I am Scared - Dressage

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BFG

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I have just sent off my entry form for the Fearns Farm Unaffiliated Dressage Championship at Aintree in December. I have qualified as a novice but have only done 4.

Apart from the big occasion the one thing that is bothering me more that anything is that i am not allowed a caller and have never ridden a test without one. When i go in my mind goes blank and i cant even remember if i am going left of right at the top.

Any useful tips on remembering tests greatly appreciated.

Also has anyone ever done this Championship, any tips?
 
Put a tiny dot on your glove to show you which way to turn when you have gone down the centre line. I always find that once I have that bit done the rest of the test just flows on from there,

With regards to learning it, I find doing it on foot really helps, I also have the tests on my ipod so I can listen to them in the car to help me remember

Hope this helps

x
 
I haven't done any championships or anything like that but have recently gone from using a caller to learning the tests - I can't even practice them properly as we don't have a full size menage!
I find (this will sound daft!) drawing a plan of the menage on a bit of paper then tracing where you need to go (i.e circle at A etc) and thinking in your head what pace your're doing - almost riding it in your head - helps.
I sit with the test on my desk at work and go through it whenever I have a minute, and just before I go to sleep at night (!) and this seems to help it sink in.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Put a tiny dot on your glove to show you which way to turn when you have gone down the centre line. I always find that once I have that bit done the rest of the test just flows on from there,

With regards to learning it, I find doing it on foot really helps, I also have the tests on my ipod so I can listen to them in the car to help me remember

Hope this helps

x

[/ QUOTE ]

How did you get them onto your ipod? Can you buy them in the spoken form?
 
I do agree that once you turn left or right after going down the centreline, everything else will come easily -- seriously, it's as if your brain suddenly switches on after that first turn!

The dot on the glove idea is very clever!

As well as walking (and trotting and cantering
smile.gif
) the test yourself, try and visualise it when you are in bed at night. I also find it very useful to write it down, not just the movements but everything I have to do. I write things like, "Enter at A, make sure we are totally straight. Impulsion. Before X half halt, and halt. Trot off immediately, straight to C. Half halt before the turn, then turn right. Half halt before the corner on the outside rein" and so forth -- I waste quite a lot of paper but I find it helps me a lot!
 
Sorry, I wanted to add -- DON'T PANIC. Even if you do get it wrong, nothing happens! You won't be eliminated! Just remember that even the top riders competing at the highest level get their Grand Prix wrong sometimes. It just happens.
 
Might be worth seeing if any venues near you are running the same test before December, then you can go witout a caller and have a practise run?

I'm another who finds running around the living room practising helps, as does writing it out and drawing out the movements.
I don't tend to learn them verbatim, more up the long side, circle at c, change the next long diagonal etc.
 
The "DONT PANIC" advice is good advice.

I would hate it if i let the horse down; i don’t mind him letting me down but would just hate it if i didn’t give him the best chance to do his best test. Why are we all so hard on ourselves.....?

I like the idea of the dot on my gloves and i try and find a venue running the same test so i can practice.

I wish i could just have a caller, my husband always calls my test and i think i am happier when he is in there with me it really settles me and as i have a horse that feeds off my nerves that helps us do a better test.

I feel some calmers coming on (for me that is).
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Put a tiny dot on your glove to show you which way to turn when you have gone down the centre line. I always find that once I have that bit done the rest of the test just flows on from there,

With regards to learning it, I find doing it on foot really helps, I also have the tests on my ipod so I can listen to them in the car to help me remember

Hope this helps

x

[/ QUOTE ]

How did you get them onto your ipod? Can you buy them in the spoken form?

[/ QUOTE ]


yeah try this link http://www.audiodressage.com/
 
i find long arenas easier but remember that the halt can be at x or g and you have all those stupid extra markers to learn!!! try and go and watch this test at a venue near you and that way you will see it done and may find it easier to remember ????
GOOD LUCK x
 
Also, do the kid thing of running round your sitting room doing the movements of the test!
If you know the arena, try to visualise the arena and how it will actually look when you are riding your test.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Also, do the kid thing of running round your sitting room doing the movements of the test!


[/ QUOTE ]

I am that kid!! lol i always do that...
grin.gif

And i put a hair band round my wrist to remind me whether its left or right at the top!!
grin.gif
 
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