Dressage writing hints and tips

[Walrus]

I've volunteered to do some dressage writing next weekend, just found out I'll be doing some music classes. Any hints and tips for writing for a freestyle test?

Thanks

 

[Ebbo]

Is this your first time dressage writing? I've never written for any music tests but have had to switch to a different test numerous times when we are expecting a competitor to turn left and instead they turn right so having to write a test rather off the cuff - all I can say is abbreviate where possible, cut down any unnecissary words and don't panic!

 

[Walrus]

Thank you. Done a couple of unaff, local but not for a while. However I think they are desperate hence me being given the music!

 

[Notimetoride]

Im writing at a comp on tuesday and will be writing the word 'rhythm' on a post it and sticking it on the dashboard in front of me (as i cant guarantee to spell it correctly in a hurry) !

 

[nato]

Im writing at a comp on tuesday and will be writing the word 'rhythm' on a post it and sticking it on the dashboard in front of me (as i cant guarantee to spell it correctly in a hurry) !

I have always written 'rtm' in place of rhythm. Lots of shorthand!!!

 

[milliepops]

Im writing at a comp on tuesday and will be writing the word 'rhythm' on a post it and sticking it on the dashboard in front of me (as i cant guarantee to spell it correctly in a hurry) !

I was taught to spell it at school using this mnemonic :
Rhythm
Has
Your
Two
Hips
Moving

Never get it wrong now
Don't be afraid to ask the judge to repeat or if they miss out a comment though the scoring for music tests is different to normal tests so you may have more time.

 

[Red-1]

Ha Ha, just clicked on to this to say to write the word Rhythm on a piece of paper and clip it onto the clip board.

Glad to see I am not the only one who has difficulty with this!

 

[kathantoinette]

Somewhere on the BD website there is an audio clip for you to have a practice and lots of tips and shorthand abreviations, ie.;
rhythm - rhy
forehand - f/hand
square - sq

Also some judges ask you to underline words in the directives which is quite useful rather than writing the words. And remember the score is the most important.

Well done for vounteering - have fun

 

[kathantoinette]

This is the link to the BD writing advice;

http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/judging_volunteering/writing

 

[Tiddlypom]

I spell it out in my head each time R-H-Y-T-H-M.

Nightmare comment 'Loosing rithim' ! Also 'exuberant', which has caught me out a few times!

I draw a square for square, a circle for circle.

 

[Walrus]

Thanks all, like the post it idea! My spelling is a bit dodgy, I rely on spellcheck at work! I am going to go through the BD writing advice this week. Has anyone judged a music, just wondering how it usually works, do you spot which movement they are doing as the judge says they score or does the judge say "medium trot 7" ? Thanks!

 

[kathantoinette]

Yes, that's pretty much how it goes - spot the movements and then comment then score. The judge will explain.

One word I have a block on is 'losing' as in 'losing rhythm'. Don't spell it 'loosing' like I did on my first time and the judge picked me up on it!!

 

[smja]

I've written several times - all for the same judge, by accident!

Before each new test, she reads through the movements (with diagrams) and I peer over her shoulder. I read the test sheet and identify any weird sections (when several movements are crammed into one score - e.g. when the retake is included with the free walk mark instead of the next movement).
She normally gives a comment and then a mark, sometimes she'll clarify e.g. 7 for number 14.

Just tell the judge you've never written before and they'll tell you what you need to know.

2 tips:
I am another who can't spell rhythm - if you can't remember, it's normally printed in the collectives section
Don't write the number/name on the sheet until you've actually got eyes on them - sometimes people change order/withdraw without you knowing.