Dressage Rules

FREESTYLER

FREESTYLER

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Hi,

Ok, I want to know what people think.
I have 66 points, plus 2 from the Nationals therefore total of 68!! I can add... impressed??!!
Well, I have already qualified for Summer Regionals Novice Restricted, and have only just started looking at the Elementary requirements... GULP!! If I do elementary, which I am not quite ready for that would mean I have to do Novice Open... EVEN BIGGER GULP!!! so do I do elementary Training and hope to get over 60% and do the Area Festivals at Elementary and try some Novice Music? IF and BIG IF, I did well at the Regionals, could I then do Elementary Restricted or would this then mean I would have to do Novice Open at Nationals??? I am of course just presuming and dreaming... but just in case!!! What would you do??? I have only been doing dressage for a year so am still VERY amateur and my boy is just about ready to try some elementary but I do not want to go too fast before he is ready??? Or do I just do Elementary Training for this year, try to get ourselves established in elementary level, do the Area Festivals (presuming I get over 60% of course!!!) and hope to qualify for Winter Novice again???? Ideas??? I have read the Rule book but it is quite confusing!! Or should I just go for the Grand Prix??!!!
 
Just go out and enjoy yourselves and do what your comfortable doing. , thats why you've got a horse in the first place. But I wouldn't push myself or my horse to far too quick
 
Personally, I would say do plan A.

Do summer regionals at Novice Restricted, do some Elementary Training classes with the aim of qualifying for the AF and of course do some Novice musics whilst you can too.
Should you do well at the Regs then you could do some winter qualifiers at Elementary without jeopardising your Restricted status at Novice for the Nats because once you've qualified at Regs they can't touch you!

Should you get points at Elementary then yes, you will have to do Open Novice for the winters but by then you will be more than ready or possibly out of novice points anyway!
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Hope that makes sense! What does Dan think?
 
Yes, I will go and enjoy myself and my beastie but I am rather competative too!! Although I will only push myself not my beastie.. well not too much!!

So IF you qualify at Regionals and then go and do elementary you do not have to go open! Great! You know I have just re-read rule book and I was thinking about Prelim... der... phew... early mornings give me brain ache by mid-day!! Good. I am glad you think along the same way as me. Thanks. Dan, well, I have not spoken to him yet about this but I think he is rather pleased as he said in the beginning "this is a mans horse!!" Ha!! Made me even more determined and he did not think I would get him this far as he is quite big for me and my seat in the beginning was much to be desired, poor boy wondered what I was asking! Luckily I had good instruction from him every couple of weeks! I have not had a lesson for a couple of weeks (money etcc....) but I am sure my next lesson will be veering towards more elementary movements! Cant wait!!! Though I am sure it will be hard work... no pain no gain eh??!!
 
well done for your nationals results
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One thing... I'm sure if I remember, if you're placed in top 10 at Novice restricted at the nationals, then you have to do Novice open after that.
If that's the case you'll be ok to do Elementary as it wouldn't matter if you picked up points, but you need to watch that you don't upgrade, so the training section might still be a good idea.
I'm on 73 points & have done a few Elem, but in the training section so I don't get any points. It means I'm still rider group 7, I'm qualified for AF at Elem, but can still try & get my summer Novice restricted Qualification.
I hope that helps.
 
I have a feeling you may be right Quarrybank about the Nationals and top ten. Freestyler - give BD office a call tomoz to confirm this would be a pain to find out later we are wrong and then you miss out.

Whats the qualification criteria for Area Festivals? Just thinking that if Gen doesnt get what he needs for the Summers he could do the AF's. He has only done one Elem so far due to a bad tooth, broken lorry, no money.... *sigh*

Mind you he is being a right bugger atm in training so not sure he will go anywhere else yet lol.
 
Hiya quarrybank, yes, that is what I thought but when I read rule book it says you have to get 65% and over so I only got 63.9 so I think I can still no restricted???!!
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Folara, you need 60% or above in two ele. classes. Send your originals in with entry form and there you go!! As long as you have not done a higher class or qualified for regionals at that level or above I believe!! Confusing isnt it!! I just dont want to tot up all my points before we are ready for the next class so have read that blooming rule book back to front! I think it use to be top 10 whatever the % but now 65% or above ??? Will ring BD tomoz though..


Hope Gen is ok, if you were closer in Herts we would come and pick you up... Luckily I have a friend who lends me her box so I do not have to fork out for one so I know what you mean about money etc.... just had to sell some stuff on e-bay to pay for my entry fees at Nationals!!
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Thanks mate. Lorry fixed (for now). Im still waiting to win the Lottery so I can have a new one!

Let me know what BD say - would be interested to know - not that its ever going to effect us lol. Have to say I find some of the rules really confusing as well.

Gen got 66.40% at his first one so be good if he does ok this weekend (provided we go... not convinced I want to take him anywhere atm).
 
This is a pain isnt it and yes you have a degree in bureaucracy to understand the rule book. Ive just been struggling to sort out the young horse classes and qualification requirements.

Hopefully they will bring in the rule that you can qualify 3 horses bfore having to move up, that they have been discussing recently. I looked at the Novice Open at the winters and though OMG!!

Personally Id do the AF and some music classes, although you are up against the big boys in the music you wont pick up any more points. Good luck for an even more exciting season
 
Folara where are you going this wend... I shall remember not to go when you are there at Patchetts!!! . over 66 for first elementary!! Very good I say!! Will let you know what BD say.. cheers

Dylan66, hopefully there will be some rule changes that will not penalize you if you do well but not quite ready to progress to the next level.. Yes very nice Novice Open horses, Garys horse is superb, shame he spooked that is where he lost his marks I believe.. some of those riders just look so at one with their horses... inspirational.

Thanks I think I will do AF and some music as I really love to watch the music classes and will do this for some fun... and use it to learn some more too of course!!! Good luck for your young horse classes, a lady from our yard is going on Friday to the College for some young horse classes, must say the test for 5 year olds which I read out for her practise is quite demanding!!
 
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