. Get the swing/relaxation stuff everything else - then make sure she's forward.
ETA unless she will truly let go in her mind and body ur forward aids are pretty useless anyway hence feels flat and backing off
P.S. Shes very pretty
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I do loads of long and low at home actually, and that is what I am going to do all this week... it is difficult because at Unaffil she gets really stressed out when horses pass too closely, come too close etc etc which is why I affiliated her when I did. She is so much happier in the affiliated world of warm up.

I have another competition on Wednesday which is in an outdoor... so I am going to it not caring what happens and just concentrating 100% on her and how she is feeling. I might ask to go HC when I am there, but knowing my luck she will do brilliantly and I would lose the mark!!!

I think it is sort of a lazy thing, or a lack of stamina thing. I don't know... it is something and I know her saddle, back, teeth etc are all ok
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She is only on Alfa and TopSpec, nothing more, so I am beginning to wonder whether this is perhaps some of the problem if not all of it.

Thank you for saying she looked ok... I didn't feel it was a 56% test, there were some nice bits and she certainly has been worse and got better results in the past. Were you competing?
 
Forgot to add, at home I really work on getting her through, and she is so much lighter in front now than she was three months ago... that is why I am so disappointed! She is going brilliantly at home, and in the warm up she was really forwards, but then when we got in the arena... nothing!
 
Yeh, I was! I have a big hairy chestnut, this is him (old pic off my step mums comp lol):
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I could tell you do lots of long n low from her warming up, which looked good
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, we took the mare who was like u describe to unaff and concentrated on riding the entire test in that deep round positioning once u can get that in the arena, you'll fly!
 
thanks we came 4th in the prelim and no where really in the novice. But they were marking really low today i thought, the test we did last time wasn't as good and we got 67% so i suppose thats judging for you!
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lol
But still an improvement (although not reflected in the marks
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) lol on a few months ago, when the tests went like this:
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It's impossible to say exactly which way to go without seeing but I'd also recommend an HC ride with whatever correction - either a longer shape or a reminder to stay in front of the leg - you and your coach think would work. The advantage of going HC is that you will have already made the decision you are there to find a solution and it will discourage you from trying to fiddle through without a correction at the last minute. You might also be able to tell the judge what you are up to and avoid being censured for using your whip/voice/spur more than in obviously necessary.

I would also suggest a more authoritative preparation. See what happens when you really ride her up outside the ring, perhaps with some sharp medium trot or canter transitions, or some shoulder in/circles to medium or some halt/trot or walk/canter transitions - whatever works for you. Perhaps, if I might suggest it, some motivational thoughts for you, too. A piece of music, perhaps, to think of or better yet, listen to right before you ride in. A saying, maybe. I had a coach who used to say "make them take it away" right before I went in - a short form of his advice to always ride so aggressively that the judges had to look for reasons NOT to give marks - and I still use that when I am feeling unsure. Another client of mine had a particular song she listened to. Various things have worked for various people. That can put you in the "fighting mood" and communicate your confidence to your horse.

Have you thought of having your trainer show her once? Just to see if she's the same and give him/her some insight into exactly what is happening? It's not that rare to have horses "change" in the ring but a little more information might help your trainer give you a specific fix.
 
I have considered having my trainer take her out, but at the moment this is something I would like to be able to deal with... She rides brilliantly in the warm up, so there has to be something that causes the lack of energy in the arena.
 
Sorry if I gave offence! I wasn't implying you needed someone else to fix the problem, or even that this was a good route to go. You're the one she has to go for, after all. I was simply suggesting having someone else ride a test - anyone, really, it's just that trainers have to do as you wish
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- as another way to get information and allow you to see what's happening.

Apologies if it came off with any unwanted implication.

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No no... don't be silly!

It is something I have considered, so please don't think you have offended me in the slightest
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If she had warmed up badly then I would think it was just a bad day, but it was so strange
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What myself and my trainer have been thinking is that when in the warm up she keep going on adrenalin, but then needs something to provide the extra energy when the adrenalin drops as she enters the quiet arena. She is not a spooky horse as such, and I have wondered about adding some sort of mix for a while, but have resisted due to her coping with the work load. She is now on what I would class as medium work, and is only on Alfa A and TopSpec.
 
Good, glad I didn't offend.
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The internet is so difficult that way.

Have you considered the addition of something extra in her diet "on the day" if she doesn't need more all the time?

Does she drink readily at the shows? It's an "old horseman's trick" to deny water to show horse to keep them quiet. Perhaps in the "let down" just before you go in she suddenly realises she feels tired and out of sorts.

A change in the warm up? Perhaps shorter and sharper and not worrying as much about the quality of work in the collecting ring but more on carrying the right attitude in and saving more for the arena? Less cantering? I some "cooler" horses are better if they barely canter outside.

Hmm. What happens if you "remind" her right before you go in? Set up a situation where she doesn't go perfectly off your leg by doing an exercise she often tries to fluff through and add your stick once to make certain she gets the message. This makes some horses too tight but others seem to go, "Ooooh, you're serious, now!"
 
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