Kid's dressage - HELP needed!!

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redmone

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Hi everyone,

Well I'm back needing more advice!

Firstly daughter is doing great on Little Dolly - everything is going very well, couldn't be happier!!! :D:D:D

Daughter has decided she would like to enter our riding school's dressage show in a few weeks and we need some help!!

Firstly - the test is Prelim 13, so any comments, thoughts or advice on that would be great. Where do I get the "test" from? I've found a point by point walkthrough of it on the net, but how can I be sure it's correct?

Secondly is clothing etc... As most of you probably know, daughter is 10 and Dolly is a chestnut.

I'm in the market to buy daughter a new jacket so the timing is good. She has a black one currently, and wants another black one. Now I know tweed is probably the thing, but we really don't like tweed. Does it matter? What should she wear really.

Also what colour jods, shirt, tie etc... and short or long boots? What to do with hair also. Sorry for all the questions, very very inexperienced at this!!!

And what about Dolly? We have brown tack, and a brown numnah - is that ok, or does she need a white numnah? Plaited or not plaited (she's a new forest chunky type!!!).

It's all a bit of fun, and there's no pressure on daughter at all, but she really wants to do it properly!!!

Cornettos all round for any help given!!

And also the promise of a Dolly and Daughter update, with pics, really soon!!

Thank you!!
:D:D:D
 
Black jacket.
Shirt.
PC Tie
Beige jods.
Jod boots and clips.

Keep it simple. I personally like children to look like children and that they are having fun.
Plait them both up lol :)
Clean numnah/saddle cloth and clean tack.

BIG SMILES!!!
 
WoopsiiD - you're a STAR!!!

Thank you!!! I'll order that test tomorrow.

Brown or white numnah, or doesn't it matter?

It is just a bit of fun. Lots of kids are off to shows etc...and we're probably not going to leave the riding school (still learning !!!) so it's nice for her to have a go at anything that she can do at the school.

Any it's rosettes for all, so that's a bonus!!!

We're really lucky the RS do so much. I'm going to ask if an instructor can help her practice the test in her private lessons. Think she'll be ok - just need to work on the canter bit.

Thanks again! :D
 
No comments on the tet as I havnt ridden it for a while. But in general she will pick up marks for being accurate so transitions on the marker and if it says between markers try to get them in the middle. You can buy the test from the british dressage website or try asking if the riding school has a copy.

As for clothing dolly being chestnut makes no difference. Daughter can wear a black, navy or tweed jacket it is up to her. As for jods white or beige but some people also wear canary with either a shirt and tie or a stock. Brown tack is absoultley fine and at the level she is competing then a brown numnah will be fine too but if she wants to look the part then white is the way forward. If she has a pulled mane then I personly would plait and if she has a long mane then I would running plait but its fine for a native to go un plaited at that level also its just personal choice. Another thing to check is that dollys bit is dressage legal as last time you posted I seem to remember she was in a kimblewick, idealy she should be in a snaffle but if it is an in house competition then just ask the staff.
Good luck and enjoy and I expect several pics and videos :D
 
So nice to here that you are having fun with your pony that is what its all about at the end of the day.
Black jacket is fine, i prefer blue but lots of people wear black for dressage. Brown Jodphur boots and cream jods with joddy clips or elastic sewn on. Shirt and tie, my daughter wears she shcool shirt. Gloves can be cream/black or brown. Again i prefer cream for dressage.
You every day tack is fine just keep it plain and simple, and make sure the pony is in a dressage legal bit (snaffle).
The prelim test can be bought from any tack shop or from the british dressage web site.
When riding the test, ride it quietly and as carefully as possible. Get to your markers, make sure you ride your corners, and that your circles are a nice shape and large.
Don't worry if thinks go wrong at any point just think I'll ride the next movement better.
Oh and tell you daughter to breath and smile its fun!
 
Oh yay delighted to here its going so well. Was just thinking of you guys and Dolly while I was on my Dolly earlier on. The clothing listed above is perfect and I second the SMILES!! A fun way for her to practice learning the test is get her to make "arena markers" and lay them out in the garden and walk/trot/canter the test on foot! It's fun and a great way for kids to learn the test with no pressure. Order for markers is:

C

H M



E B



K F


A
 
How exciting!!

