Calling for a dressage test

[madhector]

Planning on taking J to do prelim 16 and novice 28 on saturday. My lovely mum has offered to call for me as I am officially useless at remembering tests. She wanted to know how was best to do it, any tips for her? I have never called for anyone so am no help at all!


Worried it will be worse with a caller that hasnt done it before than it would be trying to remember both tests

What do you think?


Thanks

 

[Pinkwellies2]

Obviously be loud and clear.
I like to read the next movement once started the previous one, if that makes sense so in P12 A enter at working trot and proceed down centre line, c track right, once on centre line,usually about x read next movement , MXK change the rein and so on.
Oh and if you make an error correct asap but don't panic and get flustered

 

[kirstyhen]

I used to read prix st george for someone i worked for, we practised a couple of times at home first so i could see how quickly the movements came and and she could tell me to make any changes with the way i read it.
Make sure you know it anyway just incase she gets distracted! I once got so distracted by the pretty dressage ponies, she had already started a movement before i had read it out!

 

[pinktiger]

my advice to you would be remember the test as best you can,,, and use the caller as a backup,, i had a very important test for me called, and the caller was very experienced, but part way thro the dredded silence,,, and when i looked at her with the 'help me for godssake look' she just shrugged her shoulders, had got totally distracted by a loose horse and forgot where we were,,is very easily done!!!

 

[madhector]

She is easily distracted! lol

I think I can remember novice 28, but prelim 16 is a nightmare, plus its in a long arena so get confused!

 

[RachelB]

I never call tests as I'm a liability, I'll end up calling it wrong! The only think I've ever been told (apart from try to stay one movement ahead) is that you're apparently not allowed to repeat a movement once you've said it, unless the rider goes wrong. Don't quote me on that though!
Best tip I have though is make sure she says "down centre line and track LEFT" (or right, whichever way) with emphasis on the direction - my friend today went the wrong way despite having it called

 

[kildalton]

You both need to practice together. I need to know the tests , and both the people I call for don't like to have the movements called too far ahead, but every body's different . I once called for someone who didn't know the test at all, and a helicopter decided to hover overhead so she couldn't hear me at all !

 

[kirstyhen]

Yes, make sure she keeps her thumb by the movement she just read out, she wont loose her place then!
I have drawn each movement out for any tests i learn, only way i can remember them! I have also ran round doing the movements!

 

[pinktiger]

[ QUOTE ]
She is easily distracted! lol

I think I can remember novice 28, but prelim 16 is a nightmare, plus its in a long arena so get confused!

[/ QUOTE ]

memorise one (if you have evented this will b no prob) then semi memorise the one your gonna have called,,

isnt novice 28 in long arena??

calling tests is an art in itself, im hopless i like to watch the test,,, no one likes me calling!!!

 

[DuckToller]

Assume you intend a practice run or two first, so she knows how far in advance you like it? It is all down to timing. You could learn one thoroughly and have the second one read, that way you have peace of mind. If you are not used to having it read then it might not flow as well, but on the other hand it is always useful to have a fully-trained mother so get her started now!

Also will she be reading off a small test sheet or a laminated one? It helps if the type is large enough to see without struggling, especially for someone new at it, so make it easy for her! I once read off a photocopy, and it rained and all the ink ran (serves me right!).

Tell her she can't be too loud, and to keep one eye on where you are up to all the time (friend's mother was reading test, pony tripped and teenager fell off, mother kept on reading for several movements before she noticed!).

 

[kildalton]

You're only allowed to say each movement once.
I once called a test, and the judge rang her bell as my daughter tracked left at C, (she was the first in her class) I went cold thinking I'd got the wrong test, but we were right and the judge was wrong !!

 

[madhector]

I have novice 28 fairly well memorised, but cannot get my head around prelim 16. Think novice 28 is in a normal arena, but may be wrong.

 

[Damnation]

Thats how my friend remembers them. She does walk trot and canter, the walk on a loose rein etc running around the indoor hehe!

 

[madhector]

She has just looked at prelim 16 and said there is no way she will manage to call it all in the right place, so looks like I am going to have to remember it

 

[kildalton]

N 28 is short arena--are you doing unaffiliated as P16 has been withdrawn this year.

 

[madhector]

Yes.... we are not quite ready for anything else yet

 

[DuckToller]

Can she read? Yes. Can she shout? Yes. Then she can call, tell her! It really is just a case of reading one movement at a time, and speaking very loudly and clearly.

How about downloading one of the speaking tests that goes straight into an ipod and getting her to listen to how it is done? Only about £1.50 off some website...

 

[kirstyhen]

One of my instructors once collered some randoom person to read a test for him, as he went down the centre line she started readin, and didnt stop!!

She read the test like a book, didnt pause for a second!

Think shed finished reading before he was even halfay through! Luckily he had learnt it, just wanted some insurance incase he forgot!

Just practise them a couple of times with her before the event, if i can manage to read a prix st george right then anyone can! Novice movements shouldnt come up too quickly.

 

[DuckToller]

Ah that's priceless - beats my calling story by a mile!

 

[Asimmons]

How about this then...friend's husband drafted to call test ( thinks he knows it all and it's easy, even offers "coaching advice tho' never been on a horse...)..he skips a couple of lines. She starts shouting at him, telling him he's gone wrong. He answers back and tells her to do as she is told! She retorts that he's an idiot and can't read. He snaps..."I can b***** read, you can't b****** ride!" Judge calls a halt to proceedings and awards the 'domestic' a 10!

 

[kirstyhen]

That is hilarious! I know a few "horsey" husbands who are constantly offering advice! One told me my horse carried his head nicely, he was overbent and crossing his jaw at the time!

 

[DuckToller]

It gets better! Perhaps we should start a post on calling stories...

 

[Pinkwellies2]

First dressage test I did, OH was calling, I didn't heard him and went wrong, judge beeped me, I stopped horse and proceed to have a go at OH on the lines of he wasn't loud enough etc etc to. Judge just sat in box gob smacked. Then carried on finished the test. Just found test sheet, judges comment - Error canter late!

 

[madhector]

[ QUOTE ]
Can she read? Yes. Can she shout? Yes. Then she can call, tell her!

[/ QUOTE ]


I have told her, she will try she said

 

[pinktiger]

have actually witnessed somthing similar to this, went on for what seemed like ages with the judge just sat there mouth open

, as a full blown 'argy bargy began to take place' think the scribe was brought in as ref, competitor was eleminated,,,,imagine the ride home in the lorry!!!!!!