Head carriage and Dressage - A very stupid question!

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Mosh

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I'm planning on doing some walk + trot tests over the winter.
Now my TB naturally has a fairly low head carriage and hes pretty consistant with it.
He can work in an outline but hes still learning about things like that but we are working on it!

So would it be better to let him work "normally" and be consistant with a low head carriage or work in an outline but be less consistant?
I've asked 2 different instructors and they've given me about 4 different answers and now i'm confused.
I would have thought consistency would be better but can someone just clear it up for me?
Thank youuuuu!
 
What do you mean by a low head carriage?

Does he duck behind the contact, does he fall on his nose, does he stick his neck and nose out....?
 
Head carriage is something you start worrying about at Intermediate!
You might not win any classes with a low head carriage but ressign yourself to the fact you will be competing against people who have done low level dressage for years on horses that have scope to go much further but the rider would prefer red rosettes than the challenge of learning to sit to a trot (required for medium dressage)
laugh.gif

Dressage is not about winning it's about being able to compeete against yourself everytime you go out, my first 8 was the most amazing feeling, I didn't win but I got an 8!!! That was as good as it got for me but I lots of fun trying to get that elusive 9, hope you have fun
smile.gif
 
Silverspring and mother_ hen:
Thats what i thought.
its about getting experience for him and myself and i really would like to have fun with him and have a go at it. Winning isn't everything but it would be nice!
Thanks for clearing that up for me, we all have to start somewhere
smile.gif
 
My instructor always tells me to use it as a schooling exercise - my boy is a 4 yo who is going nicely, but if he's naughty he'll get told off, just as normal, if hes good he'll get praise, just as normal. Like you say we all start somewhere and having personal bests is more important than red rosettes (although trying to chuck me off in front of the judge was pushing it
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)
 
I started off doing walk and trot tests and I couldn't get George round, he tended to poke his nose, so I did my best to keep him in a rythmn and just ride the test accurately and we won a few rosettes and got nice comments.

No more walk and trot tests for me now, having somehow fluked a win in a prelim it isn't fair. I so agree with Silverspring, rosettes are lovely but it is about pushing yourself and trying something new.
 
I have a very nosepokey horse, when he isnt going in an outline, I always get needs to be in a softer outline!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Head carriage is something you start worrying about at Intermediate!
You might not win any classes with a low head carriage but ressign yourself to the fact you will be competing against people who have done low level dressage for years on horses that have scope to go much further but the rider would prefer red rosettes than the challenge of learning to sit to a trot (required for medium dressage)
laugh.gif

Dressage is not about winning it's about being able to compeete against yourself everytime you go out, my first 8 was the most amazing feeling, I didn't win but I got an 8!!! That was as good as it got for me but I lots of fun trying to get that elusive 9, hope you have fun
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]sorry i disagree head carriage is important at any level whats the point in worrying about it at intermediate level by then it should be well established at your level i wouldnt worry to much if he is a bit behind the bit just keep working on it good luck
 
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