Tense test

Emmangel

Emmangel

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Dear all,
I know this thread has been covered before but not everything was entirely applicable. So yesterday, I take my horse to do Elementary 42. We arrive at the venue in plenty of time, he is nice and chilled, drinks some water (uber hot yesterday) has a munch of some grass/hay. I then tack up and warm up. He worked beautifully, lovely soft outline, fab transitions for about 25 minutes (bit too hot to work for longer). I thought OMG we are going to win this. My turn comes so I go straight from the warm up arena into the main area. Cue..... eyes on stalks, bell rings just past C, horse tenses and pisses off back to A, head up, stiff as a plank. He then decides the photographer is an evil monster and that every camera click is some form of firearm ammunition. The whole test was a disaster due to complete tenseness. Any ideas ?? I did use Confidence EQ before with limited success........ I am losing the will to compete. He is 10 year old Andalusian and has been to quite a few competitions. He is easily distracted.
Thanks in advance, Emma
 
Thanks for your reply. No, he's not napping. I always take him out on his own which seems to stop him calling for any of his friends. We generally go to a show or clinic every other week (approx twice per month). I have booked another show for this Saturday. I don't think I change my riding, but I guess I could be doing this subconsciously..... Friends have just said it's a case of just keep going to shows - but it's so frustrating and most show days end up with me feeling upset - which is not what it's supposed to be about...... I took him out for a lesson on Friday to hire a school to get different venue practice and he behaved well.
 
Been there done that and got several t shirts! I had some NLP sessions to help my nerves and got out competing a lot (a lot for me - roughly every fortnight) Didn't treat it as 'competing' so to speak, more 'match practice'. Forget results, forget other competitors and what you might think they are thinking - just need to get in the arena as much as poss. With perseverance you'll crack it .
 
I think the best way is to just keep doing it until it kind of becomes boring/normal to them. Don't shy away from entering shows with big atmospheres either. Perhaps look for weekend shows where you could do 4-6 tests over a couple of days and really make it less exciting to them.
 
Emmangel said:
Ooh I did buy some ear covers but they have sat in the cupboard. I could try those on Saturday.
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Honestly they are a bit of a miracle for most spooky horses I know, they sell sets now that really block out a lot of noise even more so that the normal sets. Hope it helps!
 
Farma said:
Honestly they are a bit of a miracle for most spooky horses I know, they sell sets now that really block out a lot of noise even more so that the normal sets. Hope it helps!
Click to expand...

I will practice in them this week and use them at this week's competition. I have also bought a NAF magic in syringe form. It can't do any harm.... Thank you everyone and will let you know.
 
I'll try them in our lesson in Thursday. He does have quite big ears but is used to wearing a fly mask... I'll let you know 😀
 
I think one of the main things is keeping yourself calm and focused. I have just started loaning a 6 year old mare she's 17.2hh so a big horse. I'm an Rda rider and didn't have a horse to ride at our regional dressage comp so took her. We did OK but she was tense and we had a buck into canter. As she is young she does spook and shy but I've worked on keeping myself calm but focused and it seems to have really helped. She does come out on her toes but I ride her confidently forward and that really helps. I qualified at the regionals and rode at the Rda Championships 2 weeks ago at Hartpury. Its very busy with 3 arenas on the go at once and had to ride my freestyle in the International indoor arena. Now that is spooky. I just treat it the same Rode her forward leg on if she felt spooky and we rode a lovely test and came 2nd. Definitely the more you go out the more used to it your horse will get and the better you'll get at dealing with him when he is spooky. Good luck
 
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