Elementary

[muddybay]

I've just started competing my horse at novice she's got a lot of potential for moving up the levels I think! Does anyone have any tips for exercises to prepare for elementary and what's the easiest ele test? I'm not going to move up for a while just wanted to start challenging her a bit more!

 

[Roxylola]

There's not loads of difference between the later novices and early elementary. Transitions need to be more accurate - on the letter not between, there's walk to canter and simple changes in some. The mediums are designated rather than "show some" counter canter is also more precise half circle at H return to the track at E counter canter to K - at novice the same is returning to the track between E and K.
I've found walk to canter improves the canter so it's a good one to build in.
Try and ride your movements precisely rather than using the "between" as a buffer.
You also need to be improving suppleness using lateral work, leg yield is in elementary- SI and travers isn't but it helps a lot with the other work.
At home I'll run through a section of an elementary as part of my schooling eg the canter work from 44, canter tends to be where he struggles so just by doing the work 3 or 4 times it gives me a structure and specifics to work on and improve. There's simples in that but no counter so if the downwards transition splats a bit I will work to get him more off the forehand and softer and lighter in my hand and come back to it.
Sorry, bit of a rambling essay but basically pick a test have a go at a section, work out what could be better, improve and go again.

 

[j1ffy]

E40 is a simpler test than N37 and N39 IMO.

Roxylola has given a good overview of the movements you will need to build in. Aside from being able to 'do' the movements, there's also an expectation to have an improved way of going at Elementary. So more engaged, sharper transitions, more consistent contact as well as the suppleness that RL mentions. For me, that's where the real 'jump up' from Novice to Ele is as the movements themselves aren't that much more complex, particularly in the lower level Ele tests.

Personally I ride Elementary pretty badly so prefer to move up to Medium quickly! Not sure why, I just have a bit of a brain block at Ele.

 

[humblepie]

I hadn't done any BD before current horse and I found that going to get some school master lessons really helped me - only a couple but it made me realise much more about how to ride a simple change for example, so getting the feel from an experienced horse of what to expect almost.

 

[Leandy]

Aside from being able to 'do' the movements, there's also an expectation to have an improved way of going at Elementary. So more engaged, sharper transitions, more consistent contact as well as the suppleness that RL mentions. For me, that's where the real 'jump up' from Novice to Ele is as the movements themselves aren't that much more complex, particularly in the lower level Ele tests.

This is the key point about the difference between novice and elementary. I've always thought the step is quite large as regards expectations of way of going.

 

[Goldenstar]

The biggest thing is you need to be aware that you need to increase the intensity of the training at home to mirror the speed the movements ad transitions come up in the tests as you progress.
It’s best to do this not only when you do practise tests but for a time within every session so the horse and you become a used to that .