How do you plan your test?

SaffronWelshDragon

SaffronWelshDragon

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Not sure if the title is the right way of putting it, but I've been going out monthly to do BD prelims this year really to get some ring experience for myself and Saf. I am now feeling much less stressed in the lead up to the competition, and hardly suffer with nerves at all thankfully. JFTD has been kindly helping me with my warm-up when she's available to come up to Bluegate. I feel like I'm getting a better idea of how to work Saf in to gain her attention. However, I'm going to be 'grown up' this weekend, and want to do the test without my sis calling it. This will be the 3rd time I have done P14 this year, so I definitely know the test.

My problem is this, in both cases when I am riding at the competition (even with my sis calling it), and when running through at home, I find myself worrying about the next movement, where it is and what if I forget what's coming next. Each movement springs up on me, and so is even more of a surprise for Saf as I haven't prepared her. We're both very inexperienced at this sort of thing, and I find in the trot work everything is going very fast, and of course more so in the canter, that I hardly have time to think about what is happening and before I know it the next movement is upon us.

So how do you manage this? I feel like I have so much to think about, remembering the test, getting my circles the right shape and worrying about inside bend (a new thing for us!) that I don't have enough brain capacity to actually plan what I want to happen next. I seem to be concentrating very much 'in the moment'. Any tips?

I think I have some chocolate cornflake cake left over from lunch if you've got this far! Thanks for reading my ramblings!
 
You know the test, so just concentrate on the next movement rather than 3 movements ahead. For example (I don't know the test so making this up) 20m circle at A then across the diagonal KXM, as soon as you're on that 20m circle and you've come across X start thinking "ok so circle ends at A, ride deep into the corner between A and M and then look for K and ride straight". Again once you've passed X think of your next movement.
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
You know the test, so just concentrate on the next movement rather than 3 movements ahead. For example (I don't know the test so making this up) 20m circle at A then across the diagonal KXM, as soon as you're on that 20m circle and you've come across X start thinking "ok so circle ends at A, ride deep into the corner between A and M and then look for K and ride straight". Again once you've passed X think of your next movement.
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This. I'm always thinking one movement ahead. I learn my test well enough that I am not panicking about what comes after.

Although using a caller is absolutely fine!!!
 
See I mentally visualise the next 3 marks approx that I need to ride, that way you can try and avoid the 'eek' moment
 
Have you done a test yet without a caller?
I used to have all tests called until I had a comp coming up where callers weren't allowed so thought I should practice going solo. I expected to be more worried and the test to suffer. What actually happened was that the part of my concentration reserved for the caller was now available to focus on the horse. Test flowed better and felt much more relaxed. No do all tests without caller.
The other thing I do just to convince myself I do know the test is where time allows I watch a couple of people riding the same test and predict in my mind where they need to go next. If I can get that right then I'm pretty convinced I can do it when the time comes. So far so good.
 
I find callers distract me, too.
I tend to learn them by making a rough mini school in my front room and then pretending to be a horse - I might look stupid but it sure helps me! Then just keep running through it in your mind, once an hour, once a day, whatever works until you've got it. And yes, make sure you only think about the move you're doing and the move that comes next!
 
Thanks very much for your fast replies :) I think at the moment I'm still paranoid about going down the centre line, getting stage fright and going blank!


PaddyMonty said:
Have you done a test yet without a caller?
I used to have all tests called until I had a comp coming up where callers weren't allowed so thought I should practice going solo. I expected to be more worried and the test to suffer. What actually happened was that the part of my concentration reserved for the caller was now available to focus on the horse. Test flowed better and felt much more relaxed. No do all tests without caller.
The other thing I do just to convince myself I do know the test is where time allows I watch a couple of people riding the same test and predict in my mind where they need to go next. If I can get that right then I'm pretty convinced I can do it when the time comes. So far so good.
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PM - I haven't done my test without a caller at a 'live' show, only with Dressage Anywhere. And I do agree with you, I sometimes notice that when sis is calling I'm concentrating on making sure I can hear her, or thinking, oh you're going too far ahead etc. Take away that extra 'distraction' and that would free up some extra memory (oh gawd I sound like and ol' Windows 95 PC!) and get more into the zone.
 
I often find if I am stressed I start over focusing on the test- those last min run throughs of where to go and I get a complete blank about left or right at the end of the CL! Much easier said than done but relax and know the pattern you follow and it *should* flow much easier and when you get those mini disasters that take your focus away from where to go it becomes almost subconscious.
 
I don't tend to learn the test by the specific name of the movements, i tend to learn the shapes and the way they flow together - it helps me visualise them much better (although the other week I did 2 prelims and kept mixing the canters up between the 2 so maybe my plan doesn't work so well!)
 
I'm another who doesn't have it called, on the rare occasion that I do our results are never as good. Without a caller I can concentrate on Genie and the next movement. Do not think too far ahead. When learning it I will learn in sections, and remember the order of paces first (e.g. P17 is Trot work, Canter work, Walk work). I will also run through it numerous times in my head once I've learnt it so that I can visualise what I'm doing where and what I need to do. I am VERY fortunate that my brain 'does' dressage tests - reading it through twice is usually enough.
 
