Should I do to Dressage on Sunday? advise please

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Magstepper

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In my wisdom I decided earlier in the week to enter for local dressage on Sunday. At the beginning of the week she had been working really nicely. I have ridden today and it was awful, I couldn’t get an ounce of nice work out of her! Felt ready to explode at any point, leapt around a fair bit, and generally would not settle at all. So my enthusiasm has been squashed somewhat!

This is my first outing with her and she is young should I still go for the "experience" or leave it for another time. Maybe when the weather is a bit better and we are all generally in better moods.
 
Ooh you shouldn't ask an old person like me.... It's faaaarrrrrr too cold for poncing around in my opinion :D

I'm doing nothing but sitting in me jimjams getting cramp.
 
Yes I should have time to hack tomorrow, but kind of feel I need to do a little bit of good schooling before we go.

Maybe she should do both a good hack first thing and in the school in the afternoon.

Just worried about showing ourselves up!

Thanks for encouragement guys!! Although I do agreed with you Tallyho! is it cold! Roll on Spring!!
 
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Magstepper said:
Yes I should have time to hack tomorrow, but kind of feel I need to do a little bit of good schooling before we go.

Maybe she should do both a good hack first thing and in the school in the afternoon.

Just worried about showing ourselves up!

Thanks for encouragement guys!! Although I do agreed with you Tallyho! is it cold! Roll on Spring!!
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School on the hack- lots of transitions and leg yielding- as she's hacking she probably won't even notice she's doing 'work'
Have fun!
 
I always go with the mind set, I will see how they are when I get them off the trailer. If they are calm and happy I tack up, if still calm I will walk them in hand in the warm up, if still happy it's time to pop on board etc. If any any point they are not calm or I don't feel happy I think what can I do to make my pony calm etc. Once I have a calm pony no matter what stage I think jobs a good'en and I can go home.

Some times I only get them off the trailer, other times I get through a test... But for me it's always about having a good time for both of us and if that means just walking around the trailer park with a calm happy horse and heading home, at least we both got to see what it was about. Not sure if that helps any but I would say go, take it in tiny steps and see how you go. Most of the time when I think one of mine will explode they are little angels..

Good Luck
 
Just go, no point stressing about it!
Most of my best tests have been with horrific week leading up and even coming out the ring going thinking it was a disaster!

Weeamigo- sounds like a lot of effort there! Perhaps take the plunge and be a bit more confident sounds like your angels are ready to show off for you!
 
Weeamigo said:
I always go with the mind set, I will see how they are when I get them off the trailer. If they are calm and happy I tack up, if still calm I will walk them in hand in the warm up, if still happy it's time to pop on board etc. If any any point they are not calm or I don't feel happy I think what can I do to make my pony calm etc. Once I have a calm pony no matter what stage I think jobs a good'en and I can go home.

Some times I only get them off the trailer, other times I get through a test... But for me it's always about having a good time for both of us and if that means just walking around the trailer park with a calm happy horse and heading home, at least we both got to see what it was about. Not sure if that helps any but I would say go, take it in tiny steps and see how you go. Most of the time when I think one of mine will explode they are little angels..

Good Luck
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I think this is very good advice- it needs to be a positive experience, rather than just experience IMO. So taking her, and her stressing out and being naughty could be more detrimental than not going.

This is the tactic my sister used with her baby mare's first outings. and each time she was super and had a really good time, and managed to do two tests and get frillies! Equally, Al got there about an hour before the first time and let Bee have a mooch about and figure stuff out. If she'd felt on edge or tricky, she'd have tried to just finish on a good note there and try again another day...
 
Thank you all for your replies. I need to stop over thinking it and get on with it. I will take her and just see how it goes and stop putting pressure on myself.

I will keep on posted on how it went Monday! :D
 
Good luck!! Have fun if you go, no point going half-hearted. Look forward to finding out how you get on!
 
Morning All,
Just a little post to let you all know how we got on.
Took her for a good hack on Saturday like you suggested and let her have a blast to let off some steam. We went along on Sunday and she did an ok first test and a not so great second test but it could of been a lot worse. She kept all 4 feet on the ground so in my book it was a success. Spent a lot of time walking around the show centre so next time we go she has seen it all and should be more settled. Overall a good experience and glad I took her.

Thanks for all your positive encouragement and support!:D
 
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