Best way to learn a Dressage test

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JenTaz

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....For tomorrow :O

i've left it a bit late to learn my test for tomorrow, prelim seven, want to learn it in the next hour or so, mainly so i can ride through a couple of the movements when i go up to ride tonight,

does anyone have any tips on how to remember the test really well, and also on how to get best marks as possible on a horse who isnt very consistent in the way he moves, including his outline etc, he is only five, well almost six now, but have been working real hard and want to do him some justice tomorrow

Thanks in advance with some mini eggs and lucozade :D
 
Tip for learning the test - draw an arena on a scrap of paper and move your find around the "arena" as if you were riding the test, you will soon learn it.

As for getting better marks just try and be as accurate as you can, straight centre lines, transition dead on marker (if required), use your corners etc.

Good Luck :)
 
Funnily enough, we did Prelim 7 last weekend (and won the class :) )

The way I learn my dressage tests is on foot - in the dining room! Repeat and repeat until you can do it without thinking. I don't ride a whole test more than once or twice because my horse has a tendancy to anticipate!

To maximise your marks, do your moves exactly on the markers.

Good luck (and I LOVE mini eggs!!)
 
Clear a space in the living room. Get some paper and write yourself some arena markers and armed with your test sheet, 'do' the test a lot! Try not to look at the sheet after the first couple of times and have it there for prompts only.

Then find yourself a caller :D

Ooops, double posted :P
 
Jenna500 said:
Funnily enough, we did Prelim 7 last weekend (and won the class :) )

The way I learn my dressage tests is on foot - in the dining room! Repeat and repeat until you can do it without thinking. I don't ride a whole test more than once or twice because my horse has a tendancy to anticipate!
Click to expand...

As above. I used to draw markers on a piece of paper when I was at work and practice it then.
 
everyone remembers using different methods - i'm meant to be riding P18 and novice 36 tomorrow... i looked at them a couple of weeks ago and will learn them before tonight... the more you learn the easier it will be to pick up again ;)

my method, as you are reading through the test, imagine riding it - have the view of the horse's neck/ears in your mind, riding down the centre line- if you've been to the competition place before it makes it easier as you can imagine their school/judges box.. if not, imagine your normal school ... so coming down the centre line you can see the horse's neck/ears and you can see C. at the bottom ride your turn and ride the corner in your mind. Your horse isn't consistent so you know roughly where things could go a bit iffy, predict and ride through it in your mind.. if you've got to trot across a diagonal, plan where you will do your change of bend and change diagonal... all in your mind...
most tests are symmetrical so if you circle one way then you are likely to have to circle on the other rein too.
I don't memorise word for word, memorise the key points, eg... A circle right 20m, diagonal, C circle left 20m. - you don't necessarily need to remember its KXM (in my example)..
think i'll go do my tests now :p - feel inspired
 
im currently sat at work so cant really walk about the shop as i would either get lost or fall over lots of horsey things so currently drawing it out on paper to learn the shapes, have a feeling i will spend the next say eight hours trying to learn it in someway, may have to do it on foot in the school for a while lol
 
I agree: on paper and on foot, thinking of how you view the arena from horseback. I always build one more movement on at a time, that way I solidify every part I know before I add the next one. Best of luck learning and performing it - enjoy!
 
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