You've heard me ramble about this at great length (inexpert though I am at it), but one thing I would say is you say it feels fast - you have scope to slow it down - Saf isn't exactly cruising around the test so you can afford to take your time (a little - take your time, but don't waste time!). There's also a psychological element to this - if you make it second nature to half halt and steady it up slightly at pre-determined points, you get a magnified effect in your brain (I do anyway) - those sort of slow motion moments where you feel like you have all the time in the world to think ahead and plan your next move.

I also find riding through harder stuff at home makes easier tests seem less mentally challenging...
 
I ride through the test in my mind, with my eyes closed. I have the sheet in front if me, ride the first few movements until I get stuck. I revise the test again, close my eyes and start from the beginning. Every time I get stuck, or am unsure, I open my eyes, read the test again, then shut my eyes & start from the beginning.

Once I've learnt the test, I visualise riding it in the arena where the test will be so I don't get any nasty surprises when I get there. Then every time I get a few minutes spare, I close my eyes and run through it again, and start concentrating on my riding and how it will feel.
 
I break it all down. I used to learn the test and the letters but now I really try and break it down and I keep reading through it and visualising in my head that I'm there. You have the advantage that you've competed there before and also done the test there before so you can easily visualise the arena, where the judge is etc.

So I break it down into small segments, i.e. i'm trotting down the centre line and I want to track left. I think of riding the turn as a half 10m circle instead of thinking "turn left". So in my head I'm riding and I'm picturing myself preparing for the turn just before G.

I then ride through it at home and make sure I can do it from memory.

I know what you mean about panicking though and I am sympathetic. When I first started competing about 3-4 years ago I did my first few tests alone but since then I've had a caller. My competition last month I decided to do it without a caller as it was prelim 7 which is quite straightforward and also only had one test to learn so thought there's no excuse!

I got really worried I'd go wrong. It stems from when I went to Tiptree for evening dressage once and didn't have a caller. I had learnt the test but as soon as I got in the arena I had a complete panic! I got really worried this time around but it really is mind over matter. I knew the test. I sat looking at the arena and went through the test in my head 2 times then said it out loud to my stand-by caller. Then I basically told myself to stop being stupid, I know it and I just need to crack on! At the end of the day the worst thing that can happen is you do make a mistake and get 2 points deducted!
 
Only ever done tests with caller in lessons in a ride so no real experience of that but I find learning the test I incorporate the half halts and things to watch into the visualisation / dressage in living room stage. So in p12/13 whichever it is with the canter across the diagonal is canter to past x, leg, keep straight, leg, half halt, transition and so on for the rest.
 
Thanks JTFD - looking at the videos it really does seem so fast, so I'm really going to concentrate on slowing her down a bit this time. The problem is, because she gets tense, if I ask her to slow down, she's likely to raise her head and really argue.

JennBags - I do the same, I'm quite good at visualising the whole thing, it's just when I'm actually there it's much quicker but I need to be ready for it this time.

Elbie - Thanks for that, I'm trying to pre-plan far more. I'm thinking when I go down the c/l and turn left, I need to plan that before I hit X, as I'm making my turn I need to think about the 20m circle at E. When I get to second half of circle, I'm planning my trot/walk/trot in the K corner etc. etc. And I totally agree, if it goes wrong I have sis there with the test, and it's only 2 marks lost. It's not like I'm trying to qualify or anything (though I got 62.5% last time so I'm trying not to pressure myself to equal that!) It is a sacrificial test so if I mess it up, it doesn't matter.

Wishful - Thanks, pretty much what I've said above, I need to plan half halts :)
 
I hate having a caller, had a caller twice and had to stop listening as it just ruined my rhythm by riding to their voice rather than with my horse (If that makes sense!) I ride through it at home with the sheet in my pocket, if I get confused I just read it and then do it until I can memorise it off by heart. I also just do one step ahead during the test, but I like to memorize in chunks of 3 or four, so I can link movements together :)
 
SaffronWelshDragon said:
Thanks JTFD - looking at the videos it really does seem so fast, so I'm really going to concentrate on slowing her down a bit this time. The problem is, because she gets tense, if I ask her to slow down, she's likely to raise her head and really argue.
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Depends very much on how you ask her...!
 
Thought I'd better update you all, thanks for all your advice - it worked! :D

As JFTD said before we went in, as long as you go down the centre line and know whether you need to turn left or right, you'll be fine. And that's what happened :) I'm so pleased with myself as it would have been so easy to just get sis to call for me, but I like to push myself a bit more each time, and I was getting too comfortable having the test called. I'm not sure what happened, but I didn't forget the test, and everything felt like it flowed. I think that because I had to think and plan everything, I was firmer with Saf (she rebelled slightly, see pic below!) and didn't let her just run around in the canter. I had to make time, so I slowed her down. I'm feeling so positive, and would urge anyone who's in the same situation to just have a go :D

Full report is here: https://www.facebook.com/dragondressage14

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And a rather epic fail!

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