How realistic would it be for me....

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lucy1984

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....and my rising 4 year old to try a basic walk/trot dressage test later in the year?

....(EDITED to say not a 'novice' test but a very basic test!
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I broke her in as a 3yo April 2009. She has been turned away over winter and I'm hoping to bring her back into work April time again when she will be 4 years old.

We have already established walk/trot/canter, walking and trotting over poles flat on the ground. She is very responsive to the leg, like a feather, I think that was down to doing lots of long reining? She got her balance pretty quick too. Got her fit to the stage where I was riding her for just over an hour (hacking and in fields) but then soon had to turn her away.

I'm hoping to build her up slowly again in April, do lots of hill work (there is a lovely steepish hill where I am) and have private weekly lessons on schooling her properly.

How long do you think it will take for me to build her up nicely where she is working in an outline?

Also I've never done a dressage test before, what will be expected? How long do they last? Do you think I stand a chance of taking her in a class before 2011? Or should I just wait til she is 5 yo?

Picture of said horse (her first canter
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I assume you will be doing unafill dressage to begin with and do you mean to go straight out at novice level? You can start with a walk trot test and see how she goes. The next level is prelim then novice is the third level.
I would bring her back into work and have a few lessons and see how she is going then make a desition about wether to compeat or not.
 
Also your horse will be expected to be obediant and starting to work in a basic outline. (for the walk trot tests)
A test is normaly about 4 - 5 mins long.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I assume you will be doing unafill dressage to begin with and do you mean to go straight out at novice level? You can start with a walk trot test and see how she goes. The next level is prelim then novice is the third level.
I would bring her back into work and have a few lessons and see how she is going then make a desition about wether to compeat or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol i thought that novice was the very lowest one?
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I didnt realise it was the 3rd level. In that case then I mean a very basic test.
 
I think maybe trying a Prelim first (or even a W/T) would be better then going straight into Novice. Novice involves Medium Trot and Canter, rein back etc. So may be a bit much to start with.

But yes, I think you would be fine to go and have a go at a bit of dressage! I did when Bodey was 4 years old.
 
My wee stallion who I broke in a few months ago is being aimed at a prelim 13+19 tests end of this month (if the snow disappears) and he is 4 this year too by the end of the year I hope to have done some 70cm BSJA classes with him and some affiliated dressage, maybe a wee nursery hunter trial too. Then next year I can see what he is good at and maybe do some BE intro's with him.
I think if you are prepared to spend this long backing her and giving her time off etc. then I would wait until next year to do 'proper' stuff with her. Good luck it's always nice to bring a horse on and see it move up the grades.
 
I think you should go for it! A lot of local riding clubs do a very basic walk/trot test and are very supportive of newcomers and young horses. I've even seen kids do it on the lead rein! Go along and watch one first so you know what to expect. It'll be good experience for you both. Also, take some pics so you can show us!
 
i dont see why you wouldnt be able to do a simple walk and trot test this year, at the end of the day if it all goes wrong atleast it will be a learning curve and experience will be gained
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Go for it, BD offer (unaffiliated) walk trot tests (introductory tests - the newest and now the very first level of dressage). They are just simple movements like circles and changes of rein in walk and trot, very simple and great for the first time out
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I'd say go for it, enjoy and have fun. Try not to think of it as a competition but a schooling session. You do get a few riders that use the walk/trot tests as a warm up class before doing the prelim class (a bit unfair i think to the true walk/trot riders/horses). As far as i can work out there are two Intro test A and B, and the Pony Club D test (available to view on Pony Club website). All 3 are straightforward and include 10m 1/2 circles and simple changes of rein. At this level and on a young horse you should get lots of encouragement and constructive critisism. I would also like to think the judge would be available for a quick chat at the end of the class.

Good Luck and remember to enjoy.
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ps Forgot to mention, you should be able to get a copy of the tests from your local saddlery
 
To be honest even if you can't find a walk trot test near you (our RC don't run them) a prelim isn't too much of a stretch if you aren't worried about winning.

Most of the prelim tests require walk trot and canter on both reins. You will probably have to canter a 20m circle, and in trot may need to do a serpentine or 10m loop. Obviously you are aiming for a consistent rhythm and outline but if your horse is obeidient and performs each move you should get a mark at around 50%.

Lots of people doing prelim are using it as an intro for a youngster or have never competes before so don't worry too much about it. If your canter is dodgy or even if you don't manage it you will just get some comments from the judge on your sheet like "ran into canter, unbalanced" they are never nasty and normally can spot a baby horse and will make encouraging comments.

Treat it as a schooling session, don't worry if you don't manage a movement just carry on and you will be fine. It is great experience just for your horse to see the boards and the judges table/car etc.
 
I would go for it if you have three established paces I would enter either a walk trot or a prelim at the end fo the day if the horse can canter you may aswell pay to get marked on all three paces rather than just two.
 
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