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RE: Dressage Help!

Breaker_of_Haflinger — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:25:51 GMT

Yeah, I would definetly walk her around the judging booth and get her used to it or make sure to pass it several times if they let you warm up in the ring. If it bothers her in the test (after all that) tell the judge ahead of time (if its a smaller show) that your just coming to get her used to everything and you don't want scored. The next show should be a cinch.

RE: Dressage Help!

BarnCatt — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:09:07 GMT

Hmm... food will probably help. He'll do anything if you feed him.

RE: Dressage Help!

Welshiegirl — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:45:18 GMT

^^yep get off and lead him up to it when he starts freaking out just talk and pat him make him smell and get up to it!
if u are on him keep your legs on and again talk and pat
hope this helped!! good luck!!

RE: Dressage Help!

horse rider britt — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:36 GMT

If your horse is anything like mine, I would advise you to ride him by it at the walk, and if he shies away, stop him and let him look at it. If he goes up to it, walk him by it a bunch of times, and after a while if he keeps doing it, turn his head to the inside and kick him to get him to go. Make sure he knows that he can't just shy away from it every time he gets near it. Also, since that was your first dressage show, you could have been a little nervous, and that could have gone on to him, making him be on his toes. The more shows you go to, the more used to each other you will get. Sorry it's so long, hope it helpes!

RE: Dressage Help!

Paints-4-Ever — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:50:26 GMT

I had a similar issue with my horse Dallas, what worked for me is having someone stand in(or right near) the booth and feed him treats from it. Try to walk him by it if you get the chance and try to keep him as close to it as you can, the closer he goes the more you praise him. After doing this Dallas goes by booths without any trouble so I hope it works for you.

RE: Dressage Help!

SandandSableRKR — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:28:18 GMT

^ ^ You just have to work on it. Get to the showgrounds early. Once you are settled in take him to the arena and see how close he can get. Even if he can only get within 10ft calmly stop him and let him look at it. Talk to him, soothe him, and once he calms some reward him (treats, maybe) and make him walk forward another foot or two. Do this until you can get up to the booth.

Hope that helps. GL!

EDIT and don't let him look away from it and/or spin. Make him face his fear. Even if he gets nervous maybe back him up but do NOT turn him away from it.

RE: Dressage Help!

BarnCatt — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:36:07 GMT

I did this and he wouldn't get near it.

RE: Dressage Help!

District 5 — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:05:45 GMT

Royal Affair (6/12/2009)

When I get to the show grounds I usually that my horse for a walk around the grounds and specifically lead him to the judging booth, that way he can see it, smell it and realize that it won't eat him. I usually try to do this during a break though, it's pretty rude to lead your horse around the show ring when someones going through a test. It's distracting to both the horse and rider.

Agreed. At a few shows [I don't know many that do though, considering ring size], they let the horses and riders warm up in the ring in the morning/during the break. If that show allows you to, do it.

RE: Dressage Help!

Royal Affair — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:30:34 GMT

Dressage Help!

BarnCatt — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:24:49 GMT

I was at my first dressage test and my horse was scared of the booth that the judge sits in. Does anyone have any ideas of how I could work on this issue at the barn?