Pretty fed up - need help / advice

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Gorgeous George

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George and I had another bad outing yesterday
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, it didn't start well he was all nervous and anxious when I bought him in on his own to get him ready and he was spraying poo everywhere
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got him plaited (plaits looked ok for once
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) and then he so wanted to be with the other horses that he somehow got loose and galloped off round the field with the other horses (thank goodness he didn't roll). Caught him and loaded him on the lorry (that was a first for me, never done it myself
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) and off we went. Got there and warmed up ok, he and I were a bit tense but ok despite the pouring rain. We then did the test and because there were so many in the class they split the class and we ended up outside in the pouring rain next to the lorry park
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the test was truely awful he bucked in canter and we got an awful 45% and came 2nd to last. The saving grace was that I did get a 7 for my riding and the judge wrote 'well ridden'!

I know in the grand scheme of things this is nothing to get worked up about and anyone else would have managed to ride George ok, he's hardly a spirited horse, but I'm a bit of a wuss and not that confident
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when I ride him at home in his dutch gag I am reasonably confident in him behaving, but put the snaffle in and he leans on me and I don't feel confident about cantering. It isn't George's fault but I just don't know how to improve, we do have regular lessons by the way. I also don't know what to do about his anxiousness when he's on his own (sometimes he's fine).

Sorry, I've rambled on enough.
 
Firstly big hugs. Confidence is a delicate thing and little things just chip away at it.

Firstly, I'd suggest trying to work him in the snaffle at home as much as possible. He will notice the change at the show - both the bit and your change of riding - and he will play to it as a natural reaction. You need to be able to ride comfortably ride with the snaffle else you'll tense up and he will also become nervous.

Secondly, I assume that you ride in a school at home and that the dressage you are doing is on grass? If so, try and either hack him to an area of grass or box him over so that there is no pressure and you can both relax and adapt to your environment. This should also get him used to working without another horse - he isn't a young horse is he?

Best of luck
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Sorry to hear that
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Can you school him at home in the snaffle? Otherwise you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself at a comp, because you are not used to riding him in it. I understand that not all horses will go in a snaffle, but of you want to take him out tp do Prelim/Novice, you will need to feel confident riding in it.

My mare used to be very clingy to other horses, but I spent a lot of time hacking her on her own to be more independant. What time of yard are you at? I moved from one yard as she would not settle in an indoor barn, especially if the other horses were out and she couldn't see them.
 
Can your instructor take him sometime and maybe he will behave better? and they can warm him up and compete him and he will realise that he has to concentrate? Maybe the horse is feeding off your nerves? Well done for staying on the buck though if my horse bucks I fall off!! DOH! Wish I had a lorry! See my post on local shows!!
 
Can I compare your comment of "anyone else would have managed to ride George OK" with the judge writing "well ridden!". Being hard on yourself is not going to help your confidence. Do you do any canter work on lesson riding him in a snaffle?
 
the test was in an outdoor arena same as at home, so no excuses there
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he just goes so nicely in the gag that I dream of finding a snaffle or something legal that has the same effect. I'm not the sort of person to give up and I do want to do little shows, but at the moment i'm afraid to and can't see me fulfilling my goal of doing tiny x-pole clear round jumping
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Will you stop beating yourself up about your riding!!!!!!!!! I think a comment and a score or 7 for Well Ridden would make me smile aswell, and this ought to make you realise how good you actually are!! Who gives a stuff if you came 2nd from last, someones got to be there! Could you bring another horse in to keep him company whilst you get ready? I know in an ideal world he ought to manage by himself, but if it keeps him calmer, it stops you getting all stressy aswell. Have you tried Rescue remedy for your nerves (and georges?). On the bit front, aren't loose ring snaffles better for stopping a horse lean on the bit than fixed eggbutt ones? (Correct be if I'm wrong anyone!!) I would keep trying different bits to find one you and george are both happy with.
Finally to add, well bloody done for getting out there and doing it, practice makes perfect xx
 
Firstly well done, I have never competed in anything, so hats off to you! I have fallen twice in the last four weeks, and have really hurt myself
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However, I have taken the time to do some ground work in the field, and spending time with him.
I have changed from a pelham to a myler comfort snaffle, and he is brilliant in it, don't have any control issues at all ( I'm gobsmacked)
There is hope, if I can do it anyone can. You could try a calming remedy for you and your horse!
 
