The ups and downs of competing

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Cowpony

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Went to a BD competition yesterday. We sometimes get placed, but all I was hoping for was an AF qualifying score at Prelim and 60+ at Novice. We've done both before several times, so was fairly confident.......... We got 59.8% in both. I was gutted. Made worse by the fact that everybody else got huge scores, so I couldn't even blame it on strict judges. All except one other competitor in both classes was a gold or silver rider, but nevertheless, we were horribly outclassed. I went home almost in tears and wondering whether I should give up on BD and just go back to unaffiliated. Or loan out my mare, who I Iove to bits, and loan a "proper" dressage horse. But I've told people on here before now that successful people battle through the hard times, so I decided to give myself a kick up the backside and go back to basics. A lot of the comments were about working over the back, so I decided today I would work on that.

In the meantime somebody at the yard was selling a bit, and I'd borrowed it to try. My mare can be strong and has a tendency to lean on the bit, and this was a fulmer straight bar happy mouth, so on paper it looked like completely the wrong bit. But I don't have very still hands and I thought this was worth a try as I had a feeling she would appreciate more stability in the bit. OMG! She was like a different horse! Light in the hand, easily accepting requests to be rounder, and generally being much more responsive to the leg. I put it down to having less "noise" from the bit, so she can hear my leg better. For the first time I really understood what people mean by having a conversation down the rein. So.....we won't be resigning from BD just yet 😀 I have a regular lesson with a dressage coach shortly, so I'll see what she thinks about the new bit. But I'm so much more optimistic today!
 
Love it when something clicks. Sometimes in riding you need a little shake up to find out how to move forwards. Good luck :D
 
sounds promising :)
I know only too well how it feels to take a kicking on the scoresheet but I have a policy of not making rash decisions on the basis of one day ;) It's just one person's opinion on one day. Try and take the positives from the day and forget about the rest.
 
I've been to a couple of bit fitting clinics and have amazed at the difference in some horses (not all) when ridden in a different bit. In the past we've always used pretty straightforward snaffles and the horses have gone well in them but I now wonder if they could have gone even better in something else. These days i'm a lot more open to trying different bits to try to ensure the bit suits the conformation of my horses mouth and way of going. Good luck going forward
 
Update.......I've just looked on the BD acceptable tack list and a happy mouth straight bar isn't dressage legal! Arrrgh!!! Need to try a mullen mouth I think. I really thought I'd cracked it, but back to the drawing board.....
 
Cowpony said:
Update.......I've just looked on the BD acceptable tack list and a happy mouth straight bar isn't dressage legal! Arrrgh!!! Need to try a mullen mouth I think. I really thought I'd cracked it, but back to the drawing board.....
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I was going to say something last night but decided not to burst your bubble 😂

That said, it’s just the bobbles in the mouthpiece that is the problem, there are smooth versions out there 😃
 
Cowpony said:
Update.......I've just looked on the BD acceptable tack list and a happy mouth straight bar isn't dressage legal! Arrrgh!!! Need to try a mullen mouth I think. I really thought I'd cracked it, but back to the drawing board.....
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No it's not BD legal. Maybe worth trying a Happy Mouth jointed Full Cheek which are BD legal as it may be the cheeks which she likes. Have just changed one of ours to https://www.horsebitbank.com/happy-mouth-roller-full-cheek-550.phtml and he really likes it.
 
nappy mouth,nathe, beris and trust all do the same sort of mouthpiece with full cheeks.

of those the trust is the heaviest but nicest quality plastic and the one i find is accepted the most readily :)
 
Cowpony said:
Thanks all. I'll have a look. Might get a bit bank person out - probably cheaper in the long run!
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I'm definitely not saying I'm right, but the FEI eventing rules changed in April 2019 to allow the happy mouth bits with the knobbles again.

Perhaps it is worth checking the current BD rulebook online, as normally they are fairly similar..

Good luck..

Fiona
 
Sometimes I think it is worth schooling in a bit that may not be legal if your horse really goes well in it to get the "feel" right. Then swap to nearest legal bit a few days before the competition.
 
Carrottom said:
Sometimes I think it is worth schooling in a bit that may not be legal if your horse really goes well in it to get the "feel" right. Then swap to nearest legal bit a few days before the competition.
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Yes that was what I was wondering - get her used to going properly in a bit she likes, in the hope that she gets into the right habits ready for when I put her into another bit. Normally I school in the kit we use in competition, but this might be worth a try.
 
Cowpony said:
Thanks all. I'll have a look. Might get a bit bank person out - probably cheaper in the long run!
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I think you are around the Berkshire area and I can recommend Laura Wright - https://www.facebook.com/bittingsolutions/?ref=br_rs

I have been very happy with the bit she picked 18 months ago for my non dressage type dressage pony. I also recently changed to a comfort bridle which has made an additional difference. Good luck. :) x
 
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