Dressage.... (sorry, long ish...)

[Sol]

I apologise for yet another post... I'm always full of questions but not the most sociable person ever so don't really talk much at the yard usually...

But today my mum had come down to pick me up and pointed out that Dante's saddle doesn't appear to be fitting him great (which I'd already had thoughts about) and now I'm planning on getting the saddle fitter out (new long boots are going to be put off yet again!) and looking at buying a new saddle, and if it's going to cost too much then it'll mean selling both of my current saddles - I currently have a jumping and dressage saddle. So I had to think about what discipline I really plan to stick with.
As much as I do enjoy jumping, in the last few years my confidence hasn't been brilliant and I don't think I'll ever compete seriously in jumping - so I'll be sticking mainly with dressage.

Only I don't actually know that much about dressage...

Have done a bit of prelim, and I think once I can relax a bit better and so Dant can chill out too, we should do a lot better. But another comment my mum made when I asked her about what she thought - dressage or jumping - she said she didn't really think he was a dressage horse

I think he's been going a lot better recently and has really come on and is much more settled. Our main problem is that when we come to compete I stress out and so he gets tense! The last test we did we got 64.7% and the only comments were really about how he showed signs of tension and could do with being more relaxed and going a little steadier (we tend to rush when it's scary!)

Basically, can anyone give me some general advice about dressage, or point me towards some good info? I think I just need some reassurance xD Have considered joining British Dressage but don't know if it's worth it? (We don't travel much but could possibly get lifts with other people on the yard) Also right now we on;y do Prelim, but I'd love to go higher eventually. Is it worth just trying Novice in a few months to see what it's like? There are competitions held on the yard so it's not like we'd be wasting a journey...

eesh, sorry. Don't ask about my muddled mind!

If anyone wants to see some pics of my crazy creature let me know, I wouldn't mind some critique or anyones opinion on his potential as a dressage horseh!

 

[spacefaer]

Dressage isn't scary or complicated (although lots of people make it so!)

A dressage test is only a demonstration of how well you've schooled the horse at home, how obedient and how athletic it is - any type of horse can do dressage because any type of horse can be schooled. Some horses are more physically able to perform the movements, some are more temperamentally suited - but all can be trained to a certain level.

Dressage is often considered boring - but the better you get at it, the more interesting it gets! The more practice you have doing it, the more tests you ride, the less nervous you will get - promise!!

Love to see pics of your boy

PS if you got a GP saddle, you could do prelim/novice dressage and still do some jumping too - you don't have to restrict yourself just yet!

 

[china]

64% is bloomin good!! i wouldnt join BD just yet as you can enter prelims even if your not affilliated so it saves you some money for now as its expensive to join, i am competing at prelims at BD with mine who hasnt done dressage before and i will register him when we start doing novices.
if i were you i would do a couple of prelims at affiliated level and see how you get on, in prelims they dont rely look for posh poncy horses, they look for soft supple horse that track up well and work low and over their back rather than up on the bridle like advanced so dont think you have to go like that, put a photo up so we can have a gander

ets, typo

 

[Sol]

http://ramelia-images.deviantart.com/gallery/#_browse/scraps <--- photos

Don't know how to put photos up on here, but have put a few up on my dA account so should be easy enough to see.
I know we still have a lot to work on, and I need to work hard especially. I tend to lean forward and have a habit of making the horse rush, and I need to soften my elbows and bring my hands further forward, and look up!

I've been doing more work with him long and low on a very light contact - trying to encourage him to relax and go forwards softly without needing to rush, while encouraging myself not to hang onto his mouth to slow him down and relax my hands/arms more... hoping to start having lessons again soon too!

Thank you to both of you

hehe, I used to think it looked really boring - then I saw some Grand Prix dressage on TV and just thought 'wow, I wish I could do that!' and haven't found it boring since!

Ok, now I'm going to sound really dumb... but can someone please explain to me about BD and affiliating and such? I really haven't been competing long and other than watching a little, there's a lot of it that confuses me!

 

[spacefaer]

Unaffiliated competitions use the same tests as BD affiliated ones - usually up to and inc Medium.

Competitions run under BD affiliated rules go from Prelim to Grand Prix. D shows run with "Listed" ie qualified judges. Unaff ones tend to use experienced but not necessarily Listed judges.

You can compete prelim without affiliating - to "have a go" and see how you get on. If you want to compete higher, you have to register yourself and your horse with BD and you will be graded as a rider as Group 8 - lowest level, based on your winnings. Once you start at Novice, your horse will be graded with points, based on the percentages gained in tests, not on placings. You can continue to compete in Prelim even with novice points, up to 37 points.

Is this the sort of thing you mean??

 

[dozzie]

He is a lovely chap! I think with lessons he will do a lovely test and absolutely no reason why he couldnt do dressage. He certainly has an active hind leg which helps.
If I was you I would stay unaffiliated for now. You can enter BD prelims anyway and if you want to try a novice you just buy a ticket and send it in with your entry. So you dont need to pay the whole affiliation fee.

 

[Sol]

Yes! Thank you for explaining that!

Makes it a LOT clearer! Thank you!!!

 

[Sol]

Thanks

Yep. The yard I'm on runs unaffiliated prelim & novice, so I'm thinking I'll just keep on at that and try to make my scores more consistent, and possibly have a go at novice after christmas or in a few months... and try to get a lift to somewhere else as we haven't done dressage off the yard yet and that could be... nerve wracking...

 

[china]

he has a lovely square halt!

 

[Sol]

Thanks! Took some work

He used to stand with his legs in such a random way... then again, this is the same horse that used to walk like he was drunk!

Should really keep working more on his halts, he still prefers to poke his nose out than halt nice and round.... xP