Submission...or lack of!

[Kati*89]

Hoping for some inspiration here as I am finding competing really frustrating at the moment. I will try and give some details...

Horse in question, working on Novice, works beautifully at home (not all the time of course) but he is more than capable, we have had some struggles getting him forward and staying there, but he is now much better - it is mostly been me nagging and not getting a response so have had to work hard to keep a soft leg rather than clamping on and trying to squeeze him round! However at competitions, he just seems to have no will to work with me...
I had my trainer come to a couple of competitions with me to see what we are doing and I know that I need to ask more of him, both in training and when out. So with this in mind I have had a couple of really positive outings since - my riding has come on loads, and I am finding the tests a challenge rather than a worry.

Took him out last weekend to Patchetts and he just would not relax, would not come properly round, kept dropping me in the canter - it was so frustrating as most of scores were 6-7's but dropping to 3's or 4's, we actually even got a 0/10 this time! He just would not come through and I had been doing all of our normal warm up routine...

Has anyone had the same, is it because he lacks confidence away from home? How do I help that if so? I am having training sessions as much as I can but often only once a month, but they have been really great the last few times! He just seems so hit and miss..sorry for the waffle, but any ideas or a kick up the bum if so would be appreciated!

 

[Barnacle]

Experience... The more you ride in unfamiliar settings the better he will be. Try asking for accurate transitions even when out hacking. I like to find a clearing and do some work there.

 

[Kati*89]

Experience... The more you ride in unfamiliar settings the better he will be. Try asking for accurate transitions even when out hacking. I like to find a clearing and do some work there.

We have started doing more hacking alone too, mainly because our buddy left the yard but I am hoping it will improve his confidence in me as well and in turn help when we are out.

I think you are probably right, he has got better in general but he does just seem better and then next time he isn't, so it is very frustrating!

I am going to try and get him out elsewhere for lessons, so not always going out to a competition but just to ride - but again that is down to time and money unfortunately!

 

[nato]

What happens when you go out competing? Is he spooking, or just not forward? Is he relaxed in the warm up? Has he always been this way at competitions (you say you are working to Novice so I can only assume you've competed at Prelim level before) or is this new behaviour?

Understanding what the behaviour is like when he's away from home would really help give more insights into why he is this way and what could help.

 

[Kati*89]

What happens when you go out competing? Is he spooking, or just not forward? Is he relaxed in the warm up? Has he always been this way at competitions (you say you are working to Novice so I can only assume you've competed at Prelim level before) or is this new behaviour?

Understanding what the behaviour is like when he's away from home would really help give more insights into why he is this way and what could help.

Spooking, I mean not full on freak and run away but very on edge...not forward is the main bit, but I suppose because he is not forward and on the aids, he then turns to spooking..he will start like this in the warm up, but normally he will give in and work. However go in to the ring and again you have to start all over again trying to get him back.

He has pretty much always been like this, it is like he just goes into himself and holds his breath the whole time. He has improved a lot and we have had some good scores that show when he lets go, but it is so hit and miss that I feel we haven't quite cracked it

 

[SpringArising]

Do you think he might be a bit bored? Do you do other varied stuff with him like hacking, popping a few jumps a week etc. to keep him fresh and interested in work?

 

[mudmonkey17]

Hi feel your frustration as pony I ride does something similar. He works well in warm up usually but then tenses up so much can't do anything with him. He rushes rather than refusing to go forward.
Have no suggestions of how to fix it apart from as others said keep getting him out and about.
Do you tense up? Does he feel it from you? Is he like it at home?

 

[Kati*89]

Do you think he might be a bit bored? Do you do other varied stuff with him like hacking, popping a few jumps a week etc. to keep him fresh and interested in work?

He shouldn't be, I rarely school two days in succession, we hack out in company and alone, lunge, pole work and he gets probably 2 days off a week, so he's not exactly drummed around the arena!

Hi feel your frustration as pony I ride does something similar. He works well in warm up usually but then tenses up so much can't do anything with him. He rushes rather than refusing to go forward.
Have no suggestions of how to fix it apart from as others said keep getting him out and about.
Do you tense up? Does he feel it from you? Is he like it at home?

In the past I would have said I probably did tense up but the last 4/5months at least I have been so much more confident and positive in my riding, which has shown in a couple of outings which I think makes it more frustrating!

I actually had a lesson last night, my gosh it was so hot but he worked really well, we focused on reaction and suppleness, I almost have to ask twice as much to really get him through.
Also took him out Sat for a session in a big arena and I could feel him backing off as he hadn't been there before, it's almost like that's is nervousness, he just goes in to himself and I need to coax him out!