I am so sorry your outing didnt quite go how you had hoped, and I am sure you feel it has knocked your confidence a bit, but on the plus side, your plaits worked, you didnt give up when he galloped off to be with his friends, you loaded him yourself, you were complimented on YOUR riding, AND you sat a buck in public - I think thats a lot to be proud of and take confidence from, so WELL DONE.
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I agree that you need to find a bit that works for you, but which you can use when out competing, and also, maybe asking your RI to compete him once or twice would possibly help both you and George.

Please dont be too hard on yourself, I think you are brilliant.
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Please dont be too hard on yourself, I think you are brilliant.
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Ditto this!

Turn this round and look at all the things you coped with today, and the judge's comment, and try to give yourself a pat on the back and let this actually build your confidence rather than dent it.

And as for the clear round jumping - just do it
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You can do that in your gag, just see it as a bit of fun
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When I went to do it with Murph in the week I genuinely thought he would refuse every jump and I'd fall off but it went much better than expected...but even if it hadn't gone well it would have been a learning experience for us both.
 
Hello! sorry to hear that you had a bit of a bad outing but i think you're putting too much pressure on yourself? You've restarted jumping (if I remember rightly?) so spend time getting your confidence with each other . I've given up on competing and just spending time getting Oscar's confidence in me and vice versa......
 
Well done for going out there and doing it!! I've not competed yet mainly because of confidence issues and the fact I hate to be watched while I'm riding
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You did so much to be proud of, loading him, sitting a buck, getting a 7 and the judge saying 'well ridden'

Don't put so much pressure on yourself at the next show and enjoy it
 
Sorry that you had a bad outing but one day should not be taken in isolation- one thing to remember though is the change in the weather - Ii is easy to forget that last weekend we were melting under the sun and this weekend its frankly B****y cold. Don't under estimate the effect that weather can have on your horse. Last week they were all full of lovely spring grass but hot and lazy, this week thay are all full of lovely spring grass and feeling fresh and full of life.nWhat about taking him for some lessons away from home? Is there a local arena you can hire and get you instructor to come there? At least then you get the experience of riding away from home without the added pressure of a competition? Don't give up trying - 7 for riding is a really decent mark.
 
OK so George was a bit of a tinker. But you got a 7 and "well ridden" on your score sheet, that is definately something to be proud of
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. I guess that he is picking up on your nerves and there is a lot of rich grass in the fields at the moment. So you rode extremely well in your test even though I reckon you were nervous, that is something to build on and get George to relax so he can perform well. I know you can do it xxxx
 
Sorry you didn't have a good day - but you really mustn't be so hard on yourself! As far as I know, you're relatively new to horse ownership...and here you are going off to shows. I think you're doing brilliantly.

I know your horse isn't a youngster, but when I've had youngsters who were tricky at shows, I'd ride as late as poss the day before - and quite hard too - then school or lunge or hack out for an hour before we left for the comp. It settled me down cos I'd already had a ride before we got to the comp, & it took some of the excess energy out of the horse.

Could you pay your instructor to come to your next comp? It might be worth it to have some moral support & some practical help & advice.

(You say you 'don't know how to improve' - if this is true, maybe think about trying a lesson with someone else? Sorry if I'm way off the mark.)
 
I do sympathise with you; I too have a horse who stresses about being on the yard alone. When I had two horses it was easy to bring the other one in to keep him company but now I'm back to one he's a complete pain! I compete in Novice/Elementary dressage so afternoon starts (at least if its early starts the other horses aren't yet turned out)!
So what I do is get everything ready and loaded, get him out of the field and load and go! Allowing enough time to groom when I get there as he's very chilled at shows. Might be worth a try!
And well done for your performance!
 
Can I be honest with you?
I've followed your posts - all your ups and downs with George and I think you're doing a fab job - but I also think you've got a lot of anxieties and "what ifs" haunting you - Why don't you try TFT? Thoughtfield Therapy? Take a look at www.jocooper.com or www.thoughtfieldtherapy.co.uk I can't recommend it high enough - I lost my confidence after a very bad fall which hospitalised me - I never got over my gremlins until I had TFT - It's really good - very quick (you do it over the telephone) and believe me it works - I think Jo Cooper has a money back guarantee - I know that she used to do anyway!
If you want to PM me about it please do - I will tell you everything about it - There's a lot of hho'ers who've done TFT
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RE: your first dressage test - did you go on your own? Crikey no wonder you were stressed out - I did about the same on my first attempt but I had a whole host of folk there with me helping me out - I go alone now but I'm not as stressed about it all (following the TFT!
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Good luck - remember onwards and upwards and all that!
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Kate x
 
OMG confidence is different to everyone but there is not a hope in hell I would have gone off somewhere alone like that.
I think you should be incredibly proud of that fact alone and not focus on the bad bits so much, so what you got 45% the judge said you rode well and you bravely did it alone.
Well done you xx
 
You did really well! I think you are being too hard on yourself, we all have days like that ((HUGS)))
I would love to see a "well ridden" comment on my test sheet!!
Cassandra
 
I think that you've done really well too, blimey you got there!!!

