Dressage: Assess or downgrade?

[Paint it Lucky]

I have recently joined BD and want to affiliate my horse, the trouble is that he's a dutch warmblood who was imported as a seven year old (he is now nine) so according to BD he has to have points to medium level, the trouble is that I don't feel he's ready to compete at medium level, he's been successful at prelim and novice unnaffiliated and is ready to do elementary at competition, he works at a higher level at home but is not yet consistent at it. So I can't decide if i should downgrade him (which i don't really want to as don't want the restrictions imposed by it), or have him assessed (can anyone tell me what this involves?) or maybe just leave it, affiliate him as he is (though i'm sure he's not good enough!) and save myself some money! Can anyone advise? I've never been a member of BD before so am new to all this! Also what do you do at medium level that makes it different to elementary?

 

[cobden99]

Sorry no idea but I misread your title as Asses or downgrade... was rather hoping I was going to read about a mule doing BD ..

 

[RatzFatz]

Hi

Definately have your horse assessed, We were in the same situation as you last year, Our horse was 8 so would have gone in even higher.

We went to Judy Harveys yard for the assesment, cost £60, but well worth the expense, My daughter had to ride for about 30 minutes whilst Judy watched,she only had to walk, trot, canter and show leg yield etc. She assesed him to still be in preliminary so 0 points, which was great for us. He has since then atttained about 35 points and they are just moving up to elementary.
It is well worth the money as to go straight in at medium would be very difficult, the way a horse is required to go in medium is completly diffferent to a horse in novice or prelim..
Would suggest you go to an affialited dressage event and watch what would be required at that level and will then give you a good idea if your horse would be capable.
Hope this helps

 

[scotsmare]

Ditto the above - it will cost you less in the long run to have the horse assessed as you will then be able to get out and compete at a level you and your horse are comfortable at rather than endlessly beating yourself up because you're not ready to go out at medium.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks, I think i probably will assess him then. He's just been off work for a month now though and has only just come sound so I'll have to get him fit again first! Has anyone else had their horse assessed and can you tell me what happens?

 

[Booboos]

If you register him now you would need some proof that he was in the UK as a 7 year old, such as a vaccination certificate from the British vet (they can be a fussy and exportation certificates are not enough, as I found out!!). If you don't have that, then he will have the points of a 9 year old, which is pretty useless (435 points and can only do Advanced). If they do accept he entered the country as a 7 year old he will still have 260 points which puts him at Medium but for a short time as 299 is the limit.

I would get him assessed. You will need to travel to the assessor's centre where he/she will watch you ride. They might ask you to do things you can't, e.g. half pass, but just give it a go and do them badly - it will only prove the horse is not up to that level! I have heard of assessors asking to ride a horse themselves. All the cases I have heard off had a happy ending as the assessor declared the horse a lot lower level than it would have been by the import-by-age rules.

Good luck!

 

[ddd]

I am an assessor, you will have to ride horse for about 20 - 30 mins, in that time I would be looking for the general way of going, you might be asked to attempt a few movements but it is more the way of going than what movements it can do that determine what points are given. If there is any doubt or the assessor feels you are not showing horse at its best they may ask to ride it, I have assessed numerous horses and only ever sat on 4. Most assessors will try to keep the points as low as possible. If you dont assess but downgrade you will have to go in open section which would be a shame if you have a chance to be in restricted. Go for it is is worth it.

 

[spark56]

I had my horse assessed recently, and given zero points. We've been doing unaffiliated prelim and novice getting 65-70% fairly consistently. After warming up I had to do some leg yield, medium trot and counter canter.

 

[Alibear]

I got my lad assessed we did walk trot and canter wall of death

Bless him it was his first time ever in an indoor school so all rather a challenge.
We came away with 20 points so in prelim rather than advanced medium !
We haven't actually made it to a test since though.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Thanks everyone. I will arrange to have him assessed soon then.