Dressage for beginners!!

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thehorsediva

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Hello,

I am hoping to return to the dressage world after a very long break! Found a nice friendly local show to get me started but unsure of the rules! Anyone know where I can look for general rules and regs for dressage? Few specific questions below which might sound very dumb but hey better asked than not...

I usually ride with a prolite pad then polypad underneath (growing youngster) can I still do this and use a white polypad or should I use just a white dressage numnah? Can I still use prolite pad with my saddle as it does show?

Am u right in thinking brushing boots / any horse boots and martingales are not permitted?

Can u carry schooling whip in test?

Can I wear back protector under my show jacket?

What are the preferred colours/ outfit combination for me...My horse is piebald!

Best place to buy intro and prelim test copies from?

Apologies again for these very dumb questions...!
 
Not dumb at all!
I'm not completely up with the regs but in answer to your questions;
I would say a white polypad would be fine, as white is correct
Brushing boots etc shouldn't be worn (altho I left over reach boots on by accident and no one said anything)
Yes u can use a schooling whip
I would have thought a body protector under your jacket would be fine
British dressage online u can buy all the tests for about 50p each
Hope you have fun!! :D
 
No such thing as dumb questions!

Prolite pad and polypad should be fine - white, brown or black.

No boots or martingales

Yes, you can carry a whip at Prelim

Yes, you can wear a back protector - over your jacket is also fine; plenty of people do (me included on occasion - a black racesafe over a green tweed jacket!)

Preferred colours / outfit - what do you have? Tweed / beige johds / coloured stock or shirt and tie is fine, or black jacket and stock - to be honest, as long as you look neat and tidy at very local level that's the most important thing. Pale gloves, polished boots, a hairnet and a smile :D The Club / show should publish clothing guidelines for their event, and the BD and BRC rules are on their websites. http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/BD_Rulebook_10_ins_25-35.pdf

Best place to buy tests is dressage diagrams - you buy them online and it stores them for you so you can download them whenever you need them.

Good luck! When's the test?
 
I usually ride with a prolite pad then polypad underneath (growing youngster) can I still do this and use a white polypad or should I use just a white dressage numnah? Can I still use prolite pad with my saddle as it does show? Not sure about this one, sorry
Am u right in thinking brushing boots / any horse boots and martingales are not permitted?
Yep you are!
Can u carry schooling whip in test? Yes :)

Can I wear back protector under my show jacket? Yes, but you'd probably look a bit neater if you wore it over it rather than under :)

What are the preferred colours/ outfit combination for me...My horse is piebald! Hmm, well with cobby/hunter types I think tweed is your best bet, with cream jods and Havana tack...although at low level it really doesn't matter as long as you look smart- just use what you've got!

Best place to buy intro and prelim test copies from? Think I'm right in saying the BD website?

Hope I've been some help :)
 
Thank you, all so helpful and I am very grateful!! :-)

Any good tips on conquering nerves- me and horse lol?

Aiming to do just walk trot test end of may eek nervous already!

Main worry is my horse having a total meltdown. We are on quiet yard and when I attempted to move him to a busier yard he was beside himself and wouldn't settle. Though I know he has done plenty of shows before it has left me nervous!
 
You have had some good answers already but just to clarify. Your prolite will be fine, I use one for my growing youngster too. Either use it with a white dressage square (or polypad if you prefer) or with a discreet numnah in black or brown.

No boots or martingales, no grackles and a snaffle bit for the horse. Tack can be black or brown, whatever you have.

For you wear what you have, showing or sj gear will be fine if thst is what you have. You won't have a problem if you are in black or brown boots, white/beige/cream/canary jodhs, navy/black/tweed jacket with tie or stock and cream/beige/white gloves with a navy or black hat or skull cap cover.

If you have to buy new gear a tweed is more useful for doing different activities. Ideally a tweed goes with a coloured shirt and tie or stock, navy hat, and jodhs and gloves should be beige cream or canary rather than white.
 
Thanks I dont have anything apart from boots- even my hat is blooming grey and pink!! I think I am going to go for a black jacket and get my other gear around that. I best get searching on ebay and facebook groups!
 
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