Moving up the levels in dressage - schooling help

[Ziggy_]

I want to hear from anyone who competes in dressage who can help me with the schooling of my mare.

Basically my situation is this - it turns out my horse has a fair bit of potential for dressage, I on the other hand have no experience of it what so ever. Now as I'm not all that keen on jumping I really want to get into competing and our first prelim is next month.

She can work in a nice outline, do all circles etc in balance. We can do a decent leg yield and shoulder-in but only toward the end of a session. She can begin to collect and bring her back end under her and can do a nice medium trot with overtrack (to be fair thats her natural trot - its keeping a steady, balanced working trot thats a challenge!!) She naturally engages and works from her back end and seems to find collection/extension pretty straight forward.

The thing is, she is still fairly inconsistent. She frequently hollows, sometimes she over bends on circles and falls out through her shoulder, sometimes she goes on her forehand and leans etc etc. I expect all horses are like it to a degree but I'd like some advice on improving our consistency. Sometimes we have sessions where we don't seem to make any progress, other times I get on and everything falls into place and it leaves me wondering if I'm trying to move on too fast and neglecting the basics.

I'm in dire need of lessons and I have considered also having my horse schooled for me - the thing is I've tried a million different local instructors and they are all exactly the same - forget engagement or suppleness and just saw saw saw on the reins - and they aren't happy unless her chin is touching her chest.

Sorry for the long rambling post, I'm basically after reassurance that its normal to be like this when starting out especially with a clueless rider! She has good natural paces and is very quick to learn and I am hoping to progress up the levels with her - I'm aware that at each level the amount of engagement etc that is expected increases and I'm looking for advice on how to achieve this progressively - what exercises do you all use?

Cookies for getting this far - Ben and Jerrys if you can help!!

 

[hellspells]

Thats all pretty normal I have to say.

If you're not that keen on local instructors would it be a option to take her and have a resisdential stay with someone for a couple of weeks? its all well and good to send her somewhere to be schooled but the likely hood is when she comes home you fall into the same sort of routine. but if you go with her the trainer can work on both of you and you maybe able to get some lessons on schoolmasters so you can get the feeling of consisitancy.

Good luck with her

 

[Kat]

I'd try to find a decent instructor!! Where are you based? There must be a good one around. Try looking for one with a BD coaching accreditation or and a BHSI qualification. If there aren't any locally find out if some further afield will travel or if you can travel to them.

Also enter some prelim competitions and see what the judge says in their comments that should help you see what you need to work on. If you can try to chat to the judge after the competition they might be able to give you extra hints or recommend an instructor.

Generally if you keep working towards balance and engagement your work will gradually become more consistent with time as your horse and you build all the right muscles!

Good Luck!!

 

[Abbeygale]

Agree with the others - get a half decent instructor and they should point you in the right direction. I love to have lessons as often as possible - and I usually find that once I have had a lesson I feel really inspired to work with my horse on new things. I think as long as you are enjoying this with your horse then you are going in the right direction generally.

My sister is in Kent and has had some lessons with a lady called Joyce - but not sure what her surname is - will try and find out and let you know.

 

[miller]

Perfectly normal - have a look on the training section on www.britishdressage.co.uk most trainers will travel (tells you how far they are willing to go) or you can go to them - most will train all levels.

 

[alsxx]

Where are you based in Kent - I am in West Kent and have just found an amazing instructor. My girl is 5 and we have all the same issues, I've had 2 lessons now (every fourtnight for an hour) with my new instructor and there is a definate improvment - the last instructor we tried was also into the sawing at the mouth idea so i found someone else.