Dress code is fairly flexible. Jacket can be black or navy or tweed in conservative colours, shirt should be white/cream with stock and tie (preferably white/cream), light coloured jods, long boots (black or brown) or short with chaps (black or brown). Pony tack is fine in brown, you do not need to buy a white numnah, black or brown is fine. You do not have to plait up but it might be fun to do if you have time.

Just go have fun, I'd be really surprised if anyone complains about turn out at a local show, it should all be about having a good day! And take loads of photos!
 
Thanks for all the advice everyone!!

I think we'll get her a new jacket (black probably) and either white or beige jods.

White shirt and probably pony club tie (or the nice wine red one she wore for show last year - that was nice). She has black short boots - don't know if it should be brown really, but I'm sure they'll be fine, and black gloves. Oh and those funky clips around the boots, which fall off all the time :D

Dolly - if daughter wears white jods, might treat her to a white numnah - and will plait her up just for fun.

Should daughter's hair be in a net or will a plait be ok?

She's in a straight bar pelham, and I'm sure it'll be fine for her to stay in this, with it being a riding school event. Will ask though.

It's all for the fun of it anyway. I was quite surprised she wanted to have a go - not shown much interest in dressage really, but she's really excited and just wants to have a go to see how she gets on.

Once I get the sheet, I'll practice practice practice with her!!! And probably her pony models too at home!!! :D

Thanks everyone!! I'll do an update with pics soon - got some lovely ones with all this good weather. We've hacked our butts off!!! It's been :D

xxx
 
One big tip for dressage is not to over practice on the pony - or they learn the test and start rushing off at certain points when they thing you're going to canter! Practice certain movements on the pony in your normal lesson. Put markers out in your back garden, and get the child to "do" the test so that she learns it. Only run through the actual test once or twice for real.
 
Honey08 said:
One big tip for dressage is not to over practice on the pony - or they learn the test and start rushing off at certain points when they thing you're going to canter! Practice certain movements on the pony in your normal lesson. Put markers out in your back garden, and get the child to "do" the test so that she learns it. Only run through the actual test once or twice for real.
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Oooooo glad you said that! I think actually we would have done the complete opposite!

Daughter claimed to have memorised some of it so we started to have a go but Dolly wasn't playing ball and wanted to be outdoors, so we went hacking instead!!!

Will get daughter to practice it on foot, and a couple of times on Dolly, and the rest I think the toy ponies will have to put up with :D

I remember when we first got Dolly you said the key to everything was hacking, hacking and more hacking, and to be honest that was the one thing we couldn't do so much of as we went straight into winter. Well we've really made up for that recently!!! Been out so much in this lovely weather - my feet are killing me!!! But Dolly is such a good hacker and seems to love it so much! Wait til you see my pics! :D

Thanks for great advice x x x
 
Practise sections of the test, just like 2 movements at a time. Don't ride the whole thing through too often. They tend not to anticipate it if you have only practised sections cause they don't know which one's coming up.

Is the test an fun in house one? If it's no they may say she has to use a snaffle or go HC which will mean she won't be able to win a rosette but would be able to take part.

Hope she has fun!
 
WoopsiiD said:
Plait daughter!!
Black boots to go with black jacket is my preferance.

...maybe a nice and shiny white saddle cloth-just because no reason LOL
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Couldn't agree more!!! Going to have to start hiding these saddle cloths from OH soon!! It seems I'm getting a bit of a "habit" forming with them! :o

We've soon had Dolly 8 months, and we have at least 5! :eek: Saw a black and white leopard print one today with matching headcollor!! REALLY wanted it but decided ginger and black and white leopard print didn't go! :(

Glad you said black boots, didn't want to buy brown ones!!! :D
 
galaxy23 said:
Practise sections of the test, just like 2 movements at a time. Don't ride the whole thing through too often. They tend not to anticipate it if you have only practised sections cause they don't know which one's coming up.

Is the test an fun in house one? If it's no they may say she has to use a snaffle or go HC which will mean she won't be able to win a rosette but would be able to take part.

Hope she has fun!
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It's just a fun in house one. I'm sure she'll be ok, but I'll ask anyway.

Glad it was mentioned on here, cause I didn't give it a thought. We'd love to get her in a snaffle at some point in the future, but for now it helps know we have brakes to rely on!! :)

Even though the dressage show is just a bit of fun, it's a great excuse to buy some new things and give Dolly (and daughter!) a good clean and polish! :D
 
I'd go for cream jods, because white get SO mucky with children! Plus are the most correct for PC stuff... and don't give the awful moment in the rain when your knickers shine through!

