20X60 dressage tests

[Nagling]

How do you go about learning a 20x60m dressage test? I've only done 20x40 ones. How do you practise them in the winter when there are no fields to ride in and spread out a bit. The school I use is 20x40 and I'm easily confused trying to scale the test down to that size. Any tips or do you just learn the test and ride it when you get to the event?!
Thanks

 

[cptrayes]

I don't learn it as letters, there are too many of them. I learn a diagonal, for example, as long-to-short, short-to-long, short to short, or long-to-long depending on whether they start and end at the corner markers or the 20m markers. Likewise, 20 m circles are "end" or "middle". "Ride" it in your hallway at home, then in bed before you fall asleep every night. Works for me

If in doubt, beg for a reader!

 

[PucciNPoni]

I'm in the middle of learning my first long arena test for a comp this Sunday....but basically I am doing pretty much what cptrayes said! I'll let you know how I get on!

 

[star]

i just learn the patterns, dont worry about the letters. i practise them all in my 20x40m arena. i just think about corner to in between marker or in between to in between, far corner to far corner, circle at in between marker etc. it's perfectly possible to ride all the Novice tests scaled down, gets a bit more complex at Elem. Makes them feel super easy when it comes to riding the actual test though!

 

[Polotash]

Yep, scale it down to 20 x 40 and you'll find it easy on the day!

Also, the warm up arena will prob be 20 x 60 so practice it when you get there ;0)

 

[Bethie]

Could you mark out a full size arena in the field, even if there's no chance of you riding in it while wet? I walk the test in my arena, on my own feet, test in hand, and find that once I've walked it through a couple of times I know it. Walking it in a smaller space doesn't help me much and I get lost when I'm in the arena if I've done it that way!