A dressage virgin and a young horse - where to start!?

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ginginandtonic

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I have never done dressage and would really like to have a go at it with my boy. He is newly backed (in June) and right now we mostly hack out and do little (20 minute) sessions of schooling once or twice a week.

What I would like to do is give ourselves a year and then get out to some competitions in 2010.

I know absolutely nothing about dressage or the terminology so need some advice, tips, exercises, things to aim for.. in idiot terms please!
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I would like to get an instructor but anticipate being too skint for this 'luxury' cost until the new year when wedding stuff is well and truly over with and all paid for.

So in the meantime what should this dressage virgin and her unspoilt 4 year old be doing.

I hope this post isn't too vague??
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Thanks in advance
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I'd keep things really simple now, make sure that when you are 'working' he is always forward and not just 'mooching' round the place. Make sure he is always off your leg straight off and lots of big circles big big serpintines and that he is working in a relaxed not forced or held contact.

Good luck!!
 
Thank you.

Do you think a year is a good amount of time to teach us both what we need to know to do a good test.. or am I being too laid back? I've never pushed him, always done things slowly and carefully since he was a baby and he's now a wonderful happy and balanced horse... I just wonder sometimes whether I could push him a bit harder?
 
for your first test intro tests are really good they have no canter in them, and are ideal for your first test too, as they are quite easy with the movements. good luck
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Miaow. I'm sorry, do you have a secretary I can run everything by before I have the audacity to comment?

That was the major comment from my instructor with my young horse, I needed to continue what i was doing, but do it more, I was so worried of pushing too hard or doing too muich I wasn't riding him enough apparently.
I also noticed you were about to get married, and, where I'm from, it's usually considered quite a pleasant thing to offer your congratulations and say good luck with this type of thing.


Sorry.
 
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for your first test intro tests are really good they have no canter in them, and are ideal for your first test too, as they are quite easy with the movements. good luck
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Thanks. We have not cantered yet (he has cantered with a rider, just not me)... so I think I might print off a walk/trot test and see what happens.... give myself something to work on...
 
As mentioned, have a go a an Inro A Or Intro B. Im practising my Intro B test at the moment and Ive never done it before (neither has my horsie). Im getting on fine. My daugher is calling for me until I can remember the way !! and it is only about 3 mins long. Im really enjoying. No cantering in A or B
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well if your walk and trot is coming along well i would bet your in the ring well before a year like u said, canters the hardest pace to get going good (in my opinion) but once your doing bits of canter it will also benifit your trot work.
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I think you have loads of time in a year! Its a sensible about time....

There is a fine balance between pushing enough to advance but not over doing. You know your (gorgeous) boy and whats right for him
 
I'd pop along to a few dressage competitions to watch first, get a feel for it all.

Its not as scary as people think and you get a whole range of people and different types of horses at pretty much different abilities doing the same test, some will do it well, others will be ok and you get a few that don't go so well, its all about preparation, getting in there and giving it a go.

You also have to remember that you can practice to your hearts content at home, know your test inside out along with our horse going perfectly well but come the day, your horse decides to go round like a bag of sh*t and is too interested in plant pots along side the arena boards, you forget your test half way through and think the judge has no doubt spat her coffee in laughter all over your score sheet, trust me we've all been there!

Arena geometry, this is something you must study, you'll find out why when you start doing your tests, ok so we can all remember where the letters are but its what you do before them, the aids and knowing exactly where your horse is, where he's swing his quarters, where he bends etc, that is effects your next movement and marks, think of it like the domino effect.

There is nothing too demanding in a prelim that just has your basic movements like your 20m circles change of reins, your bog standard walk, trot and canter but you need to be sure your horse can cope with the a 20/40 arena, no good practicing at home in huge wonderful Olympic sized arena and then getting to your test on the day and going round like the wall of death and getting all unbalanced etc, so school in the same sized area as you would for completing your test.

Buy a book on how to ride a good test, but something simple that doesn't rattle on about anything too technical.

Pic a test and practice is with an instructor, you dont need a high flying dressage instructor at £60 a pop, just someone to observe you riding the test and nick pick, as well as learning to get the best out of your horse.

You horse is marked on its paces, impulsion, submission and and finally the rider/aids etc but if you can concentrate on the first three, rather than too much on what you look like, then you'll get more marks rather than worrying about the latter.

Make sure you know the rules, what tack/bits are acceptable and to do's and dont's, how you enter and leave the arena, how to warm up and deal with warming up with aload of others.

oow sorry forgot to add, take your horse a few times but don't acutally do a test, jus potter around for 15 minutes and stand about watching, let your horse soak it in, in some cases its too much for a 4yr old, others will just take to it like a duck to water, but don't push for too much or expect anything.

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I'd say take your time and don't put pressure on your horse or yourself.
I've seen many youngsters pushed too hard, and end up blowing up due to too much pressure.
If your horse is going to be large remember he / she won't be physically mature till at least 7, and at 4 yrs old is still a baby - althoughs sound well grounded.
Our neighbours have a horse who's going to end up about 17.3hh+, he's now 6 and i'm really glad they got him, as he came from a professional yard having switched off completely to the point he wouldn't go forward. They've had him for 18 months, turned him out, hacked him loads and lightly schooled him to the point that he's a different horse - very talented and still growing?!??!
Agree with the earlier posts about taking your horse to soak up the atmosphere at a venue, and when you do go out, get to a low key unaffiliated event a few times.
And wishing you a fantastic wedding day ......!!!
 
I went to my first dressage fairly recently. I was totally new to it but really enjoyed it. Make sure you don't over practise tests, do the test in whole once/twice then work on it in parts so that your horse doesn't start predicting the next movement. Best to get down to your local venue and have a look around first, just so you'll know exactly what to do when you get there etc. Also make sure your horse doesn't mind the sound of a car horn! as thats often what they use to tell you to start your test, which I was unaware of, I am sure people who go all the time wouldn't even think about that
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Enjoy Yourself
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I would work on getting him really going forward from your leg aids into a long low relaxed outline and soft contact maintaining a good rhythm all the time. Plus work on straightness on circles although not too many circles. I would begin to do more schooling but short 40 min sessions 3 times a week.

So straightness, rhythm, responsiveness and relaxation!
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I'd suggest you carry on mostly hacking and just work on nice straight lines, big circles and easy transitions in the school for 20 mins twice a week.
4 is a great age where you dont have to feel pressurised to have them doing anything special, you're just laying down the foundation a straight, forward thinking and happy horse.
 
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