Eventing BE Dressage phase

[HufflyPuffly]

Eventers, the dressage phase!

I generally know what BD judges are looking for at each level, but is there anything I should do to try and win over the BE ones (I will of course dial back on the *blind them with bling* motto I have for BD )?

We can still hover a little bit behind the vertical (strength thing), so want to do what I can to get my marks up! Know the usual accuracy, straightness etc.
Unaff ODE dressage phase seems to have preferred a slightly more forward pace, rhythm and consistency, for good comments? We'll be riding BE97 which having ridden through is quite an interesting test, I'm hoping it will suit Skylla!

Definitely feeling the pressure for the weekend now, it's been a long time since I've felt nerves lol, so think I might be overthinking it all a bit. Cups of tea offered at an acceptably social distance for any tips .

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn’t try and change your training/presentation to please a judge. Just work towards correct way of going and present a test like you would BD.

In general BE is a little more forgiving of excess enthusiasm or tension/BTV, but it all relative within the section and you get just as much, if not more, variation in judging depending on if they are a BD stalwart who don’t judge the eventers much or a BD listed but pro Eventing judge. It’ll be the same for everyone though.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I wouldn’t try and change your training/presentation to please a judge. Just work towards correct way of going and present a test like you would BD.

In general BE is a little more forgiving of excess enthusiasm or tension/BTV, but it all relative within the section and you get just as much, if not more, variation in judging depending on if they are a BD stalwart who don’t judge the eventers much or a BD listed but pro Eventing judge. It’ll be the same for everyone though.

True, going correctly is the same no matter the discipline! Can you tell this is my first BE .

Is it still 'frowned' upon to wear navy not tweed for the lower levels?

Don't want to stick out like sore thumb lol, I have every type of jacket (I'm not a hoarder) so have everything from navy wool cutaway, navy show jacket, green tweed, grey/blue tweed, black, grey cutaway and tailcoat (last one is obviously out!), but my preference is my navy show jacket (well I love my grey cutaway but then I would stick out like a sore thumb!)...

 

[ihatework]

You won’t get turfed out for wearing navy, but tweed at lower levels is more the done thing

 

[HufflyPuffly]

You won’t get turfed out for wearing navy, but tweed at lower levels is more the done thing

Tweed it is! Now to ponder green or blue lol, thank you for answering my increasingly daft questions .

 

[Afon_34]

Is it still 'frowned' upon to wear navy not tweed for the lower levels?

granted I do unaffiliated Events but imo majority of people are in black/ blue & when I did BE a couple years ago I wore black and didn’t feel like I stood out like the odd one out!

 

[rara007]

Tweed it is! Now to ponder green or blue lol, thank you for answering my increasingly daft questions .

Green!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

granted I do unaffiliated Events but imo majority of people are in black/ blue & when I did BE a couple years ago I wore black and didn’t feel like I stood out like the odd one out!

Might take all my jackets and pick on the day lol!

Green!

Ah see green is always the preference over blue, but, Skylla is grey and I actually think the blue might look nice on her...

 

[ScampiBigMan]

Think BE fashions vary by UK geographical area. Down South (Homme House /Aldon were South to us) seems to be more tweed orientated. North West and adjacent see more blue /black. Pros seem to be more concerned with jacket differentiation between levels but it is their job(!)

I wear the same blue (technical material type) jacket from BE90 to Intermediate for dressage & SJ & will wear it FEI too. Function over aesthetics is my preference but I am a professional engineer by background. However, I do have sparkly, prettily shaped browbands these days so perhaps I'm on the slide

Good luck at Frickley. Just be positive & focussed in all 3 phases so you can help Skylla when she needs it & am sure you'll do just fine.

We've entered Cholmondeley with both, should be a blast. Also great to see Stafford have got some new dates - 100 horse will get another run! Perhaps see you around at Llany /Kelsall /Stafford

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Think BE fashions vary by UK geographical area. Down South (Homme House /Aldon were South to us) seems to be more tweed orientated. North West and adjacent see more blue /black. Pros seem to be more concerned with jacket differentiation between levels but it is their job(!)

I wear the same blue (technical material type) jacket from BE90 to Intermediate for dressage & SJ & will wear it FEI too. Function over aesthetics is my preference but I am a professional engineer by background. However, I do have sparkly, prettily shaped browbands these days so perhaps I'm on the slide

Good luck at Frickley. Just be positive & focussed in all 3 phases so you can help Skylla when she needs it & am sure you'll do just fine.

We've entered Cholmondeley with both, should be a blast. Also great to see Stafford have got some new dates - 100 horse will get another run! Perhaps see you around at Llany /Kelsall /Stafford

Interesting about geographical aspect haha, might pack tweed and blue and see which I can see more of on the day! Also glad to see everyone is embracing the sparkly tiaras for browbands , think I'd have been quite sad if I'd had to remove it!

