Dressage Test Panic

[ajk219]

Hi all,

I am fairly new to showing and so is my horse.at home we are going better than ever and then when we get into the dressage ring I totally panic and she turns into a behind my leg giraffe.:no: at today’s show I was even fine in warm up and we were working well and as soon as the bell rang it’s like I forgot how to ride. Does anyone have any tips to help my giant case of test anxiety. I’m pretty sure at this point my horse is mostly fine until I fall apart. I bought a sports psychology book and my traineroffered to enter my mare and ride her next combined test and then I would ride her after;but I really want to be able to do it on my own. Any tips would appreciated! It’s just getting really frustrating to feel like we work so hard and can do so much better but aren’t. Thanks

[kcmel]

I feel your pain! Just once I would like to leave the dressage ring knowing I rode as well as I could and didn’t leave lots of points on the table (if that is the right expression).

For me I just have to get in front of a judge as often as I can. I go to dressage schooling shows or combined tests. If my trainer can’t make it I go on my own. I’m getting better–getting less “needs more bend”, “on the forehand”, and “circles not round” comments. We can score in the low thirties on a good day (with a somewhat generous judge:)). But I know I can do better still.

Maybe someone else will have more specific suggestions on your anxiety, but I would try not to get discouraged and go to as many low key shows as possible. And remember it’s suppose to be fun!

[Highflyer]

Could you go to a few dressage shows and do multiple tests? Ultimately what’s helped me the most is just getting in the ring more.

[ajk219]

I’m glad I’m not the only one! I’m putting way to much unnecessary pressure on myself but can’t seem to stop. Ugh!

I’m planning on trying again in two weeks at another CT. Hopefully it goes better and I have a better attitude!

[merrygoround]

Focus on keeping your horse steady and quiet, at the same time focus on the test, and which movement follows another.

After you initial halt, pay no attention to the judge, unless they ring the off course bell, and Focus. And smile. Focus on your smile.

[Winding_Down]

So many of us go through the same thing, albeit maybe to a lesser degree in some cases and a greater degree in others. I often “leave points on the table,” and joke that I won the warm up only to go in the ring and turn into an idiot. I have had horses that also became tense as soon as they trotted down the centerline, or became butt-sticky lazy instead. They know the game is on and some work hard to please, and others, well… they bring their sense of humor out in full force.

There are so many tactics that you can use to fix problems with ring performance.

The easiest and probably most effective is to compete more. A lot. Or at least practice doing tests, in a real dressage ring, from start to finish, with someone watching. When you go for lessons, take a session and ONLY do tests (not the same as you may be riding in competition) and wash, rinse, repeat.

Another issue that some of us run into is how we respond when something goes awry. You have an error, or your lose your canter, or any other movement that does not go well. Often, we stop riding after those mishaps, distracted by and mulling over the mistake.

Don’t do that.

:eek:

You have to get yourself into a mindset where you focus ONLY on the here and now, and then take one movement at a time. There are some excellent Sports Psych books and articles on changing your thinking, and maintain focus. It is an art and a learned skill to compete and there are not textbooks handed out on the first day!

There are many other tactics - the list is long and I wish I had time and the space to go into detail. PM me if you are interested in talking further.

Confidence and performance are close related to my professional field of study so I get all excited when figuring out how to address performance issues on a personal level. No two of us are alike, so while sports psych books are helpful, they do not take into account your own unique personality and style.

Good news is that this is VERY fixable!

[Lord_Helpus]

Have your tests called so you do not have the worry about going off course. That allows you to use your still functioning brain cells to focus on your horse and remember what you have learned and been successful with.

Also, do not try to be a perfectionist. If you can ace beautiful circles at home, then make sure your circles are 100% in the test. If you have trouble lengthening, then don’t get fixated on trying to do something well that you can’t do at home either.

When you get your test back, the final score doesn’t matter. Look at the movements that you tried to do perfectly and on the collective comments and evaluate the score/comments on those.

As you get better at more movements, then you can try to do them really well in your tests. But do not make yourself crazy trying to do things well that you have not perfected at home.

Give yourself kudos for doing even the smallest things really well. The difference between that and riding an entire test perfectly is practice and seasoning.

PS: If all else fails just keep chanting: “leg into hand, leg into hand, leg into hand”. You can’t go too far wrong if that is all you can do.

[Lord_Helpus]

Have your tests called so you do not have the worry about going off course. That allows you to use your still functioning brain cells to focus on your horse and remember what you have learned and been successful with.

If all else falls apart, just chant “leg into hand, leg into hand, leg into hand” and you cannot go too far wrong.

[Janet]

Unfortunately, it is not legal to have your dressage test read in Eventing.

However, you could probably get permission to go HC, and have the test read, if you think it would help get you over the problem.

[Janet]

My recommendations would be
Go to dressage shows so you can go into the ring multiple times (and CAN have the test read).

My major problem is that remembering “what comes next”: interferes with remembering how to ride effectively.

Ride the test so many times that you know what comes next without having to think. Ignore the people who tell you not to.

Then you can focus on “riding the horse” instead if having to think about “riding the test”.

See if you can figure out what you change when you go into the ring. I discovered that I was shortening my reins about 4 inches before going into the ring. So now I make a deliberate effort NOT to shorten my reins going into the ring.

[LadyB]

I’ve been in the same boat, took a long time, due to funds to get over my fear of that damn little white box.

To be honest, the more you go the easier it becomes. I used to shut right down and just ride a 2x4 into the ring, just because I froze.

