Dressage people two questions please

[humblepie]

I’m working out a novice DTM floor plan - it’s okay isn’t it to do counter canter from a 10m half circle as that’s in novice tests? My music is for elementary but want to do a novice.

And I always feel I struggle to ride properly the turn when in a test you have medium or extended walk on the diagonal to say B then change to medium across to K. Any helpful hints?

Thanks.

 

[Velcrobum]

If I remember correctly if a movement is in currently used BD test you can use it. The compulsory movements and forbidden movements are here

http://www.justsoequestrianevents.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Novice-Compulsory-Movements.pdf

 

[oldie48]

I've got the 2012 Novice freestyle test, not sure if there's a later one but counter canter is a non compulsory permitted movement, what is not permitted is lateral work of any sort, simple changes and other much higher movements, so I reckon you'll be ok.
I found this on the internet and thought it was pretty straightforward:

Tips to execute this movement include…
- Effectively half halt when you come off the track at H, to shift weight onto the hocks, then whilst looking softly between your horse’s ears and the F marker, breathe out and let your centre of gravity sink.
- Keeping your body upright and relaxed, allow your seat to encourage a longer stride length by rising higher and sitting deeper whilst simultaneously massaging your horse’s sides with your lower leg. Rising to the trot is advisable as it will encourage him to swing through his back more freely and get his hocks under him further.
- Ensure that your hands are well positioned, that they are a giving pair keeping the contact elastic and so not allowing him to lean but are encouraging the energy to come through, forwards and uphill.
- You’ll see on the diagram that I put circles going up to ‘some medium strides’ and coming back again. This is because I am telling myself to look carefully for fluency in these areas. So make them seamless, well balanced and attractive.
- Your horse should remain round for the entire movement. Avoid the frame lengthening and the head lowering noticeably as it’s probable that you’ll be ‘letting the energy out the front door’ encouraging too much weight on the front legs, and will be penalized for tending to the forehand.
- Half halt again before you hit the track just before F, and ensure you are on the track when you actually pass F.

Executed as above then 8s, 9s and 10s all round

If we see what you’re trying to do but there is ‘not much happening’, but no resistances, loss of balance or hurrying then you’re likely to get a 6.

If we see that no attempt is made at all, just a working trot, then you’re likely to get less.

If we see breaking, resistances, hurrying or a loss of balance then it’ll be less than satisfactory again.

 

[milliepops]

And I always feel I struggle to ride properly the turn when in a test you have medium or extended walk on the diagonal to say B then change to medium across to K. Any helpful hints?

Thanks.

don't make the angle too sharp would be my approach. I had a bit of a brainwave with this a while back, weirdly relating to the canter piris in the Inter 1 test, they are ridden off 2 short diagonals one after the other. I was riding the turn too sharp which was unbalancing my horse causing her to tighten, and ruining our prep for the second pirouette. It suddenly dawned on me that i was better off rounding the turn and risk losing 0.5 for that, and getting 1 or 1.5 more on the pirouette because I had made it easier to pull off.

so I'd do the same, don't make the turn too square, plan a slightly more sweeping turn so you can keep the softness and elasticity in the walk.

 

[humblepie]

Thank you all. The music could be fun as ran through it very quickly yesterday but don’t have right sized arena. May be a bit making it up on the go but will just smile a lot!