Bah Humbug

8/13/2013

I am so disgusted, frustrated, irritated, disappointed, and depressed that I don't even want to write this. Please excuse the poor quality of the writing. I just want to get it written and MOVE ON.

Sunday's show was a terrible disaster. No flowery prose or thoughtful reflections:

Sydney was so tense that it felt like I was riding an un-broke three year old.
The judge scored both tests, but really, most of the movements were simply un-scoreable.
We "earned" a 56.5% at Intro C because the judge was being kind. I am not exaggerating. The walk was nice. Everything else was not even dressage.
We "earned" a 50.208% at Training Level Test 1 with numerous comments that simply said, problems. And don't think that I am criticizing the judge in any way. I spoke to her before and after each test and explained that he was very tense so I was simply at the show to school. Her other comments, didn't happen, some canter shown, issues in halt, were her very polite way of writing something other than WTF? She was a very encouraging judge and even added the comment, Cute horse, lots of potential! Too bad about the tension!
I tried my warm-up strategy, but he just got more and more tense.
He simply couldn't "hear" me.

As soon as I was finished riding the second test, my first thought was ... that was a waste of gas money and an entry fee. There is no way that we got any "mileage" out of this show. NOTHING was gained by being there.

But that's never true, is it? The horse is always learning something even if it is not what we want him to learn. While I am very disappointed, I have to admit that there was incremental progress, just nothing like what I expected there to be. Sydney works brilliantly at home, and now I have a witness to prove how lovely he moves and works, so I expected something decent at the show. I guess I was just expecting too much.

Here is what was improved or remained solid:

He loaded very quietly in the dark at home - remained solid.
He rode super quietly the entire two hour trip - remained solid.
He unloaded like a gentleman, and while he had big eyes, his feet stayed planted while I got out of the trailer - improved.
He tied to the trailer with ZERO pawing and minimal whinnying - improved.
I felt comfortable leaving him tied to the trailer and didn't time my away trips. Last time he was good for only up to about 5 minutes of away time - improved.
Each time I returned, he looked relieved to see me, but he wasn't overly nervous, and he was standing there with no other horses in sight - improved.
He ate a ton, peed, and pooped - all signs of a horse dealing with stress in a healthy way - remained solid.
He actually walked for a few minutes as I started my warm-up - improved.
He did whirl and spook a few times, but he never bucked, he never kicked out, and he never reared, all of which he did at the last show - improved.
After my last test, I rode him back to the trailer without any feelings that he might lose it - improved.
He loaded up quietly for the ride home - remained solid.
When I stopped for gas, he looked fairly relaxed in the trailer as he munched on hay; there was no whinnying or pacing (I've pulled the back divider so when a horse travels alone he gets two stalls) - improved.
When I got home, I turned him out where he rolled, trot around, got a big drink, and then wolfed down his lunch - remained solid.

So.

The good is that he is traveling well and dependably standing tied to the trailer even when left alone with no other horses for moral support. The bad is that he is a nervous wreck when asked to work.

I fought tears the entire afternoon and evening. I felt like such a total failure. I couldn't stand to write anything down as even thinking about the show left a bad taste in my mouth. I have started on a plan that involves two different strategies. I'll write about them as I get started. For now, I am not giving up; we'll do the Tehachapi show in two weeks and then go back to Hansen Dam in October.

Some of you ride OTTBs. Is progress always this slow? Will he ever be "relaxed" in a show environment? How many more outings will he need before he realizes that death isn't imminent? I would love some (positive) feedback.

If you really think this is never going to happen, kindly keep it to yourself as I am not there and, I am not big on quitting.

Jeanine

8/13/2013 12:20:39 am

Hey Karen.

My new guy is an OTTB, and I've had them in the past. They are sensitive and highly alert, but that doesn't mean they're incompetent like a lot of people think. I've always loved then because once you get their attention and respect, they are the ones that try their hardest for you. It will be a long road, but I can almost guarantee that it will be worth it in the end. The best thing is to not get discouraged and frustrated with them. They need constant reassuring and for you to be leader. A correct, giving leader

8/13/2013 12:25:09 am

Like how you said, you always have to find the little improvements.

