Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

talking during dressage test

From: Kelly

Dear Jessica, I have been using a lot of your advice to re-train my nervous Thoroughbred mare. I want to start taking her to dressage competitions. She is much calmer now, but I am afraid that one reason she is calmer is that I talk to her all the time. I know I will not be allowed to do this during a dressage competition, but I don't know what Lady will do when she has to deal with a new environment and a test with me not saying anything to her! I'm sure you will have good suggestions for me, please help us! Lady has come a long, long way.

Kelly

Dear Kelly, congratulations on getting so far with Lady! You've done a good job so far. Don't spoil it now by asking too much at once. I think that you are right to worry about the combined effect of a new environment and your silence -- so here are my suggestions.

1) Take Lady to a dressage show -- groom her, braid her, dress up, but don't go to compete, just go to hack her around the grounds. Talk to her, allow her to relax and be confident, then let her eat grass and at the end of the day, take her home. You'll have dealt with the "new environment" problem.

2) When Lady is calm about trailering to a new venue, ENTER her in one or two -- no more than two -- low-level tests. Then just tell yourself that the first show day is a TEACHING day for Lady's benefit, not a COMPETING day. Go right ahead and talk to her in the arena -- whenever she needs it. You CAN talk, it's just that you'll be penalized for "use of voice." Since you're just there to school Lady, that won't be a problem. You may even want to mention it to the judge -- on your trip around the ring perhaps, or after your first test -- so that he/she won't imagine that you don't KNOW about the penalties. And then just have fun, and keep your focus where it should be, on Lady and her comfort level.

Don't worry about your scores; you're building your horse's security and confidence so that the next time out, you'll be able to SHOW her instead of just school her. And, in fact, if you have to do this at several shows before Lady begins to relax enough to enjoy herself in the arena, that's fine -- she is just at the beginning of her competitive career, and RIGHT NOW is the time for you to create the attitude that she will have for the next ten years or more. It's worth taking some time to allow her to relax and learn to enjoy her work.

Jessica

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