Help!! Tips to ride an accurate dressage test?!

applestroodle

applestroodle

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Hi

I wondered if you lovely lot could offer me any tips on how to ride a more accurate dressage test, i am doing BE92 this saturday and my horse is still very green so dressage is still a working progress and would like to try and help towards his mark by riding a more accuarate test. Every little mark counts right... ;)

Thanks in advance :D
 
Always look where your going! I know it sounds rediculous and obvious, but so many riders are so used to looking at their horses ears they never look where they're going :p This also helps you turn your shoulders, which should help the horse bend correctly :)
Best of luck xx
 
Use your corners to full effect! Ride like you are schooling at home (easier said than done!).But most importantly, enjoy and smile!
 
Tits and teeth down the centre line!!!

Also when riding a circle, think of it as a diamond and pick your marker on the centre line and ride to it, then your marker on the far side and so it, strange, but it seems to work!!
 
No tips on accuracy that haven't been given but have you practiced your free walk on a long rein? Alot of people don't give their horse enough rein to really stretch down and stride out. Easy marks that people seem to neglect.
 
I used to count strides. We had a school which you could ride an accurate 20m circle in, so I just counted how many strides I needed to do on each quarter - and then when I was outside on grass it was easier.
 
Make sure you know your test thoroughly and your movements are in the correct place. You'll get better marks for a more forward test so really get your horse working from his back end. Most importantly smile and enjoy :)
 
Some tips I have picked up from lessons -

If doing 10m loops, ride them more like 12 as common fault to ride too small. I have used shavings to mark the exact size and then ride to the outside of the line to get used to the correct size!

Centre line - think straight, the judge can also see how straight you are so speed etc less important. Also practice turning up centre line to start test from both reins with a person standing in judges’ position to see if you have a better rein to turn in from as most people do.

Agree with using corners - ensure there is a difference between on a circle and going large. Also looking up and ahead.

Free walk - move your shoulders and hips, if you look like you are swinging your back it gives the impression the horse is.

Try riding your test in sitting and rising trot to see if it makes a difference to the quality of your test as it does for me, so I have to try ride every test sitting from on now!

if you can - do the test on grass and dont ride any differently! I think alot of people get worried about riding a test on grass (slipping etc) and it shows. I have a grass school and I think it helps as I am used to riding without walls or a surface so doesnt put me off and means i get better marks at BE DR than DR on a surface in an arena.

And know the test well, I have written up for BE DR before and seen lots of people lose marks from being inaccurate or just simply forgetting movements esp give and retake the rein so accuracy does make a massive difference so worth doing the homework.

I would recommend to volunteer to write up at a BE event DR as gives you a great insight on how to pick up marks and what the judge is looking for. Hope my tips are helpful and good luck for the weekend and most of all – enjoy :D Look forward to the report!
 
From a judges point of view, please make your centre line straight as possible and make your circles big enough (bigger is better than too small).
And at your final halt however badly you might have done, please, please smile when you acknowledge the judge!
 
Look up, use corners as all said before.

If a movement says to be done at a marker, do it as your shoulder is level with the marker. Make your shapes accurate, and the right size- circles are round,not oval, or square!
 
Leg yield into each corner so that you are making the most of the space. When starting off on your centre circle immediately look over to the opposite side marker so that you know your body is turning.

For BE92 make the most use of the corner when you go to canter, get horse really bent round your inside leg, it makes the transition look better. Make sure your canter to trot transition is spot on the marker as its probably the most obvious one to the judge (being at C and A) When coming across the diagonal in trot head for just before the marker so that you don't overshoot it.

ems207 - good tip on turning up the centre line, I'd always entered on the rein I would be tracking onto at the top but I think you have a good point there!
 
Lots of good tips above, another is to finish your halt off properly. People often come to a halt and before the horse has even stood still are throwing themselves into a salute so the horse steps out of line with the weight change. (another point don't overdo the salute but do smile as BB says, it makes all the difference :) )
 
If possible, practice in DR boards on grass prior to competing, riding on grass can be completely different to an arena so giving your horse some practice at balancing himself/herself on wobblier firmer ground prior is a good idea.

Similarily if your horse hasnt met boards before he may be spooky/ unsure how to use himself round the ring if he is used to a fence as a border. if you cant get dr boards up on grass have a practice of your test in the arena using trot poles to mark corners like dr boards put at least 1/2 metre in from the fence.
Its amazing with a green horse how much difference it makes! in my first test we were barely getting round corners & she kept trying to jump out! practice on DR boards on grass and the next wknd we did the same test beautifully!

On a rider note- turn your shoulders slightly and look round your corners earlier than you would usually do in a menage as the horse wont have a fence to help guide him round.
Be prepared to take a half halt before the corners if you are travelling too quick, the ground is slippy or there is one corner on a downhill slope.
Also be prepared to give him a squeeze with your outside leg on corners if you feel he is getting too close to the boards! Unsuprisingly breaking a DR board wont go down too well!

Good luck and enjoy! :)
 
Take your time - you don't get more points for getting the test over and done at speed!

Ride each movement as a seprate movement. with a start and finish.

Squash your horse into each corner - it helps collect and organise your paces, and gives you more time between movements than if you allow your horse to fall in.

In the freewalk, yes, insure you give your horse enough rein, but don't throw it away. For a good free walk, the horse needs to stretch and take the rein forward from you. If you let the rein go loose, they are more likely to hollow when you take up the medium walk again. So use the corner before, and get him/her really in front of your leg, and secure in your hand so they want to have a good stretch.

Comment about riding as if you were schooling at home is spot on. I judge the odd unaffiliated test, and riders often get in and freeze, allowing the horse to make mistakes they would never permit in other circumstances. Don't be frightened to give them a good kick if they back off the leg, or a pat when they do as you ask - extra marks for the rider too!! :D
 
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