Dressage test riding clinics...any good?

joolie

joolie

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Hi,

Just wondered what peoples experiences are of these? Tempted to book on to one in a fortnight's time but just balking at the cost a bit and wondering if it was worth it. Obviously depends on the instructor (this is with a BD judge, list 5 I think). Any feedback appreciated, TIA :)

PS - we are Prelim level at the min, hoping to start novice soon.
 
I think it would entirely depend on the person teaching - as with most clinics.

What you will get out of it is the opportunity to see what the judge is looking for. Hopefully the judge is on board with their judges training and what they are looking for is the same as the majority of other judges.

If the cost is high, consider if you are getting value. Could you get a lesson with a freelance instructor who is also a list judge? Or is the addition of the venue a big plus? May I ask what the cost is?
 
I find them really useful. I used to train with a list 1 judge and I got a huge amount out of sessions like that.
Thanks for reminding me because I had resolved to book onto a couple this year now Millie is back in proper work!
 
Yes, they are held often around here. I've gone to spectate at a few and personally know people who have done it who say the feedback is excellent critique and has helped them with future tests. Def something to consider.
 
Thanks for the replies :)

Cost is £45 for 45 mins, £30 for 30 mins, judge is Sue Cottrell?? The venue is somewhere we will visit regularly this year for dressage (lovely for our outings but isn't an amazing international arena or anything if you see what I mean). Would be something a bit different but just wonder if money better spent on a couple of lessons with my regular instructor....hmmm!
 
Don't know the judge but I'd go for it :) aside from getting help with test riding, you also get the benefit of a new pair of eyes looking at you & your horse.

At the dressage convention at Bury Farm last year they had a rider going through a medium test with judge commentary in real time. It was such an eye opener to me just how much the judge noticed ;) and all of the tiny details. I'm an experienced competitor but I struggle to remain focussed once the bell has been rung... a session like that really helps to switch my brain on properly!
 
We have recently been to one with Sue Cotterell! I found it very helpful, our main reason for going was to see whether we were ready to step up to affiliated novice as we have done pretty well at prelim but our canter and mediums not quite established yet so I wanted some feedback before going out and embarrassing ourselves!! Sue seems a v nice lady and really helpful and positive, definitely worth it if you are struggling with a particular test or wondering about stepping up a level. If it's more for a general thing I would consider a lesson instead as it was fairly specific to riding the particular test with some pointers/feedback on general way of going with suggestions. We had 1/2 hour and it did go quick though we were able to warm up beforehand in a different arena so went straight into first run through of test so didn't waste any time warming up.
Hope that helps!
 
She was also pretty helpful on what the judge is looking for scoring wise according to handbook e.g. Can't give an 8 for riding unless invisible aids, an 8 for free walk needs overtrack of 3 hooves etc, so she did seem to know her stuff!
 
NikNak1 said:
She was also pretty helpful on what the judge is looking for scoring wise according to handbook e.g. Can't give an 8 for riding unless invisible aids, an 8 for free walk needs overtrack of 3 hooves etc, so she did seem to know her stuff!
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Thanks NikNak, very helpful and great to see you went to one with Sue as well! It may be worth me booking in for a lesson then with her instead as this is also being offered to have our mediums and slightly gung ho canter looked at - I don't really have a particular test in mind but thought it would be nice to see what the judge actually wants.
 
Hi Joolie,
Go for it, Sue is my regular instructor and get on really well with her (obviously!) most often i have a regular lesson but if I've got a comp coming up we might work on 'test riding' rather than generally schooling. It depends what you want whether its a general lesson or ways to improve your test riding, either way i think you'll get lots out of it :)
 
I went to one, and to be honest, it was a total waste of money. However it wasnt due to the trainer, my horse was just being a total cow that day, was in a strop and would not play ball no matter what i did with her.

In hindsite I've since found out that she needs at least 30 minutes working in. With the clinc it was tack straight on the horse walk around a bit then go straight into the first test.
 
The one my friend just went to was with Sue, and she loved it and is arranging for her to go to her yard for a day. SAid it really improved her marks for a test she had this weekend gone :)
 
Thanks all - really helpful input! I'll find out if there is a separate warm up area as I'll definitely need it what with a sometimes rather opinionated Welsh mare!! Anything that can help bump up the marks can only be a bonus :)
 
joolie said:
Thanks all - really helpful input! I'll find out if there is a separate warm up area as I'll definitely need it what with a sometimes rather opinionated Welsh mare!! Anything that can help bump up the marks can only be a bonus :)
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The one that was recently held was at a riding school - you could warm up in the outdoor for as long as you wanted before you were called in, which I thought was a good idea - I always thought you had to quickly warm up before which put me off!
 
Hi Joolie,

I had a test riding clinic with Sue 2weeks ago... FAB FAB FAB! Could not rate her highly enough, I know everyone has there preference with instructors but me and my horse has a breakthrough with Sue. Defiantly go for it!

Is the one your thinking about going to at Tushingham? If so also my local venue so might see you there! :)
 
It sounds like you've had some helpful feedback.

In terms of cost, I don't think it's too bad. Bearing in mind venue hire etc and that each session is 1-1. Plus you'll get the opportunity to expose your horse to the venue prior to competing there.
 
casspow said:
Hi Joolie,

I had a test riding clinic with Sue 2weeks ago... FAB FAB FAB! Could not rate her highly enough, I know everyone has there preference with instructors but me and my horse has a breakthrough with Sue. Defiantly go for it!

Is the one your thinking about going to at Tushingham? If so also my local venue so might see you there! :)
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Yes this is the one at Tushingham on the 8th :) am moving livery yards this Friday so providing she doesn't have a meltdown I'll be going along but I think for a 30 min private lesson rather than a test riding session. Good to see lots of positive feedback about Sue, sounds like it's definitely worth the pennies!
 
joolie said:
Yes this is the one at Tushingham on the 8th :) am moving livery yards this Friday so providing she doesn't have a meltdown I'll be going along but I think for a 30 min private lesson rather than a test riding session. Good to see lots of positive feedback about Sue, sounds like it's definitely worth the pennies!
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Oooh! Good luck with the move :D
 
I did a very useful one recently that my riding club organised where we did a test in front of a judge / instructor who marked it but it was also videoed and the next evening we all met up in the local pub's function room and went through the videos with a fine tooth comb. The judge could then talk about each movement and why she gave the mark she did and more importantly why she gave the collective marks she did. As someone who always goes to things alone so never gets anything videoed I found it really useful. It gave me the confidence to move up to novice (just unaffiliated) and we've done ok since moving up. It was also really good fun to watch each other and to have a bit of a get together without the horses!
 
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