First Dressage test! What to do/expect? *pics to follow*

[SaddleUpSin]

Havent posted for a little while!!


So, on a whim, I've decided myself and Simb are doing Intro A on April 8th, alongside a few of the other ladies on the yard. Our schooling is atrocious, neither of us have been to a competition before, but more than anything we're just going for the experience! He schooled beautifully the other day, last night he was a little tired so it didn't go as well. Feel like its going to be a bit hit and miss!

What shall I expect? Warm up arena tips? Preparation/grooming tips?

 

[little_critter]

Grr wrote loads and it's disappeared.
Most dressage is run under British Dressage rules. If you want to check what tack is / isn't allowed and guidance on what to wear then you can read the BD rules on their website http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/rules.

Ref warmup - do you know school ettiquette? Pass left to left, walk on an inside track, don't stop on the track, look where you are going and keep an eye on what others are doing.
I'd just do whatever warmup you do at home, don't go changing things last minute.

It's worth cheking with the venue whether there will be a steward or if you are self stewarding. A steward will check who is warming up and send you to the test at your time. If self stewarding you'll need to keep an eye on the time and check who is going before you so you can get yourself to your test on time.

If you think you might struggle to remember the test, or might be very nervous then a caller is a good idea. If you go wrong the judge will ring the bell and tell you where you've gone wrong so you can repeat the movement then carry on.
If you make a mistake (eg ask for walk a bit too early or your horse bucks, something where you've not taken the wrong like so the bell won't ring) just put it behind you and move on, try not to let one little blip have a knock on effect on the rest of the test...those marks are still up for grabs!

Most of all SMILE and enjoy the outing!

 

[abbijay]

Have fun! Your only aim needs to be making it to the end.
Your warm should be just what you do at home, just sticking to the rules of the school (as LC mentions above). Work out how long it usually takes to get the best work from your horse and take that as the time for your warm up.
Practice walking in your schooling sessions. Do some free walk in the middle of your session and then pick your horse up again, some horses don't do much in the middle and switch off before they've finished.
A couple of dressage myths to bust for you: you must wear gloves but they can be any (discreet) colour. You do not need a white saddlecloth, any discreet colour is also acceptable.
A clean horse and a big smile always help the judge's impression of you.

 

[SaddleUpSin]

Thank you both! mainly just in it for the experience and to "play ponies" as such and pretend I know what I'm doing

We played dress-up for schooling the other day!

 

[Junebug44]

Advice I was given was to focus on riding the test accurately - you can pick up good marks for making your corners corners and not bends and getting your circles and transitions to happen at/between the right markers. Hopefully, the bonus is that by concentrating on this rather than yourself and/or your horse at this stage you will relax more and enjoy it .. and thereby probably also do better! Have fun!

 

[Cowpony]

Remember to use a BD legal bit, no martingale or bit rings, and no bandages or boots. And you can only use a fly bonnet if you are doing your test outdoors.

Other than that, relax and enjoy. Good luck!