British Dressage

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"I can see why you name the thread 'soul destroying', however this is dressage and I think you should hold onto the fact you came 7th out of 19 which is more relevant to how you went than your actual %. What were your comments like? Don't be put off by it, take on board the comments from the judge and Denise and continue to make good progress, it would be interesting to see how the same judge marks you in future. I actually think it can be quite uplifting if a judge that has previously marked me low then marks me much higher a few months later, at least you know you are on the right lines.

Chin up and move on, listen to your trainer and keep going!"

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"sounds very mean especially in a riding club competition. I have so say that if I was giving 3s for that happening, I would be handing out some minus marks for some of the other tests that we see sometimes. Dont think about it again. Just go out and show her what you and your horse are made of!!"

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"Sorry you've had a bad day, but try and remain pleased with the progress you and your horse have made and hold onto that. The trick is to focus on what you feel went well did the judge's comments agree with that even if the mark isn't to your liking? If not why not? What were your weaknesses and strengths? You have already said your halt is terrible, so thats an identified weakness and something to work on. Then pick on the things you lost the most marks on and identify the core thread that runs thru them, there's usually one underlying problem that underpins the rest, and work on that for a month before venturing out again aiming to feel an improvement in that area. Remember we always lose 10% at least at a competition to what we have at home, a combination of both our competitive tension and the horse's reflection of this. If you were to practice your halts alone every time you ride her, not only in the school but out hacking for a month they would improve. Pick a spot and ask her to halt, walk a few steps and repeat. You don't say what the issue is but if she swings her quarters is it always to the same side? If so are you sitting crookedly and causing this? If so buy a pilates ball and practice at home sitting central, take it to work and sit on it at your desk (cures bad posture quickly as poor position and the ball's of out from under you!)Reward her with a pat and verbal praise when she stands and don't allow her to move off immediately, count a few hippopotami before moving off,then ensure when you ask her to go forward by lightening your seatbones and applying your leg that she does so promptly. Forgive me if all this is teaching grandma to suck eggs but I am trying to focus you into looking at the sheet as a baseline and a spring board from which to move forward rather than taking a defeatist approach which is never what we judges wish to achieve. So come on, have a sulk tonight and a large glass of red with a large bar of chocolate 9my solution to all ills) then tomorrow come out positive and moving forwards so you can really stick it to us on your next outing."