I'm thinking of joining the Dark Side...

S

SummerStorm

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Yes, I'm thinking of allowing SJing to take a bit of a back seat and try my hand at Stressage...
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So, any tips anyone? I'm looking at Prelim 1, 4 and 7 and the only one of those that I've ever ridden is prelim 7 (60% - that was my first and only dressage test so far!) I've no idea what's in the tests or what size areanas they're done in and I'd really like to find out before I commit from one to the other. Does anyone have a copy of any of the tests so I could have a look at them?

I thought it would be best to try prelim first (they are the easiest I think...? I'm not keen on the walk/trot tests). Also, how much of an outline are you expected to have? It's just that although Silver works from behind, he never did quite get the idea of an outline...

Also, are loosering sweet iron snaffles and crank nosebands dressage legal and is it ok to do it in a forward cut saddle (ok, ok, I admit it - I'm trying to avoid saying 'jumping' saddle...
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) if you don't have a dressage one?

...

Alternatively, if anyone would like to bring me back to my senses, please fell free
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ETS: This is what we usually look like - is he working well enough or do I need more practice before I should go? I don't particularly want to look like an idiot...
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a degree of outline is needed at prelim level to get a decent mark. however if your horse is working nicely from behind and is active and bending round your leg etc then you should be able to get a good mark anyways.
 
boring... but i must admit ive done my fair share.

still boring though. My last dressage i vowed never to return. although we won the class, all the plaiting up, traveling, waiting to ride for 6 mins.


no thanks!

but you never know you might enjoy!!
 
You took the words right out of my mouth P_G...

Thanks for your thoughts though P_G - do you reckon we look ok to have a go? I'm not expecting to win or anything but I don't really want to look stupid...

Just a thought though, as Silver's a native, does he need to be plaited or not? And also, should I wear gloves or not?

Sorry for all the questions x
 
It depends on where you are how many people plait. Little local things often people don't bother. I often don't because Spike hates standing still and being primped, esp if he thinks there is a show going on!

I'm sure you won't look stupid. I treat it as a test of how my horse has improved since last time rather than trying to win (this may be because I have no chance of winning though)
 
you must wear gloves. plaiting is up to you, some people dont even plait at affliated. im sure at unaffliated you will be fine not plaited up, as long as he looks smart. x
 
Its up to you whether you plait or not, whatever you think shows your horse off better, you can use the plaits to deceive the judges eye and make him look to have a rounder neck!!

Prelim 4 and 7 are lovely tests, I get haunted by prelim 1!! The last time I did it my horse (he was only 5 at the time!) tried to bugger off out of the arena!! I just find everything comes to quickly in prelim 1!!

Do you have copies of the test? I know a great website that do them with diagrams of the moves!!

Good luck anyways!!
 
Go for it! You can ride in a forward cut saddle if that's what you have. Do plait him, he will look very smart. Definately gloves for you. No bright colours - white or black saddlecloth or numnah. You don't have to have any flash equipment just make sure what you do have is clean and tidy. Watched a lovely elementary test a couple of weeks ago - lovely horse, clearly a very expensive saddle, lovely jacket on the rider - but long ponytail and no hairnet - ruined the whole picture.
Don't forget you will always gain extra marks for being accurate
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Give it a go. You've nothing to loose and so much to gain. And as has been said previously it wont do your jumping any harm at all.
IMO if you ride an accurate test in a rythm you will still get pretty good marks at unaff prelims.
Years ago I hated the thought of Dressage, then I got into it with my old girl, then I drifted from Dressage into Eventing with my big lad, but now he cant jump so we're doing pure dressage again.
Have fun, its not all bad
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You might even suprise yourself and enjoy it.
 
Thanks guys!

So, I think I'm getting this (slowly...)
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- plait Silver up (how many plaits should he have and should I do the tail as well?)

- I need to wear gloves (what colour?)

- is a black numnah (saddle shaped one) with thin white piping ok or should I abandon a numnah all together?

- would putting my hair in a plait be ok? or should it be in a bun? (bun's have a habit of falling out as my hair is quite heavy)

- wear my blue jacket, white shirt, cream jods and long black boots?

anything I've forgotten?
 
Wear a hairnet and a bun, what colours your jacket? Black gloves with a black jacket, brown with tweed.

If the tail is a little wild I'd plait it as well, as long as its neat, if your tail plaits are a little rubbish then dont bother, just use to serum to tidy it up!!

And I'd do small plaits 13 or 15 may be.
 
I do 11 plaits on the mane then the forelock makes an even number - but experiment and see what looks best for his neck

Gloves yes - I wear white but at the RC theres a mixture of white and black, not sure whats more correct...

Numnah - if you have a white dressage square go for that, if not you're not going to be marked down or anything, I'd still wear the black/white piping one

Hair - I just shove mine in a hair net lol but whatever's most comfortable - whilst looking smart - for you

Your clothes all sound fine!

Just wanted to add Im only doing prelim tests and the min and most the judges I've been talking to of course they would like the full rounded outline, but the judge I spoke to said, especially at prelim level, they just like to see the horse moving from behind whilst maintaining the correct bend. Good luck and have fun! I love dressage as I always find something new I can work on (even though at the moment that seems like everything lol!) and its really easy to track your progress through the score sheets xx
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It's not the dark side it's the light side!!! Dressage is certainly not boring! I used to SJ then came over to BD a few years ago and have never turned back!

White or black gloves are fine

Although you can use a saddlecoth of any colour (as long as it's plain), the norm and most accepted is a plain white saddle cloth

White/beige jods are fine and white shirt with a dressage collar or stock and pin (I like seeing a stock and pin, much smarter)

This gives you a good idea what you need to wear:
http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/info/membership_started.html


I have really heavy hair too and I put my hair in a bun and put a hair net on and then another hairband over the bun.
 
Hello,

I have waist length hair which is a total pain for BD/BSJA & this is what I do... (deep breath...) Take the front hair ie from the front to above my ears & plait so I've got it out of my eyes & a long thin plait hanging down at the back, & band it. Plait the rest from the nape downwards incorporating the thin plait in the middle section & band it. Fold this plait in half & then in half again, or into thirds dep on how long it is. Shove 2 thick bands round the middle of the plait bundle. Put a hairnet on top. This method will stand up to a day of BSJA!! If you've got a hat with lacing at the back you might need to poke the plait bundle between the hat & the lacing & do the lacing up underneath to stop your hat going over your eyes.

Altho I do often wonder whether it would be a hell of a lot easier to get myself hogged...

Whatever you do, don't forget your gloves!!
 
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