Showing and Dressage with my cob

[picolenicole]

King is my 7 year old cob x, I have had him from a 4 year old. He's schooled once a week with me and my RI, who is the best RI I have ever had. Every other day of the week we hack, or play at jumping.

I have always been the groom at show's and dressage never the rider, but with a LOT of help from my RI and the OH I took King out to our first ever away from home show and this was the result....

http://youtu.be/EMVCGo_1VUE

We did three classes riddend cob, ridden coloured and equitation (I think) we got two 3rd's and a 4th

After being rather brave and doing a showing show I entred a dressage comp, intro A. With the sugestion from my RI I got King a calmer to see if it would take the eadge off

This was the result.....

http://youtu.be/nDCVBoaleaI

We got 55% and 4th out of 6, to mine and the OH amazment!! We both thought I would be last

In both comp's the judges were lovley and had some really nice things to say, the dressage judge gave me a 6 for my entrance, and said once he relaxes we will both get the higher marks


I don't mind critisisum, and would love some ideas on how to help him and me relax more.

 

[JFTDWS]

He looks very tense - imo you're giving him very mixed signals - you have a lot of pressure on his mouth, and a lot of leg on him - he doesn't really have anywhere to go other than up into those big bounces he does in the video.

Unrelatedly - the show judge looks like she's not wearing any clothes

 

[be positive]

He is a lovely forward thinking fun cob

In the dressage he was tense and I fully expected him to take off when you did your free walk but he did not he relaxed, stretched down and took longer strides. He stayed a little more relaxed until you prepared to trot then he shortened his stride and got tense again.

It would help if you allowed him a little more rein and work at home on getting him to relax on a long, not loose rein in all paces. He will probably rush a bit if he is not used to going like this, use plenty of half halts to steady him, lots of transitions and circles etc, let him find his own balance and not rely on your hand so much. Once he is carrying himself, he will be going more forward and should become softer through his back with less tension. You will also need to trust him, relax and enjoy him, he will be fab

 

[Quantock-cob]

Well done for your great results - you must be very pleased. Oh, and King is so handsome (and cheeky!).

He is a bit like my cob when we are doing dressage..."oh come on Mum just let me go and have a good canter..this poncing about stuff is soooo boring"

 

[picolenicole]

The funny thing is at home he will do long and low and sometimes I really have to work to get him going!!!

He does have this idea in his head that if I ask for something he thinks I shouldn't be asking, he buggers off at a million miles an hour, it was his way of evading when he was younger. Hense the no rain but leg on as if I just use half halts he does his rocking horse impression, so I have to hold/half halt quite a bit but then remind him he should be moving, thats when the bouncing and screaming at me comes in.

He was a star when just stood outside watching everyone at the show as soon as I asked for walk or anything he screamed at me and bounced. I did have someone say I love the bounces he does

Both judges have said to me well sat, I think it may be a running thing for me. Oh yeah the free walk if I sit and say nothing to him ie don't touch him at all he will walk untill he gets fed up then stops or buggers off.

Hes a funny little bigger, I'm glad hes little though Thanks for the nice comments about him beeing so nice, it's his way of trying to get away with murder