Going from Prelim up to Novice?

Ravenwood

Ravenwood

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 November 2005
Messages
11,196
Location
Devon
Visit site
I am very new to dressage - I have just given it a bash this winter in place of hunting. However, I seem to have been bitten by the bug and absolutely love it!

I joined the local RC who hold a winter dressage league consisting of four dates. So far I enter the Walk and Trot because there is no warm up at the venue and then go straight on to do the prelim test. I have done so well I can't believe it and am currently lying second in the league.

So I think that after this league has finished (and now the grounds dying up I will have somewhere to school) I thought I might go up a level and try Novice tests.

Please could someone tell me what moves there are in Novice tests over Prelim just so I can see if we are ready and what we have to practise.

Many thanks
 
Oh - counter canter. Definitely not ready for that!

Could you explain give and retake reins please and in what gait would that be. (all in indiot proof terms if you dont mind!!)

Thanks again
 
In some tests you would just keep the canter across the diagonal [ counter canter],just choose a test that suits your horse.In give and retake you release the contact by moving your hands forward for 2 or 3 strides and take it back all smoothly.Trot and canter can be asked .Serpentines are also in some.
 
Thanks for that Carthorse - you are making it sound as if it might be do-able (don't think that really is a word!)

Like I say, the league doesn't finish until April so I will book in a few lessons with a rather good international dressage trainer that visits our way occasionally.

Competitive - Me? - surely not!
 
As Carthorse says pick the novice test that you feel you can do & have a go at it. You may find that your horse does better with a novice test than a prelim, they are that bit busier & some horses prefer that. It keeps them thinking & listening more to you. Good Luck
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Novice 28 is a good starting point!

[/ QUOTE ]

Words out of my mouth!!! Novice 28 is nice, 37 is not!

You will be fine, I ride a 6yr old gelding and we took him straight in at Novice as he needs his brain occupying a little more, the movements just come a little faster but its really nothing truely scary.
 
Keep in mind that all the dressage tests are designed to test the progression of the training of the horse. So there is a definite rising scale of difficulty as you rise through the tests. So a Novice 20, the first one, is a small step up from the last Prelim. Similarly the last Novice tests are just a step below Elementary. So, in theory, as your training progresses you should be able to takle the more difficult Novice tests as it reflects your stage in training. The horse should be getting more balanced, moving towards collection etc. And I suppose the judges ought to be looking for this progression as they mark the tests, although I don't know if they do or not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top