Stuck in a rut?

[dwi]

I originally bought Daisy as a happy hacker and general ride which she is excellent at being. If I sold her as a novice confidence giver to someone who wanted a quiet hack I could probably name my price.

However....

I'd really like to be able to go to a RC dressage and not come last. I've been riding for my whole life and its a bit demoralising to keep coming towards the bottom at a RC W&T competition. I think she's getting better, my RI says she is but its making no difference to our placings. The bottom line is that I can and do school her 3 - 4 times a week with hacking in between but I get beaten by more novice riders with flashier horses. I know cobs can do well at dressage but D's confirmation isn't helping and she was 11 before I started trying.

Is it just that she's an awkward old bat who probably isn't going to change? I feel like a truly rubbish rider at times because I just can't crack dressage and I feel I ought to be able to. She will hack, hunt, jump etc but ask her to work in an outline for more than a few minutes at a time or anything faster than walk and I feel like I can't ride at all.

Is it just me? Should I chalk it down to experience, leave the dressage and stick to what she likes or have people managed to reschool an older horse into doing a passable test?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Awww - poor Daisy!!

She and Inca really are twins!!

Inca struggles to do anything other than a walk and trot - trying to maintain a 20m circle in canter is such hard work!! I have realised that Inca is and does what it says on her tin!! In other words a fab hack as will go anywhere with anyone and isn't spooky or silly even when those around her are losing thier heads (stands with her legs crossed waiting for the jogging, rearing, spinning, backing up to stop!!

). She has her little moments and adores a good gallop when given the chance but she is never going to be a stressage star!!

I suppose what I am saying is you may have to accept Daisy's limitations - I get marked down even in the yards annual show (which is mean to be a bit of fun!) as the lady who comes to judge is very stressage and doesn't like cobs

......still I have my secret weapon this year - she turns a pretty shade of green when she sees my boy.....

 

[MooMoo]

Do you enjoy the dressage that much? Do the placings really matter that much? I understand your disappointment, your cob might struggle against the other horses, but you could turn it around.

Instead of looking at the placing against other horses, look at your percentages and see your own improvement on the test sheet. Set yourself goals to beat yourself, rather than others.

If dressage isnt really that important, maybe you could find something that you really do enjoy. Your horse sounds lovely and it would be a shame to not enjoy your time with her over something which might not be such a big thing in the grand scheme of things.

Summer is on its way, make the most of it!