Dressage test q? Rain?

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katiejaye

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Just a query really, went to Amersham dressage on sat and did E44. If anyone was competing outdoors on sat I'm sure they'll be aware of the fact it rained ALL day! I don't mind the rain and Louis was fine warming up and apart from being very wet it doesn't really bother him. However just as I went into the arena the heavens opened...i'm not talking a heavy shower I mean torrential, hurting me rain, literally couldn't see or breath as rain was so heavy on my face and Louis' head was tucked into his chest and he started crabbing up. Poor RachelSkeff was reading for me and was soaked and the test started dissintergrating! The arena was becoming a swimming pool too! Anyway the rain continued to get so heavy it was a nightmare! I was nearly being rained off the horse! At one point I asked for a canter transition and my stirrup shot off my foot into the air and I had to circle and ask again. I couldn't really to medium canter as everytime I put my legs on my stirrups were threatening to fly off!

So I was v peed off as we are trying to complete our qualification and I had high hopes as he's been going so well and warmed up beautifully! I wondered if they ever take breaks for extreme weather conditions? I was quite annoyed as it was clearly obvious that it was SO bad that I/Louis could hardly breath or see!
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Left straight after as we were parked in a muddy field and I didn't fancy getting stuck! Just got sent my test sheet and we came 5th with 62% in a big class which is good considering we were nearly rained off! However, the judge was lovely about Louis and apoligised for having to mark him low but commented he was tense behind the saddle and behind the vertical (he never does that so purely a rain issue!) but no mention what so ever of the rain or the fact that is what caused the issue?! I thought the whole thing was a bit of a discrace really as the arenas were so wet that some of the horses were slipping and tripping (and this is even before the torrential rain).
 
As judges we have to mark what we see and if we see a tense horse (for whatever reason- weather, ring tension or perhaps tension caused by the rider) we will comment on the tension and mark accordingly. However, most judges would show their human side and make some reference to the conditions perhaps in their summing up but it will not affect the marks- we judge what we see.

A few weeks ago I did a test in which it snowed during my extended walk, I got blown sideways off the centreline in my half pass and it hailed so bad in my canter work I couldnt see the judges car! I had to stop in order to try and stay on, and asked if I could take my -2 and go back to where the hail started for the sake of schooling/positive experience for the horse, and repeat. I was allowed to but the judge was very grumpy about the whole thing!
 
I know EXACTLY what you mean, but as they say they have to mark as they see on the day, but your right it is unfair and they are pretty awful conditions and you cant expect the horse to perform that well in those conditions.
 
At the nationals last summer they had to stop play because of the weather and the rider at the time was allowed to go again.

So yes they can, it seems unreasonable that they didn't at least leave it a few minutes to see if the really heavy rain would pass.
 
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So yes they can, it seems unreasonable that they didn't at least leave it a few minutes to see if the really heavy rain would pass.

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That's what I was thinking, and the thing is a few mins later it had stopped
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At one point I was thinking of stopping as it was ridiculous!
 
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I know EXACTLY what you mean, but as they say they have to mark as they see on the day, but your right it is unfair and they are pretty awful conditions and you cant expect the horse to perform that well in those conditions.

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I know...I mean I was pretty amazed that he actually even got over 60% as I couldn't ride or see where I was going and the poor sausage was trying his hardest, bless his cottons, but neither of us could do much other than close our eyes, tuck our heads in and try not to to fall over!
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It was a big class so I am happy that he came 5th but I just think we could have qualified if i'd gone in a few mins later...I know it's sod's law but it's frustrating
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I understand they have to mark what they see and in fairness the judges comments were really nice about him, the canter transition where I lost my stirrup (because of gust of wind combined with a sudden downpour!) I circled and came round and did it again but I only got 2 for that movement and judge apologised at bottom and said she had to mark my first attempt. I was just a bit peed off that there was no reference to the weather conditions as it's clearly what lost us those marks. Anyway I am just venting my frustration as he really deserved to do well on sat as he warmed up so beautifully
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i amazingly had good weather on saturday, it was just a little windy!!

Its such bad luck when that happens.

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grrrr wish I was where you were! I had to do a strip tease in the trailer after as I was soaked all the way to my pants!
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Luckily I had some spare clothes in my boot
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when is your next outing hun? Youve got loads of time left to qualify for the summer regionals yet x

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It feels like it's coming up so quickly though
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Is it before July that we have to Qualify? I'm out to Harold's Park on sunday for E41 and E50 and was supposed to be at Keysoe next week but they just returned my entry as it was a missprint by BD on website/mag
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so I have just sent off a late entry to Patchetts to do E43 and E48 and I hope I get in ok. What about you, when you out next?
 
There seems to be a lack of competitions round our way at the moment, I've just had my entries returned for Towerlands next week and there really doesn't seem to be anything else around.
 
at the area festivals 2005 we did both our classes in absolutely torrential, painful rain. sun came out soon after i finished my tests! i think it kind of played in my favour though - so many horses were misbehaving in it, but mine just got on with the job and 2nd and 3rd and qualified for the nationals! i just accept it's one of those things that can happen. i had to wring out my gloves and my jacket afterwards and was still soaked by the time of the prize-giving 4hours later!
 
