Expression through transitions?

[Bexx]

Hi all, I'm just after some ideas for exercises to help with this?
I event my horse at BE100 and we score pretty consistently mid to low 20s dressage but I was finding that I wasn't getting many comments on my sheet. I did a clinic on Monday where I rode my test, got my sheet back (21.25) and could speak to the judge after. She said to improve he now needs more expression through his transitions particularly up into canter.
Are there any exercises that I can add into my schooling sessions that would help with this? I know my scores are good but I like to continue to improve and we are at our.limit at 100, I don't think he would cope stepping up to novice.

 

[be positive]

You don't get many comments if you get 7 or above so it can be tricky to know what you can improve, transitions can be where the rider tends to play a bit safe and lose a mark or two rather than going for the 9 or 10, I would practise making them crisper, do more halt, trot, halt, canter walk, canter and in the upward ones ride towards medium rather than working so he is really forward, if the odd one goes wrong don't hold back in the next one keep pushing the boundaries a little until he is really taking you forward.
You have to take a few risks to gain the extra marks, be bolder and take a chance that it goes wrong and you lose a few marks but if it goes right you gain them, if you can get more into the transition the next movement or two will usually also benefit, I would probably do a few novice or elem tests on him to give you both a bit more test riding experience when you are not worrying about the score in regards to the rest of the event.

 

[Bexx]

Thank you for that, i will try that when i school next. We tend to ride some novice tests over the winter for training and score around 71% perhaps I will aim for elementary this year and see if that helps too