*Gulp* Am I Mad?!

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bex1984

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I think I may have finally lost my one remaining marble: I have decided to do a dressage test with Murphy! It's a walk and trot test - just a little local thing.

Eeeek! It's 3 weeks away and I'm TERRIFIED already. I've convinced myself the place is going to be full of tall, slim posh ladies on posh dressagey horses, and I'll be there with my stumpy legs and fat hairy coblet.

I am possibly the worst rider in the world, and Murphy has no schooling
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surely we're going to get laughed out of the ring?

He is learning to go in an outline at the moment, but I don't think he'll be able to do it consistently throughout the test, does that matter?

Do I need to plait his mane (all two foot of it...)?
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What should I wear?

Will it matter if he has a pelham with roundings?

arrrrghhhh! I'm looking forward to it but so so scared!!
 
Lol don't panic you will be fine. Don't worry about inconsistency of outline, just do your best, you can't expect him to go better than he is at home when he's out and about with lots of new things to look at. Just concentrate on staying relaxed, keeping a nice rhythm and trying to be as accurate as possible.

If he's a native type you could get away with not plaiting, especially if it's unaffiliated - I know it's lazy but I never used to bother! You need to wear white/cream/fawn breeches/jodhpurs with black/brown jod or long boots, a shirt and tie or stock, and a black, blue or tweed jacket. Hat silk should be blue or black.

You won't be able to ride him with a pelham, unaffiliated dressage is run to British Dressage rules so snaffles only. if you look on the BD site the rules are on there with a list of legal bits (think they have pics also).

good luck!
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ETS you need to wear gloves too!
 
You will be fine! A lil walk and trot test will be easy for you both :3 I would just leave his mane. People at my yard to dressage and their horses are not dressagey and they are not tall or slim, they just groom and tack up their horses, no plaiting etc, they just make themselves look smart. They just go down for the fun of it, so what if people watch, at least you went and did it
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!
 
If you manage to stay in the arena for the whole of the test, then you're doing better than I have in the past (I have galloped, unintentionally, out of an indoor school on a borrowed horse, swerving past the judge's box on the way out).
Her comment? 'Somewhat against the hand'
S
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i used to do dressage on a shire lol!!

he loved it and he was a riding school horsey!

you'l be fine honestly, i had to do a walk, trot, canter dressage thing that id prepared myself as part of my training when i was younger, the shire was fab and he knew as soon as we started that he had to behave and listen to me!
 
I once jumped out over boards and back in during a test when it was sleeting horizontally, and got the best marks I ever got in an unaffiliated test. Just goes to show what S...t the other tests must have been!!!! LOL
 
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I once jumped out over boards and back in during a test when it was sleeting horizontally, and got the best marks I ever got in an unaffiliated test. Just goes to show what S...t the other tests must have been!!!! LOL

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I went back in too...with much eye-rolling and snorting from my mount, but a gallop test didn't score me many points.
The judge did comment on my determination though....I'm not sure if it was an insult or a compliment
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S
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[ QUOTE ]
If you manage to stay in the arena for the whole of the test, then you're doing better than I have in the past (I have galloped, unintentionally, out of an indoor school on a borrowed horse, swerving past the judge's box on the way out).
Her comment? 'Somewhat against the hand'
S
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[/ QUOTE ]

LOL .. S, most of your posts have me giggling, must have the same sense of humour.
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My favourite comment on mine was 'This horse is unhinged'. Well, there was a horse eating man in the gallery that wasn't there first time we came round. Of course he had to leap dramatically out of the way.
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I used to dressage on a big hairy cob for a lady at MEC. We used to beat all the skinny horses
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You can't use the pelham, but you don't have to plait - just smarten him up and you'll be fine
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You'll have a great time
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I'd wear light johds, black jacket, black gloves (it's less obvious if your hands aren't still
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) long black boots and a black hat.
 
'somewhat against the hand' PMSL! that was a good comment

first of all - relax bex!! a walk and trot test will be a doddle for you both. at the level i wouldn't worry about his outline, just make sure he is moving off your leg and you are in a nice rhythm.

HAVE FUN!! I doubt there will be 'dressagey' types there - as you said it's more of a fun thing so get all smarted up and relax!! I wouldn't plait the beast - he will look smart with a washed mane - all 2 foot of it

you might have to change to a snaffle though - best to ask the organisers

GOOD LUCK!! don't forget to get piccies taken xx
 
[ QUOTE ]
LOL .. S, most of your posts have me giggling, must have the same sense of humour.
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My favourite comment on mine was 'This horse is unhinged'. Well, there was a horse eating man in the gallery that wasn't there first time we came round. Of course he had to leap dramatically out of the way.
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Having the same sense of humour as me is NOT A GOOD THING, as I'm sure you'll find out. Maybe you'll have your own trolls like I do, soon?
I didn't think dressage judges were allowed to write 'unhinged' - excellent comment though!
S
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Shilasdair - I'm sorry but that has made me laugh!!

OP I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm doing my first clear round at the end of march and am utterly convinced everyone else will be on big posh flashy showjumpers and there'll be me on my big Cylesdale Cross with feet bigger than small cars.
Not for anything is Hovis known as "the Destroyer" on the yard so I envisage us flattening the entire course.

My instructor has also suggested we do a walk and trot test so if we decide jumping is not for us (aka are asked never to return to the venue again) I may be joining you in the dressage on my BFG.
 