Now I can go in and really push and really go for the marks. Again it took me a longggg time. I can only show once a month, its all I can afford. But the more you get out the more you’ll feel comfortable, the more you’ll know your horse and how they react.
The more tools you have to play with the more you can play with the horse on the outside of the ring.

You’ll love to have fun eventually, it truly takes miles. Just keep trekking

[asterix]

Dressage schooling shows help a lot, because you can do two tests pretty close together. I have found that the second one is always better.
But it’s an ongoing struggle! You are not alone…

[AKB]

My older daughter used to panic before dressage. She would get sick to her stomach. Before XC and SJ, she was always relaxed and happy. The cure for her dressage anxiety came when we bought a high mileage Irish Draught who had evented through Intermediate. He loved dressage. He was always so excited when he saw the dressage ring. As soon as he was allowed to warm up around the ring, he would start showing off his lengthenings, and sometimes even do a little joyful buck before entering the ring. The first time my daughter evented him, at Novice, she started smiling and laughing at his antics. Her dressage anxiety was gone.

If you can do a few competitions on a packer who loves dressage, your dressage anxiety may be cured!

[eventer_mi]

Is it the fact that people are watching and “judging” you? Do you choke during stadium, too?

First, I’d know your test inside and out, backwards and forwards, so that if you DO forget your next move, muscle memory will kick in.

Second, if audience anxiety is the problem, set up a situation at home where you invite a few friends to watch your test and your trainer as a judge.

Third, I also think that going to dressage show is a good idea. If you flub the first test, you have another one later (in fact, that’s why I need to get myself to jumper shows!).

HTH!

[mg]

I used to have MAJOR dressage test anxiety, which always made my horses tense up and go yucky. A real self fulfilling prophecy! I recently started riding with an excellent dressage instructor who taught me in a way that really took the pressure off and encouraged me to relax. When my horse for fast, he said, “Try to slow him a bit over the next 3 strides.” Basically, what I realized is that I would panic and rush to immediately correct things as soon as they went awry. By allowing myself TIME to focus and make calm, thoughtful decisions, things improved 10-fold. I finally had my first event after working on these things and I was nervous that it would all go to hell again once I headed down centerline. Instead, I focused on envisioning myself riding a great test, I took deep breaths, and I allowed myself the time I needed to ride my test well. I also cut myself slack on the bad moments and didn’t dwell on them. It was the best I’ve ever felt exiting the dressage ring.

A big piece of this is to practice enough at home that you feel super confident in your abilities going into the ring and you aren’t relying on you riding to the absolute best of your ability in order to pull it off.

And, one last thought: people often recommend going to more shows as a good way to overcome these anxieties. I’ve never personally had success with that approach. What has worked for me is taking lessons with new people in new places. I’m way more nervous about a respectable instructor thinking I’m a junk rider than the 3 spectators at a dressage schooling show! And the benefit of a lesson is that you actually get help working through those nerves in a way that is (hopefully) beneficial to you and your horse.

[oppsfelldown]

Go to tons of little schooling shows - cross over to hunter/jumper land and enter all of the trot-a-pole and little x-rail classes. Go to the local open shows and hang out, maybe enter a small class or 2. there is no shame in having your trainer ride a test before you ride. Sometimes watching the horse in the ring helps - then you can get on and think “hey horse - you just did this so lets go”.

[Dutchmare433]

I used to have terrible show nerves. The best thing for me was to get out and show more. Try to go to as many dressage schooling shows or unrated combined tests as you can. For me, it was the repetition and the realization that in the long run, it really didn’t matter how I did.

In college, I rode on the IDA team, so I went to around 8 shows during the school year. It was there I learned not to put any pressure on myself. You have 10 minutes to warm up and then ride a test, sometimes you get a great horse that you get along with really well, sometimes just hanging on through the test was pretty commendable. As soon as I stopped caring too much how I did, I started winning classes.

Now, with my own horses, I try to keep the same mindset. (I only do dressage now and fox hunting, competing over fences stresses me out like no other.) Sometimes I win and/or score really well, sometimes I don’t. I try to make sure I show at a level that is very easy/comfortable for my horse and myself. You can always drop down a level or compete HC, anything to make it less stressful! Good Luck!

[Foxtrot_s]

It is only a -2 for a mistake - not huge. Pretend it does not matter and stay cool.

[SendenHorse]

Start visualizing the rides in your head before you show. think about how you can plan ahead to circumvent your “blanking out”.

Do you practice tests at home? take both the eventing and dressage tests and school them at different levels.

I ride mainly dressage and I found “chunking” parts of the tests helps. Ie- centerlines (coming in from L, then practice coming in from the right- stop at X, at G, etc as if it was a salute) each test has some sort of diagonal and circle.

As much as I know dressage I had to learn how ride the horse AND a test. It’s a learned skill. In my case USDF gives a reader- which is nice in the sense I don’t have to memorize but I also had more over-load trying to listen, do the movement, ride, breathe!

Ride a few “harder tests” in practice- if you are reaching to be successful at the show, it will be more stressful. Have confidence that you are well prepared.

[Foxtrot_s]

To be truthful and frank, I think that is the real reason I do not compete any more — that deep down anxiety!

Riding and thinking of the test was just too much for my pea brain, and learning the details of where to apply the aid, keeping the geometry right, etc.

But I also think I went in with the wrong mindset - not positive enough, too much what if’s, and forgetting that it really is not the end of the world.

I’d encourage anybody (now) to take it all with a grain of salt and enjoy the road and the competitions. i.e. lighten up, but remain focused.