Competing is nerve-wracking enough without your horse deciding every marker and fleck of arena is utterly terrifying. So here are some great pointers from five-star eventer Kate Honey (pictured) to help you tackle spookiness with your horse in the arena…
1. Get your horse used to working with other horses around.
2. Create scenarios at home, such as putting out flower pots or have music playing in the background — whatever you think your horse will react to and let them get used to it at home.
3. Work on different surfaces. If your tests are mostly on grass don’t do all your training on a pristine surface.
4. Make sure you do plenty of schooling at different venues before competing so they can get used to seeing lots of different things.
5. When you are at a competition, give yourself plenty of time in the warm up, so there is no rush and your horse can settle. Doing lots of transitions can help to make sure the horse is really listening.
6. Some horses benefit from being worked before a test, then being put away and then when you get back on them immediately before, they have a shorter warm up. Or you could hand walk them round a venue to get used to the atmosphere. Work out what brings out the best in your horse.
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7. Try to actually ride the test and not just survive it. If you make a mistake remember it is only one movement — stay positive for the rest of the test.
(Image credit: Stride Management)
Now you’ve got that advice in mind, take a look at these dressage competitions available to enter where you can put this into practice…
British Dressage
Date: 14 December
Venue: Forest Edge Arena, Swaffham
Details: “This competition has a large range of classes from prelim to advanced medium.”
Details: “This competition has classes from intro to novice with a pick your own section too for any short or long British Dressage test. This competition also includes points towards the Retraining of Racehorses league.”
Details: “This competition has intro to elementary classes with a Christmas drill ride to music too. There will be a prize for the best Christmas outfit.”
Details: “This unaffiliated competition features classes from intro to medium. Make sure you come in your Christmas jumper too — there will be mince pies and mulled wine for all riders and their helpers.”
Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings
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Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor
Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.
