Inconsistent Contact

[supercowpony]

Well, I've been to two dressage competitions in the last 2 weeks, and did 2 prelims at one event, and a novice and a prelim at the 2nd event.

I came 5th in 3 of these tests! So really pleased with my cobalob (who would be a bay TB if you turned him inside out! )
he's just turned 7, and I have had him 2 and a half years. He was extremely green when I got him, and completely overbent the whole time. up to now my instructor and I have worked on getting him to stretch out, as when he tucks his head in I have no control as he's great at ignoring and avoiding seat aids.

However, something I knew before the tests, but which all judges commented on was his inconsistent contact.
Firstly, he goes a lot better at home and in the warm up at a competition, but as soon as he gets in the ring he seems to forget half his schooling! So any tips on getting him to work to a similar standard in the ring would be fabby!

and secondly, how can I improve his inconsistent contact? I always warm up on a long rein in walk trot and canter, so he works low before I pick up a contact.
I then work him on quite a short rein (but being flexible with my arms and elbows, so I can give when he goes nicely) as at this stage in his schooling my instructor says "it's all or nothing" but in my lessons we are working on getting him to go nicely irrespective of the length of my reins.

he is in a jointed loose ring happy mouth. I have tried him in an egbutt jointed snaffle, and did feel like i got a more consistent contact, but also found he leant on the bit, and my steering was non existent.

any tips would be greatly appreciated!
virtual brownies for anyone who got this far!

 

[soulfull]

Too be honest I woudln't worry just now. Inconsistency is normal, he will get better. Keep doing what you doing and having lessons.
they are all inconsistent to start with as they don't have strong enough muscles to start with, as he gets stronger he should hold it for longer and longer.

Remember lots of praise too

As for worse in comps, that is normal too, make sure you don't tense up too

 

[eva]

re comps, you just have to keep at it and do more and more of them, this is the only way to get a relaxed horse at competitions really. Any horse would be tense in an unfamiliar situation. Also you might be stressing, especially when in the ring, so he just reflects that - doing more comps will help you both to take it easy.

 

[Kallibear]

I found getting the right bit make a huge difference. Toby was really inconsistance with his normal french link, and his curved single joint, so I bought a (rather expensive ) NS translozenge bit and it's made a HUGE difference to him. He actively looks for a contact now and holds it consistantly.

I also found for me the right reins were essential: I find it really hard to keep a decent contact with certain types of reins.

 

[supercowpony]

Ok, thanks for the comments.
It's nice to know that it's a normal thing and I'm sure I could be affecting him in the ring.
I think I get tense as I'm worried about forgetting the dressage test!
I might see if I could use a bit bank and try some different bits
I'd quite like to try a french link, and maybe a hanging cheek.

 

[Luci07]

Has he had his teeth checked recently as well? have a look in his mouth and get an idea of how much space there is as well and I would play with the bits to see what your boy likes as that can make such a difference with how the horse takes the contact forward. Problem with the bit bank when I looked is that I did seem to manage to want to try bits that could not be trialled! I like bits with lozenges for horses who do not have much space in their mouth, have also seen one of the basic myler snaffles work brilliantly with a young horse too.

 

[supercowpony]

yes, has had his teeth done recently.

I'll have a play with bits then. I noticed such a difference between the eggbutt and the loose ring, it really surprised me!

 

[Dizzle]

If he goes well at home and well in the warm up and falls apart in the test... then I would say that the issue was probably you, how does a horse know the difference between the warm up area and the test area unless you are riding differently?

(says the woman who's horse only discovered contact on Monday )

 

[supercowpony]

haha.

yes, I think it is probably me.

but he knows the difference between saturday and all the other days of the week so who knows. lol
I think he is very aware when people are watching him (as saturdays are the busy lesson day at my riding school/yard)
I feel as if he plays up to the crowd, but I have no idea how to stop him doing that!