How much do you talk to your horse during a dressage test?

[TarrSteps]

The rolkur point is rather taking it to the extreme, and there are rules in force about rolkur or hyperflexion (whatever it is called ), they just aren't enforced.

Which then begs the question, why enforce the rule about use of voice during a test.

If they can ignore that rule, then why not randomly ignore others.

It's not really the best analogy as the issues with monitoring apply to the schooling area, not to mention that there are still grey areas and arguments over definition. Having your horse's head in x position is not against the rules, doing so with force or for a certain amount of time is. Re voice in the ring, it's very clearly not allowed. No debate. Plus the judge has one person to watch and nothing else to do for the duration of the test. If you used force to push a horse into rolkur in a test, I feel sure you'd hear about it from the judge.

A better analogy would be the use of spurs or a bit which does not meet requirements. If using an illegal bit gave you an advantage, would you expect to use it? Obviously there are people who DO use illegal bits in situations where they don't feel they are going to get caught but that doesn't make it any less a rule. Or compare it to carrying a stick in tests which don't allow it. That would convey an advantage, you could argue it's clearer to the horse if only because it would mimic training . . . still not allowed.

I have used my voice in tests, most usually for a horse that's really sticking or getting upset, but then I expect to get my -2 or, if I keep doing it, risk elimination. Realistically it's never come to that point (although I have certainly been docked and rightly so) and usually if I need my voice I have bigger issues! I have seen one person get the big E for it, though, as she was very loud and not saying very nice things. She then argued with the judge, so clearly was incapable of keeping her mouth shut even in her own best interests.

Anyway, yes it's done. We are only human. BUT it is against the rules and as a coach I would never advise anyone to plan or rely on it, just as I would not suggest someone use an illegal bit just because there was only a slim chance of being caught.

 

[PucciNPoni]

Other than the occasional onset of Tourettes I try to not use my voice at all. In fact, I forget to even breathe!

However, I did have one particular "tourettes" episode that I don't know if anyone even noticed....but I was riding one of my early Elem tests this season and I do have a hard time remembering tests if I'm doing two - and I spend WEEKs committing them to memory but they still jumble up together. So I had a friend read one test for me and half way through she either went too fast or too slow and I had a momentary mental meltdown cos I couldn't even remember the movement I was riding, let alone what was next and for some reason what she'd just SAID wasn't making sense - so this involuntairy "SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHiiiiiiiii t" sort of hissed out my teeth. It was kind of loud, but maybe because I never moved my lips no one thought it was me? Especially since I quickly regained my compusure and kept on going LOL


One of my first EVER tests was on a very strong bolshy unbalanced Welshy that we'd taken to a local show just to have a try of dressage. It was on grass and I knew that we'd be on our heads in any canter -- so I had a word with the judge ahead of time and just explained that we'd be doing the whole test in WT just so we could have a go. I must have been saying "whoooaaaa whoa, steady....!" the whole way round because I did get some comments about excessive use of voice would get me eliminated. Other comments were that the mare liked to be in charge....yeah, ya reckon? That'd be an understatement.

 

[rowy]

I don't tend to although sometimes click but just automatically do it but haven't been penilized yet.
I do give the horses neck a little scratch with the hand the judge can't see if they are worried or need comforting that they did good.