Spooky pony doing first time dressage...help!

L

lilyoftheincas

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 October 2011
Messages
476
Visit site
I'm riding a lovely little pony for an Easter Monday Intro A dressage competition, my second time and his first (I think?). He is a really lovely pony to ride, however he is quite spooky, and being quite young as well I'm pretty sure that he will spook at the scary white boards, the scary judges table (or car, even worse!) and the even scarier photographer! Plus it is no martingales, and since he is barely ever ridden without his running martingale I'm slightly worried about that too! He's not mine, and I can only ride him once a week for an hour, so de-spooking is pretty off limits I'm afraid. Any tips? Anything at all? :o

Nothing nasty please, if he was my own I would do things differently but unfortunately he's not. I've asked my instructor if she thinks that we're ready and she was pleased that we're doing it. :)
 
You can but try! Just go and do your best, and enjoy it - it's meant to be fun. As Mary King says, so many people in equestrianism forget to enjoy what they're doing. That's why she smiles so beautifully at all times.
 
I would go along with the idea that i was not there to "compete". I would tell myself that the objective of the day is to show this pony his first competition. I would tell myself that the only thing i was going to aim for was to keep him as relaxed as possible and not worry about the actual score of the test. If you can take any pressure off yourself it will help him because you will feel relaxed. This is his first competition so whatever happens will be your "starting point". you can assess what happens afterwards and think about how you might tackle it next time. Above all else, just enjoy your day out.
 
Just enjoy it. You've said yourself if you could ride him more you'd do things differently, so don't go beating yourself up about not practicing. Just ride the pony forward & work on the basis that there's no pressure on you, who cares if he spooks.
Not long ago I was at a big ec & from the cafe could watch the intro tests. One pony with a girl in her early teens was a little **** napping, cantering off, bucking & looked like it might roll at one point.
 
Stupid phone. No-one in the cafe even knew her, but everyone was commenting on how nicely she sat & what a naughty pony it was, no nasty remarks at all. Practically got a standing ovation when she finished from a load of people who hadn't ever met her. You'll be fine, I take any young or green horse to do a test on the basis its a good experience & fun. Enjoy it & good luck
 
Visualise, visualise, visualise! :D This is something you CAN practice lots because you don't need the pony ;)

First off, acknowledge what you are concerned will happen. Where in your body does that come from? Give it a taste, a smell, a name, a sound, a texture, a colour and a shape. Acknowledge how you feel about the spooking scenario, and tell it and the pony out loud in your own words "I know this is what I think will happen, but thats really not helpful. I don't need these thoughts now."

Next practice visualising yourself going through the day with the pony absolutely perfectly and thilngs going really well, from getting dressed in the morning to grooming, working in and finally to riding the test, and smiling lots afterwards because the pony behaved SO well. See the video in your head in vivid colour and loads of detail. Smell the smells, hear the noises, feel the sensation of riding, touch the leather tack, pony's coat, taste the air and what you will drink and eat. Replay, replay, replay. If your visualisation wanders off-course onto what can go wrong, picture yourself handling a spook effortlessly and getting straight back on track.

The reason for doing this is that you will have had so much mental practice that you will exude confidence and leadership to the little pony, and they wont be able to help doing anything but go along with your video.

Good luck xxx
 
Don't look at the things he might spook at as this will draw them to his attention. If you can on the day let him see as much as you can in advance either in warm up or walking him round in hand. You might find it helps to sing something to yourself very quitely as this will regulate your breathing which will help him. Singing is obviously not one for dressage normally, but for a first test I think you just have to treat it as a schooling exercise and not worry too much! Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
 
Thank you so much everyone for you very helpful comments- I think I've sort of forgotten that it's his first dressage and it's all about the experience, not the score! And I'll try to enjoy it, even if he is messing around :D I may ask if I can take him in there before to get him a bit more used to the atmosphere.
 
maresmaid said:
I would go along with the idea that i was not there to "compete". I would tell myself that the objective of the day is to show this pony his first competition. I would tell myself that the only thing i was going to aim for was to keep him as relaxed as possible and not worry about the actual score of the test. If you can take any pressure off yourself it will help him because you will feel relaxed. This is his first competition so whatever happens will be your "starting point". you can assess what happens afterwards and think about how you might tackle it next time. Above all else, just enjoy your day out.
Click to expand...

This ^^

I took my spooky mare to her first dressage comp yesterday and it was totally the best day of my life :D We did have a few minor issues but I kept riding her forward and she settled eventually. All my sheet comments were about her being nosey and not relaxed, but it was her first time out so I was v proud :) It's all about the experience and not the actual test. You'll love it, I promise :cool:
 
In addition to Treating it as simply a training exercise, while at the show I would spend extra time before it starts, walking the pony around the judges box and rings. Let him sniff everything. Lots of encouragement for being brave and ignore any spooks (don't falsely encourage that behavior, only encourage when he approaches the scary object).

Also, while warming up... Really work on keeping his attention on you. Lots of changes of direction, and transistions. Try shoulder in when passing the judges booth (or scary object) .

My mare loves to find spooky things, but if I keep her brain occupied then she settles quickly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top