Being brave - anyone want to comment on a dressage video?

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ecrozier

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Might regret this - but would be interested to hear comments (and guesses at what we scored, generally/overall/collectives) on the test at link below. Prelim 15 at a local unaffiliated show.*

So open to some gentle CC on both me and him. Areas I am aware need work are transitions ESP downward, been trying to keep them forward but that does sometimes result in the head going skyward, also the spook towards the end stuffs up two movements and he hasn't quite grasped stretching down in fwlr yet - too nosey!! Oh and the halt at the end was a bit dire...*

Anyway, do your worst good people of HHO (I can always run away and cry quietly!). He's done about a dozen tests over the last year or so but only recently has canter been rideable really, was very very big/green/babyish until this spring!

Ps those who don't recognise him he's rising 6, kwpn x ish, home backed and produced by utterly amateur RC rider (me).*

https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/..._=1337725728_965cedc95bdfcfdc6621a463798691d2
 
Ok main comments ;)

Overall generally pleasing and work seems to all be in the correct direction but a few things stood out for me. Downward transitions are seeming to come more from your hand and not your seat hence why he is hollowing. When riding a transition best advice I have been given is to take a deep breath in then breathe out and as doing so make yourself as heavy as possible asking for the transition. By pushing your weight into the saddle and stirrups and breathing out you will be compressing the muscles beneath the saddle which basically give a 'stop' instruction, but you keep your legs in place to keep the transition forward. Just try it in walk asking for a halt transition, once you 'get' it you can do any transition without having to ask at all from the rein ;)

Accuracy is a BIG thing, your canter 20m circles (presume that is what they were meant to be!?) were not and for no good reason and the same with cantering across the diagonal as your body passes the marker you should be starting to turn not a stride after. You can easily lose 1-2 marks per movement which can be 10% so it really is vital to be as accurate as possible. Remember if the movement requires an action at a marker it is when your body passes that marker.

The trot is good although try not to rush it as you occasionally push him out of his rhythm and lose regularity. He is carrying himself nicely though. :)

With the free walk he goes faster but is not stretching down and not lengthening his stride. Good exercise is start on a 10m circle and leg yield out to a 20m circle encouraging him to stretch down. As he learns to stretch over his back the walk will naturally lengthen.

Lastly there is a tendency at times for him to fall out through his shoulder on both sides on the circles. This may be due to too much bend or not enough outside leg/contact. Think straight as much as you can. On a circle you don't need much bend at all, aim to be able to see their inside eyelashes, anymore and you have too much bend through the neck meaning causing them normally to fall out through the shoulder.

As a score it will depend on the judge but I would give it 58% ish You would probably have had some 7s for some of the trot work but I would have only given 5 for the walk, halt and a few other bits.

You have a nice horse and it is progressing well, and I know in a test situation you need to think about 10 zillion things at once but you will get there :)
 
Thanks Santa - interesting. The judge commented not enough bend on the 20m circles? Which confused me.
Def true re accuracy across te diagonal change. Although I thought I turned a bit early? Didn't realise my circles were that far out though? Too big or too small?
 
first canter one looked small from angle of video second looked too big in that although you didn't go past x (not x as long arena but the relevant point ;) ) the first half was more square than circle. Again angle might be deceiving re turning across the diagonal (will have to watch again now ;) )

It is hard to see from video re bend as tad fuzzy (was watching full screen) but its the 'normal' but not only reason for drifting through the shoulder.
 
ok looking again if you were meant to be doing short diagonal from R then yes you turned early, I was presuming from H hence thought turned late ;)

With the 20m circles your first half is often square but the second better shaped.

as another tip sometimes if going to jog in the walk I completely relax through my lower back and loosen the contact. If you tense that actually encourages them more to jog but if you relax they will be more likely to stretch. Ow and if you scratch the wither on the side away from the judge that often encourages them to stretch down in the walk ;)
 
Lol thanks! Will def try those exercises re fwlr and te downwards transitions. Need to get out and do more dressage I think, not been out for months and months and our school is a weird size so I lose all perception of what a 20m circle is!
Ps we didn't get many 7s. Two I think.
 
Cross posted. Yes was meant to be from R!
He doesn't jog in fwlr, not usually anyway. Know he jogged in walk on this one but that was a result of the burger van he spooked at in the corner suddenly starting up generator!
 
I felt he was not bending enough on the left rein but slightly too much on the right rein so falling out through his left shoulder and at times swinging his quarters out on the right rein.
Accuracy and being a little more prepared for each movement will pull the marks up, he is a big horse and slightly hurried at times.
Doing some work in counter flexion will help you control the shoulders and stop the hollowing to the right.
 
Thanks BP, we are doing quite a bit in counter flexion ATM for that exact purpose. And yes he flexes right much easier than left!
 
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