dressage the next (mini) level up!

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trickivicki

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Hi All you knowledgeable bunch!

How much of a step up is it Prelim to Novice?

In prelim' it seems to just be walk, trot, canter change direction circle etc...

What else is asked of you/ pony in the Novice series?

I want to go up a level but not want to put toooooo much pressure on myself
 
so that seems reasonable and achievable except counter canter, I've never been a fan of that idea!

will that be in all tests or just the later ones?
 
Off the top of my head...

15, 12 and 10 mtr circles in trot & canter appear
Medium trot and canter
Counter canter
Rein back

Novice 37 has a rein back, that much I know
 
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trickivicki said:
so that seems reasonable and achievable except counter canter, I've never been a fan of that idea!

will that be in all tests or just the later ones?
Click to expand...

It's in the N22 I did the other week but not in the N35 or 39 I'm doing tomorrow. You'd have to look through them all.

Also it's not just what's in the tests they would be looking for more engagement etc from the horse at novice than at prelim
 
Juat a couple of 12 and 15m circles i think, and maybe a rein back and extended trot. Could be wrong, also the length of arena will be longer with more letters (if you havent done those Prelims that use same arena as some Novice)
 
i think i'll get my instructor to run through some tests with me to see whats what.

I feel happy/ confident with all that has been mentioned except that counter canter!
 
The counter canter isn't too tough, e.g. canter across the short diagonal starting on the correct lead, then go from B or E to the next marker in counter-canter. It's fairly easy to build up to - start with shallow loops along the long side to give your horse the right idea, then build up to 15m loops (on the correct lead) back to the track (so once you meet the track, you're in counter-canter). Hope that makes sense!

Like Prelim, some tests are in 20x40 and some are 20x60. I think N37 has one step of rein-back only, so it's not a massive ask. The medium trot and canter tend to be "show some lengthened / medium strides" and aren't marker-to-marker.
 
what others have said. I have found the majority to be in long arenas to (or maybe i have just been unlucky ;-) ) so make sure you are confident and happy with long arena lay outs.
 
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