SprinklerBandit link

8/13/2013 12:59:13 am

Stick it out. :)

My old man is probably the most relaxed TB God ever made, so he's hardly an example. That said, the OTTB mare I rode in highschool was a total ball of nerves. The first show she went to made her entire body shake.

The key? Give them a job. It's just like helping my new guy settle in from life at the track--establish a routine and let them know what to expect. Honestly, I'd move up as soon it's it's feasible. My nervous mare was never, ever good at hunter under saddle classes because she was too smart and interested to be happy going around with her head down like a QH.

Give her challenging movements or a jump or *something* to think about and she's immediately better. I suspect training level may not be engaging enough to interest Sydney. Perhaps a more challenging warm up? A trainer ride at the show? If you get him thinking and engaged in his work, I bet he improves 100%.

Carly

8/13/2013 01:00:22 am

Bobby is easily capable of scoring ten points lower (eventing...so, a higher percent pure dressage) at home than he is at a show. He does the movements, but he is such a tense, distracted mess at shows that he gets marked down for it. There better be hope for us with tense OTTBs because I'd like some recognition for the hard work we put in!

Lauren link

8/13/2013 01:03:15 am

Oh I'm sorry. I know how disappointing that can be. With Simon, one mistake I made was thinking the show progress would be linear. He was nervous at his first show but better at his second, and then his third show he was MORE anxious than both of the first two combined! To answer your question, yes it is a slow process. A lot of people will Ace them which is something I don't want to do and I imagine something you don't want to do either. Lunging helps, but even that doesn't erase the tension from my horse. I am just going to accept that at home we are really moving forward with our training, and when I go to a show it may be 10 steps back. Just more shows and more time.

Can you go just to school and get him off the grounds some without feeling like a failure when actually showing? That could help a lot.

Val

8/13/2013 01:38:51 am

I know how frustrating this is. My horse can never completely relax at shows, which translates to tension and impacts our ride. I think it just takes lots and lots of miles for sensitive personalities to get comfortable with showing. I was not interested in that much time in the show ring, but I know you are. He still knows what he knows at home; that has not changed. You should feel good about keeping the test going and sounds like you had an understanding judge.

Austen link

8/13/2013 02:25:02 am

My heart was seriously breaking for you while I read this. I have so been there.

Does it get better? Yes. Every time? No.

The biggest thing to realize is that tension happens, and it's not your fault. Beating yourself up over a test spoiled by tension isn't going to help either of you. I (trust me) know that's easier said than internalized, but I also know that it is true. Separating his tension from your goals and emotion is one of the only ways to get through that sort of situation intact.

Solutions? They're different for every horse. I've learned to adjust my warm ups depending on the tension I find in my horse on the day.

Sometimes we just walk before a test. I know having a relaxed horse is more conducive to having a good test than schooling movements for a better score. Sometimes, we canter to get the brain back. Working on simply forward and back transitions within gaits is something easy (and doesn't require stressful contact, which can go out the window at shows) that forces Guinness to THINK instead of tense. The key seems to be keeping the gait, not transitioning, which can be nerve wracking for him.

And, we do a long warm up now. Looooong (we're planning 45 minutes for our upcoming show). He's a thoroughbred, so I know I'm not going to wear out his body. Instead, I want to wear out his mind a little. Give him time to get bug eyed, deal with it, and come back down. Give myself time to get frustrated, deal with it, and come back down. Even if he isn't tense, I know that I can always just walk calmly to kill time.

You're on the right track, for sure. All your work at home WILL transfer, it will just take more time. I've found that my work at home has to be nearly second nature for me to have a chance at achieving it at a show. My show days often mirror some of my worst schooling days at home. When I feel those days are able to be scored well, I know it's time to show, and I try not to expect anything more. (I try...) All those improvements at the trailer and while traveling mean he's getting there.

Stick with him, I'm sure he's worth it!

Dom

8/13/2013 02:58:29 am

I'm sorry to hear it didn't go as you had hoped. It sounds like you have the right attitude about it, though.

