How do you start doing freestyle?

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I have never done anything like this before, so I was wondering whether someone could give me some ideas regarding where on earth I would start from
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Start by looking at what the requirements are.

Compare these to the movements that your horse does best.

I then choreograph a test.

Then I cheat and send it off to have music put to it. However I try to think of what genre of music I would like to use.

Why not start by going to watch the regionals. All the music classes are on Saturday 16th at Myerscough
 
I have watched some before... but just don't know where to start myself
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I know all the required elements are on the sheets I have at the back of the Novice test... but just don't know what to do next
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No one I know does it, so not as if I can ask for some advice from others either
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So we're at novice level?

What is her better rein - left or right?

can she do a good trot halt transition or is she better walk halt?

has she got a good medium walk? how about free walk?

what novice tests that you have ridden do you find flow nicely and you score well in?

does she stay balanced in changes of rein?

is she good at give and re takes?
 
It's important to make a good impression right from the start. So you want to enter on her best rein. If she does a better walk halt than tror halt enter in walk. Although you are not marked on the entry first impressions do count!!

I have been riding a lot of babys so rather than do a straight line to the judge showing off how wobbly we are I go off on the diagonal, hiding it a little.

I have one horse who gets tense and can go irregular in the walk, so I have put the walk down the longside away from the judge making it harder for them to spot it.

I have another horse who has scored a 10 before now for his free walk so he does a big 20m circle free walk to really show it off.

Remember that the judges don't know what is coming next so you want to make it as obvious as possible - I try and keep the pattern symmetrical so they know what to expect.

If your horse takes a little to settle in the test then don't do a compulsory movement straight away.

You may have watched before but I would suggest going to Myerscough, take a pen and paper and write down what you liked best about certian tests. If you thought a move looked really good at a specific place in the arena then take note of it. Then check out the scores that people are getting. and see what is marking well.

Also google freestyles and see what comes up - there are people that will help to put a test together for you. and as Nikki... says ask your instructor.
 
So we're at novice level? Yes, I would like to start her at Novice level and perhaps work towards an elementary over a few months

What is her better rein - left or right? Right rein is definitely the best one for Hannah, she is more supple through her body

can she do a good trot halt transition or is she better walk halt? Trot to halt is not a problem
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has she got a good medium walk? how about free walk? She has a good medium work (gets 7s mostly) and a decent free walk (again, gets 7s)

what novice tests that you have ridden do you find flow nicely and you score well in? I haven't done many on her recently because she has not been back competing long (had a baby
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). We have done some long arenas and short arenas, but she seems better with more to keep her brain occupied. Her medium trot work still needs work because since coming back she is not extended as she can...

does she stay balanced in changes of rein? Yes, she stays balanced... the more she has to keep her brain occupied the better. Less long trots around the arena suit her
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is she good at give and re takes? Yes, she is good at this
 
Ok, I am new to this too, but having great fun and spending hours and hours doing it myself.........so what I did was, listened to hours and hours and hours of music.......video my horse on many occasions as found his rhythmn changed from lesson to me riding...using lesson video as knew this was right!!!!Then sat down with pen and paper....ok, pen and HUGE pad and just started to draw up a routine that I felt went with the music BUT incorporating the essentials, ie for elem. 10m circle left/right in trot, 15m circle left/right canter, leg yield left right.........walk.......it kinda just evolved........it took me months but hey I am a novice and needed to do it cheaply!!!!! I then put some music together on MixMeister (£20 or so to download where you can mix/cut/edit etc.....) put it on my ipod and rode to it....and videod same........changed it a little.......re-edited music.........rode again.....changed the routine a little ...Voila!!!!!! Most probably the worst way to do it but cheap and cheerful and great fun!!!!!!
 
Ok, this is quite tricky as I don't want to suggest something I do with my own but how about something like this:

P signal start
working trot
A enter arena
L halt, immobility, salute
proceed working trot
XB 1/2 10m circle
P 15m circle
A down centre line
XE 1/2 10m circle
V 15m circle
FXH medium trot
C 3 loop serp
KXM medium trot
C med walk

does that help to get you started?