S - I think you're right about a judge shouldn't really write 'unhinged'. I was encouraged to complain but I prefer to use it as my claim to fame. Nobody else has admitted to having had such a comment!!
 
We are sooo alike
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And yes, we are both mad!!

I'm doing my first walk and trot test at the end of March, I'm the worst rider, hardly any schooling, stumpy legs on an even stumpier pony. You are doing better than me though because you work in an outline sometimes
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I'm really trying hard to just see it as fun and it doesn't matter if we come last etc etc but I'm worried about it already - why do we put ourselves through these things
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I'm going to wear my black hunting jacket and possibly a coloured stock. Unless someone else does it for me, my pony wont be plaited. Don't know about the bit.

I think it's best to concentrate on the little things, i.e not getting squashed in the warm up, getting him inside the school - I think the test will be the last thing on my mind. I'm also going to ask someone to call for me.

Good luck - to both of us
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[ QUOTE ]
If you manage to stay in the arena for the whole of the test, then you're doing better than I have in the past (I have galloped, unintentionally, out of an indoor school on a borrowed horse, swerving past the judge's box on the way out).
Her comment? 'Somewhat against the hand'
S
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[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry S, but I couldn't help laughing out loud when reading this!! "Against the hand" - brilliant!!!

You will be fine I'm sure - it'll be great fun. I think you'll need a snaffle though. Just do your best and keep smiling - it's meant to be fun after all!
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You'll be fine - most cobs do much better trots than those "dressagey" types as that's normally their best pace & if they're rhythmical then you should get good marks for tempo, etc. My chubby (!!) sec D did W&T tests first and it was always her trot that scored well - made up for the g*d awful lump bumping about above (ME) !! Didn't plait as native & lots don't at local level anyway.
 
You'll be fine I was out on sunday white polo's bling browband, bling stock and pin, shiney shiney horse etc all very flash.

Didn't manage to get further than down the centre line track right, all the cobs beat us by a mile and I would have far rather been sat on one of those.

To add insult to injury I fell of afterwards to.

Good luck.
 
OMG - am now doubly terrrified at the prospect of doing it in a snaffle! It's on grass - we'll be out of there like a shot, I haven't ridden the little monster in a snaffle since he tanked off across a field and I had to bail out to get him to stop!!

Will a cherry roller snaffle do - oh god, I best get practicing riding with a snaffle!!

chumsmum - what date is yours?
 
Another vote to relax! I was doing walk trot tests over the winter and you get all sorts. The only lady I saw who was skinny and posh looking had the most ridiculously hyped arab and everytime we saw her at a test the judge asked her to leave the ring because things were getting dangerous!
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I always see plenty of kids on beautifully schooled horses - and get a bit jealous because us adults are usually beaten by "them wot can do beautiful walk and trot" with their well schooled pony but for whatever reason don't want to canter. *groan at myself sorry thats very green eyed of me* generally all the adults are a right mix so don't worry - any skinny serious dressage riders with posh mounts won't be doing walk trot. We did see a well known showjumper in a walk trot test once with an incredibly well schooled horse and not suprisingly he won, but we didn't see him again after the parents of several children he taught told him off for knocking their kids out of the rosettes
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oo clever tip about black gloves jumpthemoon, will be using that one! Although my hands will probably be so all over the place it'll be obvious whatever colour gloves I wear!!
 
relax and have fun!!

I used to ride a horse with a kimblewick (she was very strong) and just before i went into the arena for the test i would quickly swop her bridle to one with a snaffle bit. it used to work most of the time.

could you make up another bridle with a snaffle?
 
There's not usually a line up. Rosettes and sheets tend to be handed out by the secretary's tent
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Relax, and enjoy yourself, and don't worry about feeling out of place, you get all sorts at these comps. My shire x clydie hairy girl beat the posh warmbloods on my yard in a prelim class, and the riders were not amused
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One of them hasn't competed since...
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you will be fine if i can do it anyone can did a walk and trot test on my cob who isnt well schooled and doesnt work in an outline
couldnt believe it when we got there 40 in the class chucking it down and blowing a gale sister was going to read the test and had gone to get a drink so was on my own! all was going well until near the end and then forgot what to do went the wrong way!then she wouldnt stop at the end
dont know how but we came 4th
just remember it is fun and enjoy it
 
Dont worry, I have just started doing dressage and can totaly understand how you feel. Just go and enjoy it. My mare knows that as soon as that bell goes its time to poke her head out, go flat and under no circumstances must she bend. The only thing we get good marks for is free walk on a long rein, providing its in a straight line! The thing is she can go so beautifully at home. I am not sure if its my nerves that transfer to her, or if she has an alternative rule book that she has been reading.
 
was supposed to be doing dressage last sunday on my gelding harry but at the last minute my hubbys tb chestnut cross country diva mare had to substitute , shes not exacvtly enamoured of dressage , lost of swishing tail and tilting of head , ajudge started off in first movement by saying , horse a little tense head up . 2nd movement , needs to soften through corner
3rd movement , tense , 4th , tense , 5th tense , 6th tense head up got fives for those movements lol , then comes the free walk on long rein m well she did great impression of kamakaze pilot heading for the ark royal , after that and the abnoxious canter with mini bucks and squeals .... as i halted at x judge just looked a little puzzled lol

we didnt come last by the way , on the way home i noticed on bottom of test sheet a pto , poor judge must have felt guilty about being so critical ( lordy i,d have said much worse lol) it was an entire page of suggestions on how to get the dragon to settle
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