Dressage tips for an 11.2hh pony!

Tedzrocks

Tedzrocks

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Ok... This may sound a little strange but I am a child, doing dressage on an 11.2hh shetland cross fell pony. I'm going to do my first dressage test in september.
I don't want to look too out of place(except for my ponies size!) So some turnout out tips would be helpful. Also some tips for actual dressage test would help. What should I wear? I'm only doing walk and trot at an riding club show.

Pics:

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Me on him:
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Thanks to anyone who replies!
 
You both look lovely! :D
I don't know if some people on here will agree but I do know some people who pull and plait their fell ponies manes for dressage, and they also pull tails.
However, he does have an incredibly long mane, so maybe a running plait or lattice work could help? You want to make him look as sleek and uncluttered as possible, and a nice white numnah will help. :D

p.s. The jumping picture is lovely!
 
I wouldnt call myself an expert but have competed dressage at riding club level so hope I can help!

You both look lovely together :) I wouldnt cut his mane or tail, a wee tidy up so you look neat and tidy and then leave his mane and tail all sparkling clean and shining and when he moves you will look lovely :)

I know new british dressage rules say you have to have light coloured gloves (dont know if it will be the same for you) but this could help you show off your lovely riding hands when your doing your test.

I used a white fitting numnah when doing my tests and they always looks very smart when your in the arena!

As for what you should wear I wore my canary jodphurs, tweed jacket, velvet hat, canary gloves, hair net, boot and gaiters.

and you know the most important thing? A BIG CHEESY GRIN! Let yourself and your pony enjoy it :)

Good Luck!
 
I've just done my first dressage competition on my fell pony - we went with all our hair long and loose and au natural!

For you you need cream jods, clean jod boots, a shirt and tie and a smart jacket - either black, blue or tweed is fine. Also you should wear gloves. I think you'll look smart if you go without a numnah and seat saver.

He's lovely - looks a proper cool dude!
 
mturnbull said:
I wouldnt call myself an expert but have competed dressage at riding club level so hope I can help!

You both look lovely together :) I wouldnt cut his mane or tail, a wee tidy up so you look neat and tidy and then leave his mane and tail all sparkling clean and shining and when he moves you will look lovely :)

I know new british dressage rules say you have to have light coloured gloves (dont know if it will be the same for you) but this could help you show off your lovely riding hands when your doing your test.

I used a white fitting numnah when doing my tests and they always looks very smart when your in the arena!

As for what you should wear I wore my canary jodphurs, tweed jacket, velvet hat, canary gloves, hair net, boot and gaiters.

and you know the most important thing? A BIG CHEESY GRIN! Let yourself and your pony enjoy it :)

Good Luck!
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Thanks very much! :) Would a navy jacket be ok? Thats all I've got. I've been told I need black half chaps but didn't know about gloves. I wouldn't have the heart to cut his mane or tail, I love them too much! :D
 
As he has a lovely long mane and thick tail,unless you want to pull it, just make sure he is really clean and brush mane and tail out well.Dont forget to oil hooves and a little baby oil round the muzzle looks smart.
You need to ride in a snaffle[which you are in the photos]I would try and find a smart white square, rather than the fluffy one you have ,this will make you look the part.I think you may have a seat saver on,this will probably not be allowed.
You should wear cream/beige jods/short or long boots/shirt and tie/jacket/hat/gloves, they should be pale in colour and your hair should be in a net .
I hope this helps.
Enjoy the dressage, learn the test really well and practise getting your pony listening to you so that he is obedient and you can be accurate.
Good luck
 
Personally, I'd go for a running plait :) If you can get it tight to the top of his kneck it's nice and out the way, unlike a lattice. If you have one (or you can get one) I'd wear a nice tweed jacket, with a tie that matches a colour in the jacket, cream or possibly canary jods, with polished short boots and joddy clips. Make sure you've got a hairnet and gloves (and check if gloves have to be pale coloured, in which case cream) Most importantly though, make sure you have a smile on your face and you enjoy it! Doesn't really matter what you look like at the end of the day, as long as you have fun!
In the test, just remember you'll make up marks with accuracy so make sure all your circles are the right size/shape and your transitions are in the right places. Makes a big difference :)
p.s. I used to do dressage on my 12"2, we got to Novice level against lots of adults and proper dressage horses, it can be a little intimidating but it's still lots of fun! and fantastic when you beat them ;)
Best of luck! He looks a real cutie
 
Come down the centre line with a great big smile of your face and ride your test as accurately as you can.
He looks like a smashing pony - just go and enjoy yourself.
You can wear a shirt and tie with a hacking jacket or a show shirt with a stock and show jacket. Light coloured jods and either short boots with or without half chaps (black or brown) or long boots.
You'll need light coloured gloves and can carry a whip. And your hair must be tidy - in dressage, you are supposed to look tidy.
Have fun.
 
