Dressage test

[Kelly1982]

Ok i am definatly biting the bullet and doing a dressage test in October

Someone has given me the Prelim 1 test to revise (dont laugh i amk a dressage virgin) and i have been trying to revise it for the past 2 nights without much success. How do you dressage divas do it?? Luckily i have got someone willing to call for me but i would like to know roughly where i am going.

Also do you know anywhere where i can find a diagram of the test??

 

[CSYMolly]

www.dressagediagrams.co.uk

 

[Emma123]

I'm definitly no dressage diva (im doing my second ever dressage test on sunday my first being 3 years ago!!

) but i find the best way to remember it is either walk it out yourself or get a piece of paper and draw out where you are going and visulise your self riding it

Good luck in october

 

[Tempi]

i find the easiest way to do it is to get someone to call it for you whilst you are riding your horse - i only have to ride through a test with someone calling it once for me to remember it! - but ive had LOADS of practice at it!!

 

[LEC]

I find the easiest way to learn is to have a bit of paper and learn the patterns so for instance if it is go down centre line and turn right do 20m circle at B - I think about riding the straight line the turn and then the circle in the middle of the arena. It is much easier for the brain to learn pictures/patterns doing this I can usually learn simple tests in 10 mins. Also most dressage tests are symmetrical which helps!

 

[lizzie_liz]

I just learn the patterns of the test and rarely learn the letters, just know the letters for transitions

 

[Sparklet]

I usually have a quick read through of the test - go sit somewhere quiet, shut my eyes and in 'real time' ride through the test in my head. I find this not only good for remembering but also preparing for the tricky bits like where my horse is likely to go quarters in and how I would ride those bits.

When I get to the show I declare and go have a look at the arena I will be working in checking the entry, spooky banners, flowers etc - I then go back to the lorry and do a ride through in my head in the actual arena taking care of all the spooky bits and how to enter etc.

I used to have a reader for all my tests but the problem is that you often rely on them to tell you where to go and it does not really allow the time to prepare for the movements. I am better without a reader because I have to know what I am doing and am able to ride the test right through.

Good luck.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Try using a white board with the arena & markers noted on it, then draw out your test. You'll soon learn it, Good Luck

 

[Kelly1982]

Thanks everyone for all your replies

Everyone seems to have different ways of remembering it so may have to try a few til i find 'my' way

 

[Jo C]

Now don't laugh but I have been known to practise in my kitchen or in the garden by setting out an arena and 'riding' through the test!

Works for me, but I always find I can learn much better by riding it through a couple of times at home rather than just visualising it.

 

[Sparklet]

Do you hold imaginary reins and canter on the proper leading leg?

 

[Kelly1982]

LOL i can just imagine that now

 

[Jo C]

I don't hold imaginary reins but I do canter on the correct leg!! And I told you not to laugh........

And my husband thinks I'm mad but my 2 year old daughter thinks it is great and follows me round!

 

[kildalton]

I bought a board, I think it's made by Shires, with the markers on ,short arena one side, long arena the other with a wipe off pen - just found it, it's called Learn a test. www.shires-equestrian.co.uk.

 

[Fiona_C]

I find learning it by drawing it on paper, then taking Bud into the school and riding through it, only downfall is that he sometimes pre-empts transitions, however, if I have a reader I find I lose my way around the arena and been dyslexic with left and right that can cause major problems !!

Best of luck with your test.