Is it worth starting yet?

[Janette]

My horse has made loads of progress in the last 6 months and can now walk without the odd jog, and trot without pulling.
I had intended to do a dressage test for several reasons. However, her head is still up in the air, especially during transitions, and she is still very stiff on the left rein and does not step under when on a circle in either direction. I have recently changed her bit and she is settling magnificently - much more relaxed.

1. it would provide a good baseline for us.
2. its a good reason to get her out and show her new places in a fairly low key environment.

She is a 14.3 coloured cob, who is very sensitive, and can get quite stressed when faced with new situations/questions.

Opinions???????

[Wally]

Go and don't compete, wait until the end and ask if you can ride her round the arena in the atmosphere if you like.No pressure then on either of you.

[Janette]

Thanks Wally, good idea.

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Janette
My horse has made loads of progress in the last 6 months and can now walk without the odd jog, and trot without pulling.

Congratulations. Terrific progress.

[Janette]

Thanks Galadriel

Its the change in her personality that is really impressive - much calmer, less of a bully and far more chilled. I have been considering her progress and perhaps am doing her wrong.

She can now trot in a circle on the left rein and look to the left, and she CAN step under, but finds it dificult at the moment - and so 'forgets'. The left rein is her stiffer side.

She has also stopped fighting and arguing with me and is starting to think a problem through. I can see this by the way her ears move.

I would still love to have a go at dressage though.

[Lucy J]

i am at the same stage with ciara, i'd love to be able to do a dressage test, but am worried we will look awful, she can sometimes work really well and is fab out hacking but in te school she can be a nightmare, not circling, getting nappy, running off, although other times she can be really good. I am hoping there will be somewhere local at some point doing a small show where I can have a go, but I'm too scared, I'm not one for jumping high, but I'd rather do that than a dressage test! I think its cause I'm scared of failure. let us know how you get on and what you decide

[KarinUS]

What's there to lose? Can you just have a go at a schooling show. If you come in last so what! At least you will get some good feedback.

[Janette]

I've thought, and I'm going to wait for a couple of months. But first, I'm going to learn a dressage test, and ask my instructor if she'll mark me.
One of the other instructors has asked me if I'll groom for her at a dressage comp, and I will, to get my head around what is expected and see what the atmosphere is like. Somehow I think it will be a lot calmer than a show. (In return, she's said she'll give me a free lesson - not a bad trade off).
Then I'll give it a go.

Watch this space.

[Luv 2 Trot]

Being a groom at Dressage comp will be good. You will be able to observe wut they do and learn from that. I go to a lot of shows and observe the way other people ride and the way their horses move. Observation is a good thing. Plus, a free lesson is always a plus because u get to learn more.

[kelsey]

Why not give it a try?

Depending on the judge, you might get some good feedback and suggestions on what to work on with your horse.

[problem]

you might as well go and give it a try, that way u can practise and get more experience and learn. then when you are competing seriously she will b relaxed with the situation ect and she will start enjoying herself.
anything you can do to gain experience is a bonus. start of at a small riding or pony club event

( alot of unafilated and rc and pc are held during the winter which usually are small because nobody wants 2 get cold!)

and let her have the experience of the enviroment

what's the worst that can happen? u may get a low mark you may not but you can improve on ** mark either way,

[DITZ]

Definitely go for it now!!! Just enter it with the sole intention of getting yourself a starting point to work from then you can compare it to the next test and see how you have improved. You'll never know otherwise!!

Dressage competitions aren't as stressfull as shows I dont think simply because people seem to turn up, do the test then go again so theres never more than a handful of horses around and almost never anyone watching you.

Go for it!! Whats the worse that can happen??:D