Tedzrocks said:
Thanks very much! :) Would a navy jacket be ok? Thats all I've got. I've been told I need black half chaps but didn't know about gloves. I wouldn't have the heart to cut his mane or tail, I love them too much! :D
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ahh just seen you only have navy! that would be fine too :) I'd probably wear a PC tie with it, if you have one but if not I'd got for something with a discreet pattern and properly tied.
 
I would running plait his mane and plait his tail. A white numnah or saddle cloth would look smart but just make sure if you have a square that its not to big as it can look funny. I wear white jods a white shirt and stock, a navy jacket and hat, black boots and gaiters when I do dressage but the other suggetions on this page are perfectly acceptable. Other than that enjoy you will see people wearing all sorts of combinations depending on what they do normaly.
 
Running plait and plaited tail, I personally don't think he's stocky enough to go au natural. A running plait will give his neck the appearance of having a bend.
Short boots and clips with pale beige jods, for RC level I'd say tweed plus shirt/plainish tie and pale gloves. As said above keep yourself tidy.

Get schooling :)
 
Running plaits are wonderful things - stop your reins getting tangled in long manes too ;) I would leave his tail unplaited, but that's personal preference (and I hate plaiting tails!). Agree with the previous comments about making sure if you use a white dressage square that it isn't too big :) I regularly wear a navy show jacket to dressage my native too, so that will be fine, I'm sure.

Most important things for the test are to relax and enjoy it. And be as accurate as you can to the markers, but don't stress if you miss one slightly (/ movement doesn't go exactly to plan). Because each movement is marked individually, if you mess one up, it really won't make a big difference, provided you carry on with the rest and don't let it bother you :)

Good luck, he's adorable!
 
Lovely pics, as everyone has said, a running plait would look nice, and don't forget the hoof oil!
I would see if you can find a much smaller numnah or saddle cloth as the pony looks a little swamped by his current one.
Don't forget to remove any boots/bandages before your test and check if you are allowed to carry a whip. (usually can but some PC have funny rules at times..)
My daughter had a 12 hhpony who we trained to a decent level, when she outgrew him he was loaned to a nice little rider who ended up getting him to the National Champs at Addington. Proves you can do well with correct training.
Enjoy yourself, don't over work him in until he's tired, and make sure he is used to working with poles laid out as a arena, it's surprising how many horses spook at them.
Remember as you trot up the centre line this is the biggest chance you get to create an impression; I always tell riders to think how proud they are of their horse and try and show it in that first entry.
Don't forget to post some pics!
 
Thanks everyone! I have arranged to borrow light gloves and have the rest of the show stuff. Half chaps or not? Any tips for bathing him to make him look extra special?

PS: Thanks everyone for your nice comments about Teddy! Currently debating with my friend who also rides him to either running plait him or leave him natural!:D
 
Tedzrocks said:
Currently debating with my friend who also rides him to either running plait him or leave him natural!:D
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I think much depends on how neatly you can do it! If you can do a really neat running plait that won't start to bulge and fall apart during the test then fine, but if not, then a lovely free mane might look better!

Good luck!
 
KristmasKatt said:
Don't wear half chaps, short boots with clips are smarter and more correct.
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Agree as you are not an adult jodhpur boots would be better than half chaps, know it's riding club dressage, but this is from the BD rulebook on dress:
Boots
Must be plain black or brown and may be top boots or Jodhpur boots. Gaiters may be worn providing
they are of identical leather to the boots. Neither boots nor gaiters may have any decoration of any sort
except discreet manufacturer’s logo studs.

Breeches/Jodhpurs
Must be plain white, cream or beige except when worn with official uniform when they may be of the
Uniform colour.

Preliminary to Advanced Medium Tests – Uniform, short jacket or tweed coat with correctly tied stock,
white American Collar or shirt and tie, hunting cap, bowler hat, crash cap, or dressage topper. (again as you are not an adult a tie is fine, but you can pick up pre-tied stocks quite cheap).

As other people have said SMILE, my friend who gets really nervous always smiles and always gets a nice comment from the judge about her smile (think it's more a nervous smile that she can't help, but they don't know that!!!!)
 
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