Best amount of time between dressage classes

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bluecat45

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Hi, I have been asked to sort out the times for a dressage show, I am allowing 7 mins per test, but for those that are competing in two classes, what would you feel would be the best amount of time between your two tests, normally allow 30/40 mins. Would most people prefer longer of shorter, or would you be happy with that?? I know you cant please all the competitors all the time but would be nice to please some. thanks for your help.
 
I think different people have different opinion!!! I like my tests really close together if possible (I'd happily go straight from one test to another). If people haven't specified any preference when entering then I think your approach sounds fine.
 
It will vary massively - some riders would love to go straight from one test to the next without a break, whereas others like to go back to the lorry, give the horse a rest, have a drink then come back and allow 20-30 mins for their next warm up. You'll learn with organising dressage that there is no way on earth of pleasing everyone, so dont waste time trying!

As you've already done, allow 7 mins between tests and on the day make sure the riders are in the arena 2 mins before their time - the time you put down for each person is the time they are supposed to come down the centre line, not the time they start trotting about around the outside of the arena. If you dont follow that rule you will very quickly end up behind! Also allow 15-20 mins between each class to give the judge a break if it is the same judge doing the classes, or to give time for the next judge to arrive and get set up. Officially I think the rule is the judge needs a 10 minute break for every 10 horses judged, so if you have massive classes make sure you provide an adequate break otherwise you could end up with complaints from the judge.

As someone who has ran dressage shows (BD and unaff) for years, always aim to please the judge and the writers - and whatever you decide for your times, keep it running on time on the day. That is the best way to please the competitors - keep everything running on time, with a smile on your face; then they'll be happy. Its when times change on the day that people start getting upset - so plan your times however you see fit based on adequate breaks for the judge, and then keep it all running smoothly; fingers crossed you'll have a happy bunch of competitors then!
 
Kc100, Thanks very much, will always aim at keeping the Judge and writer happy. thanks for all the advise, taken on board. thanks again
 
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For me the worst gap between two tests is 50 - 60 minutes. It seems unfair to be sitting on my horse for nearly 2 hours solid (she needs a good long warm-up), but an hour between tests isn't long enough to cool down, get back to the lorry, let her have a rest, retighten everything, lock up, get back to the warm-up and get her working again. It doesn't help that once she has walked out of the arena on a long rein she thinks she's finished and it takes a lot of work to get her concentrating for the second test!
 
I had no idea this was a thing...In SA you go straight from your first test into the next. Literally walk out of your test and right into the adjacent arena for the next test.

I suppose if the horse was being a pain I would like another 10 minutes to warm up/work through issues but otherwise I think it's best to just get it all over with before the horse gets bored and impatient!
 
Cowpony said:
For me the worst gap between two tests is 50 - 60 minutes. It seems unfair to be sitting on my horse for nearly 2 hours solid (she needs a good long warm-up), but an hour between tests isn't long enough to cool down, get back to the lorry, let her have a rest, retighten everything, lock up, get back to the warm-up and get her working again. It doesn't help that once she has walked out of the arena on a long rein she thinks she's finished and it takes a lot of work to get her concentrating for the second test!
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See for me I don't think that's too bad a time gap - I'd much prefer that to say 30-40mins between test (which is too much for me to stay on when he's already had a 30-40min work in before the first test) but not enough time to give him a break. 50-60 minutes means I can take him back to the lorry, loosen his girth, give both of us a drink, sponge him off slightly if it's hot and then I can get back on with 15mins or so to go.
 
For me the ideal would be either 15 mins or 2 hours, if 15 mins I can walk for 10 mins then do 5 mins work and go in and if 2 hours I can go back to lorry, untack, wash off, have a coffee and and a break and then start again.
 
You can't please everyone. It becomes increasingly difficult if you only have one arena running and competitors with multiple horses. The timings should be 6/7 minutes alternate. If you have an efficient judge with 7 minute intervals you will quickly have them running ahead of time. As to interval as you have already seen people have different 'requirements' according to what their horse needs. If you have one arena running then as a rule of thumb all those doing just one test go first in your first class, then the ones doing two tests go as they don't want to be hanging around too long. However, even when run in exactly the same order as they have gone in the first class for fairness, the gap can be up to 3 hours depending on entries.

Some venues do 'blocks' of tests to give people shorter wait times, ie. 6 prelim 7, 6 prelim 18, 6 more p7 etc. This then means that results take longer to sort so folks moan about that. Also as a judge it can be a nightmare jumping between tests. I had a venue that had me jumping between two prelims, two novices, an elem and a couple of horse trials tests. Yes, I have all the relevant judge sheets, but I prefer to have learnt the test so I don't need to refer to it hence take my eye off the horse and rider in front of me. It's do-able, just exhausting.
Personally I like my tests close together if possible so I can read second test, warm up a little more and then get back in before my body gives out. So for that reason I tend to choose venues where they usually have two arenas on the go and put a polite request in the 'comments' box on entry form. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
 
I like them close together. I don't like to hang about a comps, just get my scores & go :)

Last comp I entered, there was almost 3 hrs between tests & the weather was very warm so I only did my first then went home.
 
Mike007 said:
About 20 years seems about right to me.
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Haha brilliant!


My boy is a pig on the ground and won't tie up at competitions so I prefer about 30mins between tests, so I can go straight back in the warm up and don't have to put him back on the lorry. But everyone is different and some prefer a good gap to look at the next text, have a drink and chat etc.
 
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