iknowmyvalue
Well-Known Member
Well on Sunday we went to do an intro and prelim dressage test. Henry's 3rd dressage outing (5th outing in his life) and we decided it was time for us to have a bash at a prelim test. Bearing in mind that 6months ago he couldn't hold the canter round a corner at all and barely in a straight line, we've been working hard on it and it's coming along slowly though he still struggles a little in the smaller arena (and his size is not on his side there!)
We get there and it's blowing an absolute gale (thank you storm stella) Henry dislikes the warmup here with a passion (just indoor arenas generally really) so decided one corner would probably eat him, but mostly avoid that corner and warm up fine, already an improvement from last time! Then for the intro test. Was forward in the warmup so decided we didn't need a stick, slight mistake, go out into the main arena and turn into a bit of a slug. Other than that, he felt great! Need to sack the jockey for forgetting the test though
Ended up finishing 6th, with 64.5% (would have been 4th/5th if I'd remembered the test, oops!)
Prelim next! Generally felt a much better test than the intro. Carried a stick so was a bit more forwards too. Had a small spook at a flappy banner and when he realised there was a horse in the next arena which took him by surprise, but nothing too dramatic. Only major incident was he went to break the canter 1 or 2 strides early, so put the leg on a bit too much so he shot forwards, this messed up the canter-trot transition (which was meant to be at F) and ended up doing a bit of a handbrake turn down the centre line at A to finish (sack the jockey again!) Ended up with a respectable 63.4%.
Overall very happy, a good few things to take away and remember for next time! comments on test sheets are very similar to what my instructor says and that we are working on, so good to know that we're on the right track there.
Now for the all important photos!
We get there and it's blowing an absolute gale (thank you storm stella) Henry dislikes the warmup here with a passion (just indoor arenas generally really) so decided one corner would probably eat him, but mostly avoid that corner and warm up fine, already an improvement from last time! Then for the intro test. Was forward in the warmup so decided we didn't need a stick, slight mistake, go out into the main arena and turn into a bit of a slug. Other than that, he felt great! Need to sack the jockey for forgetting the test though
Ended up finishing 6th, with 64.5% (would have been 4th/5th if I'd remembered the test, oops!) Prelim next! Generally felt a much better test than the intro. Carried a stick so was a bit more forwards too. Had a small spook at a flappy banner and when he realised there was a horse in the next arena which took him by surprise, but nothing too dramatic. Only major incident was he went to break the canter 1 or 2 strides early, so put the leg on a bit too much so he shot forwards, this messed up the canter-trot transition (which was meant to be at F) and ended up doing a bit of a handbrake turn down the centre line at A to finish (sack the jockey again!) Ended up with a respectable 63.4%.
Overall very happy, a good few things to take away and remember for next time! comments on test sheets are very similar to what my instructor says and that we are working on, so good to know that we're on the right track there.
Now for the all important photos!
