Help with canter give & retake

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soloequestrian

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First ever dressage score of over 70% today so chuffed to bits, but our lowest mark was a 6 for the give and retake the rein in canter. I thought it had gone well - I pushed my hands down towards the bit (have been guilty of pushing them up the mane in the past) for about 4 strides, horse kept his rhythm and balance but the comment was 'modest'. What do I need to do?
Thanks in advance!
 
I really have no idea .
Perhaps the judge was referring to your clothing .
If it was for a lengthened strides you would understand it
 
Well done on the score, the give and retake has to be almost exaggerated to get a good mark, I ensure there is a clear loop in the reins for at least two strides, so 1 to start, 2-3 strides with no contact, then 1 to regain the contact properly, a comment of modest usually means you could show more, just as it would if for med strides, depending on how your horse carries himself it may be better to think of pushing the hands forward towards the bit rather than down towards it, if the horse is truly in self carriage it should not go down when the rein is given so try not to think downwards.
If the judge can see 1 side more clearly than the other make sure that rein is even looser so they cannot miss the movement if they blink at the wrong time.
 
I too find it has to be a good loop and 4 clear strides, or judges almost miss it :(
BUT don't do it for that long if your horse isn't ready, better to get a modest 6 than him fall on his nose and get 4
 
Make sure you give mid movement - depending on the angle the judge may not see it properly. Mid movement should be the ideal time.
 
I'm not sure who is telling you to push your hands down, or that raising them up a bit is wrong....I wouldnt really say either is correct! I found this online, could be helpful for you:
https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/BD_Rulebook_10_ins_54-65.pdf

According to this, it is 2-3 strides, the movement of the hands should be continuous and it has to be a clear release of contact. So I'm not surprised really if this is BD's definition, that the scored a 6 if you lowered your hands for 4 strides - it could easily be 'modest' if you are placing your hands down towards the neck as it wont show a clear release of contact.

From my years working at a BD venue, I've seen many G&R's - exaggerating them always seems to get the best mark (in terms of your hands rather than number of strides). So dont think about pushing your hands down, but dont raise them higher either; really it should just be keeping a similar hand position (if you are keeping your hands at a good position in the first place though) to what you normally ride with, but pushing them forward to release the contact.

But as others have said, a 6 isnt the end of the world and getting 70% is brilliant for your first time so well done! There will always be days when you get the odd mark or 2 that are not amazing, so dont get too hung up on it as clearly you are doing really well!
 
Thanks, that's all really helpful. Just to be clear, I've been at this dressage lark for a while now, just haven't managed to get above the 70% boundary before!
To give a clear, 'exaggerated' release, do you have to actually lean forward rather than just push hands forward? I feel like that is the most likely thing to unbalance the horse, but not sure my arms are long enough to show a good loop of rein without moving my upper body too....
 
soloequestrian said:
Thanks, that's all really helpful. Just to be clear, I've been at this dressage lark for a while now, just haven't managed to get above the 70% boundary before!
To give a clear, 'exaggerated' release, do you have to actually lean forward rather than just push hands forward? I feel like that is the most likely thing to unbalance the horse, but not sure my arms are long enough to show a good loop of rein without moving my upper body too....
Click to expand...

No try not to lean forward - the idea is you release the contact with your hands and the horse remains in self carriage to show that your hands are not keeping the horse's neck in position basically (i.e. the horse isnt hanging onto your hands).

So if you lean forwards that isnt a true release of contact. A slight movement in your shoulders forwards wouldnt be the end of the world, but a big movement leaning forwards they'd probably mark you down. I'm trying to imagine this at my desk without actually doing the action, work colleagues would think I've gone mad!...you should be riding with bent elbows and your hands level - look at pics/vids of Gareth Hughes riding, he has lovely hands/elbows! this pic says it well http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/insp...th-Hughes-DV-Stenkjers-Nadonna-GP25082014.jpg. When you come to the G&R, it should be more of your elbows moving forward into a straighter arm if that makes sense?

I've found one pic where it looks very exaggerated, and they are leaning forward in this http://e-venting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/5Q9A7020.jpg
Leaning forward like that in the canter probably wouldnt be too much of an issue, but if you were doing a G&R in trot I wouldnt expect you to be leaning forward quite this much.

Hope that helps!
 
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