Dressage: Regression, Stagnation, Progression

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lizziebell

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Since BD rules have changed AGAIN, I'm in a bit of a quandary of what to aim for in 2017 with one of my horses.

Under old Restricted/ Open rules we got pushed up into Advanced Medium. Never set the world alight and averaging low 60's scores. Ok to qualify for Areas, occasionally qualified for regionals, but never competitive enough for top ten or championships. At home training tempi's, pirouette's and half steps.

When the rules first changed to Bronze, Silver and Gold it made little difference, and we were still eligible for Advanced Medium. (or Gold at any other level below, but I don't want to compete Gold as nothing to aim for). So carried on as before.

With new rules, because we haven't achieved mega scores, placed at regionals, competed Championships etc, we can now go back down to Novice Silver and won't ever get pushed out of a level on points.

Our main issues, is horsey is built downhill and struggles with the overall required way of going frame, therefore even at Novice level we still get low 60's scores.

Part of me thinks with the new rules allowing it, then we should just drop down to Novice (for some reason I feel less humiliated getting low scores at Novice than at Advanced Medium!). My trainer thinks I should just remain at Advanced Medium and aim higher, and says that as I'm getting similar scores at all levels it's not the movements (lateral/ changes etc) that are holding us back, but the horses forehand tendencies. Her opinion is that not many people get the opportunity to compete at the higher levels (and you never know when something will happen to stop that) and if I can just get to PSG then it's a huge acheivment even if the score is low 60's.

So, what would you do? Go backwards? Remain at one level indefinitely, or keep moving up? I love dressage and I would dearly love to get in a tailcoat, but with a history of low 60's scores I don't feel worthy of competing much above Walk & Trot !!
 
Stuff and nonsense! Move it on up, girl! Who cares about the low-ish scores as long as the horse "does" it and is happy, and you're happy with the horse? Wear your tailcoat with pride, not many people can get there. I'd rather do an "average" PSG than an average Novice any day.

For me it is always about how well the horse does, for that horse - we can't all afford to have a fancy-wancy leg waving superstar....
 
Agreed aim high and enjoy. To have the skills to get your horse to a high level even more so that he is not a typical dressage horse is great. Would he qualify for the native/ part bred championship?
 
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Cortez said:
Stuff and nonsense! Move it on up, girl! Who cares about the low-ish scores as long as the horse "does" it and is happy, and you're happy with the horse? Wear your tailcoat with pride, not many people can get there. I'd rather do an "average" PSG than an average Novice any day.

For me it is always about how well the horse does, for that horse - we can't all afford to have a fancy-wancy leg waving superstar....
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Thanks Cortez, you've made me smile. I need a boot up the bum this year, crack on to do my Advanced to qualify for PSG and stop dwelling on my scores!

Schollym said:
Agreed aim high and enjoy. To have the skills to get your horse to a high level even more so that he is not a typical dressage horse is great. Would he qualify for the native/ part bred championship?
Click to expand...

Thanks Schollym, unfortunately horsey isn't native/ part bred. He's warmblood - just not one with the best dressage conformation !
 
Goodness, push on up the levels and well done for getting your horse to where you are now, it's more than most of us achieve, even with a horse "built for the job". Have a fab 2017 and let us know when you get to wear the tails!
 
Cortez said:
For me it is always about how well the horse does, for that horse - we can't all afford to have a fancy-wancy leg waving superstar....
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^^this.
You don't know what lies in the future, this could be your best chance at the higher levels for now... Grab the opportunity!

I'm aiming my somewhat limited section d at the tailcoat levels ;) we're not going to set the world alight but I dithered too long with my older horse and now she's past it so we're all systems go now. Enjoy it :)
 
Well this thread has made me considerably less embarrassed about ordering all the BD novice tests tonight as our aim for the second half of this season :) Good luck OP :) :)
 
I have a low 60's forehand tendency warmblood - we get the same at Prelim, Novice and Elementary and I plan on steadily moving up the levels at my low 60s!

What level do you enjoy riding at? If you are not gettign any higher at lower levels there still isn't really anything to realistically aim at other than a Pet Plan Qual - you won't win PPs with low 60s so if it was me (and I hope it will be one day) I'd be moving on up!
 
We're so used to seeing gigantic scores at the top levels these days that we perhaps forget that a 60% score means that everything is "OK", as in more than sufficient; not fantastic, but perfectly adequate. Once you understand that you're not going to be setting the world alight it takes a lot of the pressure off and you can enjoy riding the horse you've got - probably not going to give CJD sleepless nights?
 
Thank you all for your positive responses. Next outing entered. Carrying on at Advanced Medium and working towards that PSG ☺️. Pirouettes are coming along nicely, but need to learn to count for my tempis !!
 
Cortez said:
Stuff and nonsense! Move it on up, girl! Who cares about the low-ish scores as long as the horse "does" it and is happy, and you're happy with the horse? Wear your tailcoat with pride, not many people can get there. I'd rather do an "average" PSG than an average Novice any day.

For me it is always about how well the horse does, for that horse - we can't all afford to have a fancy-wancy leg waving superstar....
Click to expand...

Agree. And this is basically me in a nutshell.

Fig is an exracer. He is what he is. He moves sweetly, but isn't flash.

He's got 70+ Prelim-Adv Med. Floats around the 65% at PSG and has just started out at Inter 1.

He's cool. I love him. He can go do that and then we go to the gallops, or jump 1.25m or ride side saddle. We recently hired a SJ and arena XC course and he was super.

I'm bloody proud to be there and it feels amazing to ride at that level. Sure the comments get a bit rubbishy; I really feel it at this level at HP/PL shows when you do need decent horse power and of course we have crappy sessions and outings. But... I'd rather have mine thanks.
 
Hey, I would kill to score 60 at medium :p I guess you need to decide if you are more invested in training - in which case push on - or attending championships etc, in which case you could drop back. For me, I know my horse will never be a 70s horse (and I will never be a 70s rider!!) and I tend to fall apart in championship type situations, but I want to train him as far as I can. Personally, I would rather score badly at elem than score amazingly at prelim. :p

Treat it as an experience - not many people even ride through anything above elem, let alone earn points. You've done very well! Learn the movements, get the hang of the tests, take the horse as far as she can go. And then maybe with your next horse, you will be more than ready for the challenges of the higher levels, and life will seem easier with a more naturally uphill horse.
 
Agree with the going for it approach, much more fun. The way the new BD sections work does seem to have the "aim lower" option and must admit we have dropped down a level with the aim of qualifying regionals at that level, Pet Plan at the next (as we got placed at our first PP area and realistically that is our aim for a championships) and then competing for our upwards and onwards at the one above but it does seem odd going down a level and goes against my normal "aim high" approach. It does feel like stagnation but for once I have decided to stagnate temporarily!
 
I think the previous incarnation (2016 rules!) encouraged lingering at a lower level more, tbh, and also capping the number of shows we did - i personally found the points limits for silver quite restricting as I found my horse racked up points faster than she grew up, if that makes sense? So we were nudged out into gold before I felt she was properly established at the level in competition, once I took the green-ness that overcomes her at a show into account, that is :o

I'm pushing on as normal, it's a little bit of a shame that we can't do AFs at same level in the same year as summer regionals - given that many of the first rounds will fall before summer regionals. My welshie won't be competitive at medium AFs by May when they start, she'll just about be pulling her elem socks up for summers by then! But I've been cursed by horse injuries for the last 4 years, so I'll be damned if I'm sitting around waiting for perfection.
 
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