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  Discussion on QH Mare and Dressage
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Member:
leilani

Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 4:21 pm:

I am helping a friend of mine with her 15yo QH mare. The mare's foundation is Western, but she is now boarded at a dressage barn and the owner has been riding her in that discipline.

Things have been going along nicely until the past week. My friend is showing her this weekend in lower level (sorry not familiar with the nomenclature) so the pressure has been on both horse and rider. Yesterday she was balking, flinging her head and generally looking and acting very unhappy. Last weekend this mare was at a Western clinic and had a great day.

I questioned the owner re feed, temp, feet, etc., and any other changes that may have affected her attitude yesterday.

I am helping her at the show so I'll get more first hand experience with the mare under these circumstances. Anyone care to chime in?

PS Pearl has done pretty well in the WP classes in the past.

Thanks all. Leilani
Member:
stevens

Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 5:30 pm:

You mention that things have been going well, but now the pressure has been on. If the rider is tensing up that can result in unhappiness on the horse's part.

I know that when I tense up it's not long until I'm clenching my butt; very tense. Makes my horse shut down everytime. Couple a tight seat with driving aids from the legs and you're likely to get a head toss or two ("Do you want me to go forward or not???")

If the rider can "pretend" that she's just riding at home, maybe things will loosen up.
Member:
cgby1

Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 6:15 pm:

I agree with Chris, the mare is probably reacting to the riders tension. If you can help her get relaxed and focused the mare will most likely do well. How long has she been working on dressage with her horse?
Member:
leilani

Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 6:49 pm:

I asked her last night if she was tense and if so, Pearl could feel it even before she was aware of it.

I think she has had some dressage lessons in the past, but not sure how many or frequency.

Thanks for your input. I'll know more tomorrow after I view her riding in the show.

Leilani
Member:
sarahb47

Posted on Friday, Feb 15, 2008 - 11:12 pm:

Hi Leilani,
I do believe I know the mare and the rider.
I suspect that rider tension is a big part of this. Pearl does well in western pleasure because she's most comfortable when her rider leaves her alone and rides off-contact, with the lightest of rein aids. Dressage requires connection from back to front, which means contact, which means a certain amount of (hopefully light, tactful, predictable) rein pressure. I suspect that Pearl is not comfortable with micromanaged contact, especially if the rider is tense.

Many horses have difficulty transitioning from WP to dressage because of this -- they've been trained that ANY bit pressure means "stop," so the kind of snaffle-bit support and connection that's required in dressage is confusing to them. It takes great tact and confident, quiet riding to bring a sensitive horse through the steps from one discipline to the other.

Just my 2 cents . . .

Sarah
Member:
canter

Posted on Saturday, Feb 16, 2008 - 9:57 am:

I also agree that it is likely the mare was re-acting to rider tension. My horse, who has been trained in dressage from the start, was an idiot the first time I showed her (she spent lots of time in the ring prior to me buying her and always did well)...it was all my nerves and not only did she feel it, but I rode poorly due to it and then it spiralled out of control as I then felt her tension and reacted to her. It was ugly.

Since this was new to both horse and rider, it's not unusual for them both to be nervous as they prepare for a show. I would think with a few more miles, this will likely start to subside and eventually go away.

It's also possible that the mare simply does not like her new job, but since things were going well leading up to the show, I would give them more time.
Member:
leilani

Posted on Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 - 10:11 pm:

Great news all.

My friend and her mare earned a 2nd place in her lower level test and a 1st in quadrille (I hope I'm spelling it correctly).

I took care of the mare so that the owner could relax. Help is always appreciated; I knew she'd do well. I even stood by the fence and whispered to Pearl "good girl". I was really happy that both owner and mare did well.

I am a Western rider, but I really enjoyed the show/test. The judge held a clinic with an owner and her young horse after the tests. Very informative - a lot of information I can use.

PS Hi Sarah. I rode with you on a HQHA ride up Mana Rd last year. I have a young QH sorrel mare. The show this weekend was good - Bird was there with Teralynn (?). Nice gelding she has.
Member:
gwen

Posted on Monday, Feb 18, 2008 - 10:26 am:

That's great!
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