Sarah link

8/13/2013 04:28:04 am

So sorry to hear how poorly it went, but the silver lining (for me) is all these great comments which apply to me too!

SprinklerBandit's recommendation is what has been working for me when Hemie is tense/looky-loo. However, take it to the extreme. When my trainer told me I needed to put him to work, I thought "but I *DO* put him to work" when really, he needed 10x more than what I was asking him. We're talking very quick successions of movements - lots of transitions, circling in and out, reverse on the haunches, lead changes, whatever and however much it takes. Quantity over quality, then slowly building up quality as his brain hopefully starts kicking in. Basically distracting him from the distractions!

I know Lauren hinted at (not) Acing him, but it might be worth researching natural calming supplement paste for shows, just to see. They've come a long way in the last 10 years. Omega Alpha equine offers one, and there's GrandCalm, etc. Even a 1/4 or 1/2 dose might be enough to help him. I have never used one personally but I know people who have for situations similar to yours, and their feedback has always been positive and "why didn't I try this sooner?" Food for thought. Sending you warm vibes. Sometimes shows just suck.

Hannah link

8/13/2013 09:21:46 am

I'm sorry you had a frustrating show.

My own horse (part-TB) was the spookiest youngster I've ever ridden and I've had the ride on some high-octane TBs as well. Biiiiiiig yes to giving them a job. I think these guys tend to relax their brains via relaxation of their bodies much more than the other way around, so getting into and sticking with sequences/exercises designed to help organize and loosen them is key. Being able to stay loose and present-yet-elastic as a rider is the other trick. My single greatest strength as a rider is the fact that if the horse i'm on is putting tension into the system, I get calmer and more relaxed instead of feeding tension back. This is a learned skill and it's IMO an essential one for getting along with TBs - and Once you have it, it's transformative.

Yes, it can and will get better. He's an OTTB, right? A racetrack has more going on than any dressage show in the world; he handled that and he can learn to handle this, too.

Karen

8/13/2013 09:27:20 am

Thank you all so very, very much for your kind and supportive suggestions. I have some good news to share, hopefully tomorrow, about phase 1 of figuring this out. If you'll remember, I said I had a plan of attack that involved a couple of different strategies. Phase 1 went off brilliantly and incorporated many of your suggestions, so again, THANK YOU! :0)

8/13/2013 11:21:01 pm

This is awesome, I can't wait to hear about your plan!

kelly link

8/13/2013 11:24:52 am

I was glad to see you listed all the improvements since the last time you showed Sydney! I have watched Austen show her OTTB several times and she makes great points in her comments. I know you have a plan, Karen - looking forward to reading about it :)

8/13/2013 11:20:29 pm

Haha, yeah poor Kelly has seen some of the worst tension moments of our career! We're lucky she still loves us! ;)

cg link

8/13/2013 12:52:59 pm

I have SO been there before! TBs are my breed of choice, but sometimes they can take a little time....like fine wine, right?

I think repetition is one key to getting a nervous one to relax, is there any way to get him out and away from home more often and expose him to more stimulation, outside of an actual show?

I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but I once attended a three day horse show at the local "snobby" barn. I took a gelding that had been schooling 4 foot at home and got dumped in EVERY class we entered attempting 3'6"! It was awful, (I know it was me, this was a seasoned show horse) but there really was nowhere to go but up from that show on:)

At least you didn't come off!

mia link

8/14/2013 03:30:33 am

He'll settle. Give him time. He's settled a ton with you at home since you got him. That took time too.
Don't get discouraged. :)

When I got my green been 4 year old half-Arab I took him to little 4-h shows and rode him in the flat classes. I didn't care how he did. It was just experiencing the sights and smells with no pressure to excel. The more we went to the more it became no big deal. I liked the little 4-h shows better for training because if the horse was super unruly then I just skipped the classes and worked on whatever the big issue was. I would've felt too much pressure to perform if I'd been at a dressage show or in front of a trainer.

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About the Writer and Rider

About Speedy G

About Izzy

National Rider Awards

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