Dressage writing for dummies

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chaps89

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I will be dressage writing on Saturday for the sunshine tour (amateur champs) at hickstead. However when I said I'd do it there should have been plenty of time for me to get a practice run in at the show run on-site at our yard beforehand. One thing and another and that's not happened. Could I have an idiot's guide to dressage writing, how it works, what to exoect eta please?
 
Always write the mark down first as that's the most important bit, you can usually remember a comment that's been half-started but if you forget the mark that's not good. Use a circle for a circle, str8 and rthm are good abbreviations. Write the basic headers on a few sheets at a time, but don't write the rider/horse's names until they come in and present to save you wasting a sheet if someone doesn't turn up. Don't talk to the judge while they're writing their comments.
 
I usually give a new writer a quick run through of spellings or typical words used to make sure they are correct, such as rhythm, consistency etc then another short list of words they can abbreviate to speed up things such as drawing a square for square halt, using and up or down arrow when writing about upward r downward transitions, lots of long words can be shortened such as trans for transition.
Ask the judge if they wish to keep a note of collectives and the will show you what to do with them.
 
As said, put the mark first. If you haven't had time to complete the comments for a movement before the judge starts commenting on the next one, leave it and move on. You can go back and fill it in later, and if in doubt just fess up to the judge afterwards who will help you out after the test is over. Don't distract the judge with queries while the test is in progress.

Oh, and don't accidentally scratch the dashboard of your judge's car with the clipboard. Which is what I was accused of doing recently, and is why I have retired from scribing.
 
Keep calm and concentrate :)

Roughly in order as things will happen (with some worst case scenarios!)

- You will write the competition details on the top of the sheet in the appropriate spaces (date, venue, judge name)
- The horse and rider will start going around the arena - you need to check the number on the horse matches the number and name on your list and write them on the sheet (it it acceptable to do this in advance then double check their number though you risk wasted or messy sheets, if you cannot see a number clearly but you kow it is there you may need to check it in the test, if you really cannot see one bring it to the attention of the judge)
- The judge will ring the bell/horn
- Horse will enter the arena
- The judge will normally say a comment and then the mark e.g. Fairly straight, 8
- If you make a mistake you must bring it to the attention of the judge at the end of the test (if you had to cross out a score they need to initial it)
- You need to write the comment and the mark. If there isn't a point 5 you must write .0 (above would be 8.0) As others have said until you are well practiced it is worth bobbing across an putting the mark in the box as soon as you hear it.
- Run your finger down the directives as a judge may check movements with you (i.e. we are one movement 9 yes? that transition was on A not between the markers yes?)
- Sense check the comment matches the movement to ensure you are in the right box (i.e. if they are talking about a transition and there isn't one something has gone wrong!)
- If this happens check the movement number with the judge to get back on track and go back and sort the mess at the end (this is the only query acceptable in my mind when I am judging, though if you say you are new to this the judge will probably check movement numbers with you as you go along.
- At the end of the test check that you have a score in each box and bring anything out of the ordinary to the judges attention (misheard a word, had to cross out a score, got lost)

It is a fun job once you are used to it!
 
I love writing, our local venue plies me with bacon butties and coffees for my troubles and then I get a bottle of wine!

As the others have said, the mark is the crucial bit. The judge will usually say something like 'movement 8- needs more ground cover, 7"

I've always been taught to write 7.0 or 8.0 rather than just 7 or 8.

Abbreviate if you need to, I'm a very fast writer so I don't have too much trouble usually, but some judges like to waffle!

Enjoy it, it's great fun and you do learn a lot.
 
Ask the judge if they give comment or mark first. Some do it one way, others the other way.

Aways 7.0, as now with half marks the sheet could be tampered with after it leaves you if you don't.
 
Thankyou for the link. Sadly I didn't get to use it but what a great tool. Just thought I'd say I had wonderful time today! Possibly by design rather than accident I was paired with a thoroughly lovely judge and given a prelim test to write for. Once I'd done the first few tests it was very straightforward, I was surprised by how much of th test I could actually watch myself, I thought it would be head down scribbling non-stop. I learnt an awful lot today- mostly about how many marks were thrown away due to lack of accuracy, but other bits and pieces too. Thanks for all the tips beforehand :)
 
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