Your very critical of yourself and you need to try and praise yourself a bit more and give yourself a bit of flack.

It sounds to me like your doing very well, I hope that I do half as well as you when I start going out in 2 weeks time
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Haven't read the rest of the replies but if you went where I think you went ie a local college, then from what I understand the scores were very low. A few people from my yard went and all came back with low scores and were very disheartened. They said the comments were spot on but the scores were low. I was quite shocked at some of the scores they got and thought that it was really wasn't encouraging riders to go again. Chin up, forget about that outing and aim for the next. Good on you for going and well done!
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Oh, gorgeous_george, I hate reading your posts because they make me feel really sad.

1st things 1st, well done on getting out there and doing it! I haven't yet plucked up the confidence to go to a show at all!

2nd, your score isn't that important, and you seem to have had really good comments from the judge, so you should use this as something to build on so you can work towards it in your next lesson.

3rd, please don't think your riding is rubbish. If you are anything like me (and I do feel that you are!) you probably think your riding is far worse than it actually is. Next time you school, say 'YES' to yourself everytime you feel something is going well. I will bet you will be amazed how often that is!

Use this as a way to improve, not to beat yourself up or I will have to do that for you!
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Please dont feel down in the dumps! me and my pony did our first ever dressage test yesterday and came 3rd out of 4 and only got 51%, and i only got a 5 for my riding so you should be really proud of yourself for getting a 7!! i am looking at it as a massive positive that we actually did it though, did roughly the right things in the right places and most of all had a giggle. i was so proud of her and you should be of george, its a huge thing to go away from home, i would never have the nerve to do that! my little test was at my livery yard around everyone i know, and i still felt sick with nerves!! you did brilliantly and there are people who would give anything to be as brave as you, including me, i dream of plucking up the courage of going somewhere new, WELL DONE! x
 
thank you all, I do like doing dressage (well at a low level) but until we find a suitable bit I think it's a no no.

Yes Jo C it was where you think it was, my friend did the novice class and did a great test, but didn't even get a mark, but they had managed to mark someone who didn't turn up!!
 
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Yes Jo C it was where you think it was, my friend did the novice class and did a great test, but didn't even get a mark, but they had managed to mark someone who didn't turn up!!

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Now that takes some doing!
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Oooops I hope they sorted it in the end.
 
I was at a show last weekend and they crossed someone out that was there as they hadn't checked in and put someone else in that slot for dressage. They allowed her to compete but said in future would she check in to avoid any confusion lol
 
I would *love* to be able to do that - pick a sheet that I thought was mine!! Maybe I'd place more often if all the venues did that?? I would grab a good one!!
 
Firstly do not worry about this, it is probably your nerves and tenseness he is picking up on. i used to HATE dressage and dreaded that part of a ODE but think that stemmed from having a less than perfectly schooled and very strong pony previously and dressage was just something we had to do before we got to the fun bits! However my horse has actually decided he quite like is, he's a big show off anyway. my biggest problem was i'd get soo nervous i'd forget the test and this would panic me more. I have learnt now that if I make damn sure I learn the test i don't have to worry about that aspect and just whether I do the right things at the right moments. Because i feel confident about that then i find i relax and so does he. I also ride in a dutch gag normally so change for dressage. I've just got him a hanging french link although i am not convinced by it so may change yet to something else BUT the best thing to do is relax, smile, breathe and concentrate on getting your bits of the test right. Mine has bucked before in a test but you just have to ride it out, you see the top top eventers etc throwing total wobblers in tests so it happens to the best of them. Don't worry about what your horse is doing just ride the test as accurate as you can.

Trust me I've had one pony who flipped out he was soo tense and did an entire test sideways loping and plunging - I've never gritted my teeth into such a false smile as that day!!!

Do mock 'tests' at home, get a friend to play judge and practice in the bit you will wear for the test so your horse doesn't notice such a change.
 
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