Draw it out on a piece of paper, see what it looks like. think what it would feel like to ride, think what it might look like to the judge. try riding it
 
Thanks... That helps a little.

So can you do other things than the compulsory movements???

Would you have all the trot work together, all the canter work and all the walk work in the same fashion??? Do you have separate music for walk, trot and canter?

I told you I was a complete beginner at this
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Good advice already, main thing is get on and try.Work it out on paper ,ride it [ in 20x60] and time it,adjust it ,enjoy it.
Get it videoed ,then either send it away for music to be put to it [cost about £100 ,I think] or get his pace tempo timed and find music you like with that tempo ,it can take a long time to be original or try the ones that a lot of people use eg, the entertainer. Good luck ,it is hard work especially if you have no help but worth it
 
Yes you can do things other than the compulsory movements - as long as they are not above that level - you will lose marks if they are.

You want to look at the flow of the test. I quite often have my trot then my walk then my canter and back to trot to finish. However with my young stallion he looses his attention after the free walk so I have split the walks up.

It is entirely up to your artistic interpretation.

Yes you need to have seperate music.

I am at Myerscough on the saturday if you wanted to watch and then talk about it after?
 
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Yes you can do things other than the compulsory movements - as long as they are not above that level - you will lose marks if they are.

You want to look at the flow of the test. I quite often have my trot then my walk then my canter and back to trot to finish. However with my young stallion he looses his attention after the free walk so I have split the walks up.

It is entirely up to your artistic interpretation.

Yes you need to have seperate music.

I am at Myerscough on the saturday if you wanted to watch and then talk about it after?

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What date is the competition at Myerscough?

I am competing at Richmond on 16th, but depending on times should be able to watch some as I hear the Novice classes are quite big due to one venue cancelling???
 
Lyrics ........ummmmmmmm.......I love em........Judges hate them!!!!!! tehe!!!!!!!!!I am going to be know as the lyrics person soon I am sure!!!! The more the better!!!!!!! Puts bums on seats.....which makes more people wanting to see dressage.....which makes more money............bigger events........nuff said............I am going to retire to bed....!!!!!!
 
I prefer the tests with lyrics... otherwise it just reminds me of lift music
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Is there a list of music you can use, or do you have a pretty free rein so to speak?
 
lyrics really is a big no no where judges are concerned, try and keep the test in a pattern so the judge has an idea of whats going to happen. Try and keep your music of the same or similar genre, we have often used really random music so if were the last in a big class the judge wakes up and isnt bored
 
In one of my novice freestyle I start with the music (and words) there may be trouble ahead but while there's moonlight and music and love and romance lets face the music and dance!!!

Once I start the actual test after the halt though it all goes instrumental. All the judges have loved hi music.

think it is 'frowned' upon to have lots of lyrics though
 
Apparently the Judges do not lyrics because they get put off..........but if the test is correct, rhythmical surely they can see that? The audience also appreciate a little more variety.............maybe in time...........???
 

I was writing at Aintree a couple of weeks ago for the Elem FS, the judge wanted to see a nice flowing test, showing of your horses best bits (oh and they can suss what you are pants at very easily!) with music with a strong tempo well siuted to your horse. I think that lyrics are distracting for judges because the ear has to be trained to hear the music behind the lyrics and when you have to compare the music to the horse the lyrics get in the way (don't know if that is clear enough?)
 
Have a look at Freestyle Dressage's website - they have are lots of tips on this subject and can get you started. Iit does take a while to sort out your floor plan and music but it's so much fun and your horse will love it. My boy perks up no end when he hears his "star wars" music cos it means canter NOW! and he has even squealed and bucked in a test at that transition in anticipation so I know he is listening to it.

Good luck - go and watch as much novice DTM as possible.
 
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