Ugh. Lousy end to season.

Our first go at prelim was not what I hoped it would be.  At EI, we had our best dressage ride yet, but our worst placing (last place, 17th).  Upside?  Gap from 1st - 17th was only 10 points.  But still.  Last place?  He was nervous, but obedient, and had some great movements.  He had three terrible scores (not proportional to the movement) and then some really good ones, like a point better than normal.
Then cross country - we finally made it through the water.  Twice.
And then failed, utterly, at a chevron that we had no problem with in the spring.  He ran out to the left three times.
So I scratched from Spokane.  I don't know what's going wrong and we need to have a come to Jesus talk with John.  I made up a plan for training through next year, and we'll see how John modifies it.  We'll try to work really hard over the winter to improve his topline to improve his engagement and bascule, improve dressage, and improve obedience (??) for the precision to the fences.
Then we'll do extra schooling in the spring, combined with half time at John's, because I learned a LOT riding the day after John did.
Then try for prelim again.  And if we fail again next year - as in are not finishing in the top 10, then I'll decide whether he needs a better rider for an owner.  (Sigh)
I don't know if this is just part of prelim - in our classes, a lot of people frequently don't finish, if it's me, if it's him, if it's the fact that it's both of our first season at prelim? ...

May 2019 - Spokane - Modified
41.1 dressage, 1.6 time xc, 2 rails show jumping - 50.7 - 6th place, but for amateur, 3rd
12 riders, 11 completed

May 2019 - EI - Prelim
41.3 dressage, 1 refusal xc (water), 10.8 time penalties, 2 rails show jumping - 80.1 - 11th place, 9th (A)
21 riders, 15 completed

June 2019 - Aspen - Prelim
38.3 dressage, 3 refusals (chevron, water, crossed path in water), 2 rails show jumping - eliminated
21 riders, 17 completed

June 2019 - Inavale - Prelim
39.8 dressage, schooled water, 12.4 time xc, 1 rail & 0.4 time show jumping - 56.6 - 7th place, 3rd place (A)
17 riders, 14 completed

July 2019 - Rebecca - Prelim
37.9 dressage, 2 refusals xc (both water) & 13.6 time, *7* rails show jumping - 119.5 - 21st place, 13th (A)
24 riders, 21 completed

August 2019 - Caber - Prelim
40.2 dressage (my error, forgot movement), 1 refusal xc (B element of water) & 4 time, 2 rails show jumping - 72.2 - 17th place, 11th (A)
24 riders, 20 completed

September 2019 - Aspen - Prelim
42.6 dressage (I thought it was a good test), 2 refusals xc (both water) & 15 time, 1 rail show jumping - 100.6 - 17th place, 8th (A)
26 riders, 18 completed

September 2019 - EI - Prelim
37.7 dressage, 3 refusals xc (all same fence, chevron B) - eliminated
17 riders, 12 completed