That does seem pretty unfair they could have waited a few minutes if everyone doesn't have the same conditions how can you all be marked the same if you get what I mean.
I was at patchetts once and got stuck in the hugest hail storm and it was about 2 degrees, had to go straight into my test which was luckily indoors but it had just stopped then anyway. Funnily enough it was a VERY tense test. Poor horse was frozen and still scared of the hail stones.
Might see you on sun, doing two novice tests.
 
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There seems to be a lack of competitions round our way at the moment, I've just had my entries returned for Towerlands next week and there really doesn't seem to be anything else around.

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I know and it's so frustrating!
 
Yes it is a bit difficult i think to judge a horse if they are frozen or being pelted with rain/snow or hail! It's just bad luck I guess!

We will def c u sun as I'm bringing my YM and her horse with me in trailer and she's doing both Novices
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Oh goodie will see you on sun then. Have you sold your lorry?
Look out for us in the maroon shogun and trailer, I am hopeless at remembering faces and scared I might not recognise you. Fingers crossed for both of us then as I need one more win to qualify for regionals at novice.
 
Good luck for the weekend then - im sure you will do really well. Its the end of June you have to qualify by - but youve always got the petplans to do again if you dont qualify (which im sure you will).

Im out on sunday doing N38, if he behaves then il do a late entry to Medstead for the following sunday which is also N38.
 
I have never had my own lorry
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Would love one though! I need one more win to qualify for the elementary regionals so we both need the good luck
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I drive a black jeep cherokee and have a red ifor trailer. Louis is VERY orange so hard to miss! I have big curly hair
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My YM is riding a gypsy cob piebald so she's easy to spot
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Good luck for the weekend then - im sure you will do really well. Its the end of June you have to qualify by - but youve always got the petplans to do again if you dont qualify (which im sure you will).

Im out on sunday doing N38, if he behaves then il do a late entry to Medstead for the following sunday which is also N38.

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Thanks If it rains again I shall cry and give up riding!
Good luck to you too, it sounds like you are gonna do great though considering how well you did on your last outing. You'll have to take some more piccies as I love seeing the gorgeous Archie
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Oooh I must be confused. Lets hope we both have a good day out then, I am trying not to think about it as then I get so nervous and Molly gets all tight and tucked in and I get angry with myself!
 
i think everyone is probably bored of seeing pictures of him by now!!!! Silmarillion is bringing her camera (so ive been informed) on sunday, so she might have some piccies
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I went to Amersham on Saturday and it rained on me too! Even better someone decided to park up against the arena fence and pop open their very noisy boot of their car at the moment I was doing my give and re take in canter so we shot into the middle of the arena!
Were you in the smaller arena or the top one?The one I was in was VERY wet and deep. I was exhausted keeping her going!
 
Sounds a nitemare, but a least everyone else did have same conditions, last time my horse competed it was in hoaling gale with stuff flying all over place. And so therefore judge was being as tight as duck a$$, but they can only judge what they see.
At least she wrote comments about how nice louis is
Ps. i would make a very harsh judge i know
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so i don't think it should be my career choice
 
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I went to Amersham on Saturday and it rained on me too! Even better someone decided to park up against the arena fence and pop open their very noisy boot of their car at the moment I was doing my give and re take in canter so we shot into the middle of the arena!
Were you in the smaller arena or the top one?The one I was in was VERY wet and deep. I was exhausted keeping her going!

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I know I thought it was a disgrace there! I rode in the bigger arena but Rachelskeff did her test in the smaller one and it was a nightmare! She was fuming and said she was surprised he could pick his legs up! The horse that went in before nearly fell on its nose three times! I have never seen such a bad surface or such awful flooding! Rach did a great job and came 2nd with 67% though
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I don't think they should have allowed a test to go on in that arena and if they had had any brains they would have run the two tests in the bigger arena...however by the time I did my test that arena was flooding too! Will not be planning a trip back there any time soon
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i think everyone is probably bored of seeing pictures of him by now!!!! Silmarillion is bringing her camera (so ive been informed) on sunday, so she might have some piccies
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Never...I lurve seeing piccies...keep them coming!
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Agreed- I won't be going there again either! I have only just affliated and wasn't happy!
I did the Prelim in the larger arena and thought the warm up and the arena idea next to each other was odd-my horse decided to try and shoot out the gap! There was also a big pile of rubbish next to the arena, I went in, did 3 strides of trot and she spooked 'BIG STYLE' at the heap and the judge beeped his horn- cheers I thought!
Then to do the novice in arena that was wet enough to have ducks!!Lovely!!

And to top it all- my boots got covered in mud in the carpark!
 
Really not an ideal location I agree...we'll boycott it together! There were also horses munching behind the fence of the warmup and Lou found that very scary! He's not a spooky horse at all but even we had a few jumps! At one point a woman walked into the warmup with a baby and stood on the track for 10mins just watching...?! Not the safest or most practical place to stand!

Well I was soaked to the bone...white jods are black, jacket had to go to dry cleaners and my lovely new silk stock looks like a pooey rag! And ditto on the boots...mine are filthy!
 
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