Materials make such a difference, I was trying all my jackets on to see what fits and my heavy wool cutaway is defo not for doing anything athletic in, you can barely move in it, though it is a wonderfully flattering cut/fit! My black jacket is super stretchy (not flattering at all) so is the jacket I used to SJ in on Topaz, but feel I've over-indulged way too much over lockdown for something that clingy . Which brings me to my lightweight wool ones, navy, green tweed or blue tweed, not as much freedom in them but they do cover a multitude or sins!

I guess I 'could' get a technical material navy blue to round off my set but fear I 'might' be getting carried away with how many competition jackets one person should own...

Good luck hope you get your run at Cholmondeley, two off my yard are entered (90 and 100), but with the two extra days hopefully everyone will get in!

I'm entered for Skipton, but then going to use my ballot for Llany, then Stafford, Kelsall (might super ballot for this one) and then round off with Weston Park is the plan. Though after the weekend I may just be crying into my wine glass and decide eventing isn't for me think I just need to get a grip of myself it's not like I've never taken her out before lol.

 

[ScampiBigMan]

Dropped 100 horse down to 90 for Cholmondeley & Intermediate horse to Novice (only had one Inter run & would have done this anyway for 1st run). 100 horse (done 3 100s) was a little green at a few of the bigger, for her, (Novice) fences at Somerford when went schooling this week (just thinking a little slower in front of the fence than she had been doing earlier in the year, remembered she could do this when jumped it & then flew next time). Although Cholmondeley say they are making the courses more approachable this year as will be the first run for many; she hasn't been there before, it is a windy course and well dressed so might as well top the confidence up with a 90 run, particularly now Stafford is available for another 100 run. We used Super Ballot for both so would expect to run. An additional 2 days is great. Hope your yardmates go well.

Llany is usually easy to enter BTW but if you've got a ballot to use up then might as well.

She might back off a little SJ & XC to start with (warm-up & on course) so keep thinking forward even if it feels a little more forward than normal; to keep the rhythym, keep the impulsion, keep coming & reassuring her that she can do this & you're there. Of my current horses, this has never been an issue with Ph but R does sometimes need to revert to this (only SJ occasionally - she has always been a demon when we actually go XC) just to help her remember her bravery and ability.

Do take the time when walking the courses (SJ & XC) to think (positively) about how you will ride your lines and what Skylla may do & how you will respond. She hasn't seen the courses so will be relying on you!!! I make notes as go round the XC course on each fence, the line & approach including anything about the terrain - I re-read these before I go XC - find what works for you.

Go for it & most importantly ..... breathe & ......enjoy it

P.S. I'm a fan of the technical material - is partially waterproof as well which is handy eventing(!) & easy to wash. Wear what you're comfortable with - it seems you have q a wardrobe to choose from! It's horse rugs that I have far too many of...
P.P.S We now have an arena!!!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Thank you for that, I should have my current trainer with me on Sat as she is also doing to the 80 on a green horse, so hoping I can remember to ride and not do anything daft!

It's her adjustability in the canter currently that causes any issues, as I need her back on her hocks so she can see the fence and process it, but with enough umph that she believes she can do it, though it's only really the bigger fences she has issue with. Though I have accepted that I need to stop being 'nice' to her and tell her to just go and jump the fences, surprisingly if I 'tell' her she does it . So will definitely be keeping her forward (it's just stopping the running lol). Breathing might be an issue though!

She was going super until Eland, which just knocked us both a little I think, though she's been pretty epic since!

Wasn't sure on balloting but as Llany is one of the closest to me I fancy a run there! Yeah I heard they have said they've made it more inviting which is nice, you never know I could be at Cholmondeley next year ?.

Yay for the arena, that seems fast or maybe not, I think lockdown has got me all upside-down lol.

 

[ScampiBigMan]

Keep it simple, should be ok to jump 80 from a good working canter that is going somewhere without needing to adjust much as should be able to jump out of stride as long as brain is connected to feet. I use poles & cavelleti exercises to help brain /feet connection (or proprioception), whatever the level, also to develop core strength (develops the strength & skills without adding jumping mileage).

I find adjustability is key from Novice onwards. Before this I want a consistent rhythym, impulsion and ability to jump out of stride, figuring out fences for themselves on the approach. My job is line, balance, creating and maintaining the impulsion. From Novice onwards, there is a little more to do & less scope for getting things a little wrong.

Yes got an early slot for arena, Landtech - did a great job

Sure your trainer will help you get it right. All the best & see you on the other side

 

[HufflyPuffly]

She's improved loads but her canter is her weakest gait (don't get a carriage horse if you want a fab canter lol), so she either likes to bounce and go nowhere or go fast and flat, so it's encouraging that normal working canter .

Eek see you on the other side .