Jacket- if you don't want tweed then black or navy is fine, but make sure it fits really well... The 'you'll grow into it' thing never works- sister had a jacket that hung round her knees when she was onboard because of that!
 
Ooooh can give you lots of tips. We had an in house show today and i was the dressage judge!!;)
Things i look out for accuracy, using the corners with there body bending correctly, relaxed and forward, they dont have to have there head glued down for prelim even at outside shows. You get double points for the long walk on a free rein, so thats something to practice on. And nice straight lines.

I think at home anything goes for turnout but a white numnah does look pretty.:D;) And they also look nice when they start showjuming so its an invesment!!!

Feel free to message me on FB if you want anymore tips.
Zoe xx
 
zoelouisem said:
Ooooh can give you lots of tips. We had an in house show today and i was the dressage judge!!;)
Things i look out for accuracy, using the corners with there body bending correctly, relaxed and forward, they dont have to have there head glued down for prelim even at outside shows. You get double points for the long walk on a free rein, so thats something to practice on. And nice straight lines.

I think at home anything goes for turnout but a white numnah does look pretty.:D;) And they also look nice when they start showjuming so its an invesment!!!

Feel free to message me on FB if you want anymore tips.
Zoe xx
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Keep watching your inbox.....I'll be mithering you soon!!! BIG thanks for the offer!!! :D
 
blood_magik said:
oh hun, 5 is nothing :rolleyes:

good luck to your munchkin - hope she enjoys herself :D
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I know, but I thought it was quite a lot for 8 months!!!!

Only two rugs though.....oh no three actually, hiding one from OH in the loft.....and got two more on the way (but bargain - £10 each!!!:)).....poo that makes five :o

Thanks!!! :D
 
Lolo said:
I'd go for cream jods, because white get SO mucky with children! Plus are the most correct for PC stuff... and don't give the awful moment in the rain when your knickers shine through!

Jacket- if you don't want tweed then black or navy is fine, but make sure it fits really well... The 'you'll grow into it' thing never works- sister had a jacket that hung round her knees when she was onboard because of that!
Click to expand...

We're still stuck between white and beige/cream. She has canary yellow but I think that's a bit too bright.

I thought white would look good if we got a white saddlecloth too. Not sure!!

I know what you mean about the "growing into it" think - never looks smart really. She's got a jacket already, an ebay bargain, looks lovely but you can tell it's not a perfect fit. Thought I'd treat her to a nice new one, now she has her own pony! :D
 
"I know, but I thought it was quite a lot for 8 months!!!!

Only two rugs though.....oh no three actually, hiding one from OH in the loft.....and got two more on the way (but bargain - £10 each!!!).....poo that makes five "



lol all my stuff has been hidden away in the garage so my dad can't see it when he comes over :D

my current count is 12 rugs, 8 "everyday" numnahs and 4 show saddlepads.

please post lots and lots of pictures :p
 
blood_magik said:
lol all my stuff has been hidden away in the garage so my dad can't see it when he comes over :D

my current count is 12 rugs, 8 "everyday" numnahs and 4 show saddlepads.

please post lots and lots of pictures :p
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Wow! That's a lorra lorra rugs etc..!! My boot looks like a tack shop now!

Definately will post pics. Going to do an update thread soon, so look out for that! Got some lovely hacking pictures with all this lovely weather!!

Tomorrow our driveway is getting it's own set of arena letters apparently, so daughter can practice all she wants on foot!!! :D
 
redmone said:
We're still stuck between white and beige/cream. She has canary yellow but I think that's a bit too bright.

I thought white would look good if we got a white saddlecloth too. Not sure!!

I know what you mean about the "growing into it" think - never looks smart really. She's got a jacket already, an ebay bargain, looks lovely but you can tell it's not a perfect fit. Thought I'd treat her to a nice new one, now she has her own pony! :D
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Top tip for the yellow jods which aren't gross... By beige and stick them in the machine with bright yellow dusters- turns them a pale creamy yellow. Did it recently with my sister's 'past their best' jods, and they look brilliant!
 
Lolo said:
Top tip for the yellow jods which aren't gross... By beige and stick them in the machine with bright yellow dusters- turns them a pale creamy yellow. Did it recently with my sister's 'past their best' jods, and they look brilliant!
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I'm liking that!! Thanks for the tip!

:)
 
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