Learning dressage tests

C

chestnut cob

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 November 2004
Messages
14,992
Location
Shropshire
community.webshots.com
Am I the only one who doesn't look at it til the morning of the test?!

Got my first dressage for at least 6 months tomorrow and although I have the test, I can't seem to make myself look at it!

TBH though, the times I do learn the test we never do well anyway! Seem to do a lot better when I don't actually want to do it...
blush.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
First rule of dressage ... get someone to read it to you.

Second rule ... lynch them when they read it wrong
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Lmao. Love it. Just why I NEVER read the tests for anyone.
 
Good luck for tomorrow, I am sure it will be fine. Look at it in the morning and watch a couple and you will be surprised how well you remember it.
 
TBH have really gone off dressage recently!

Always thought I wanted to do it, and never jumped much, then horse had an op in Jan to deal with his soft palate collapsing and is now jumping like a stag, so dressage has lost its appeal! I love having my lessons and I love seeing how he goes with my instructor on board, but I can't get much enthusiasm up for actual tests anymore.
 
Awww well then go and have some fun for a while and come back to it later. No point in doing something you dont want to. Horses take up too much time and money not to be enjoyed.
wink.gif
 
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it! I will do it but for the time being at least, I'd rather just to the odd one so I can guage how our scores are changing and how our comments change over time - sort of an independent assesment of how we're getting on.

I do, however, think I would like dressage as part of a ODE...
wink.gif
grin.gif
 
I could only remember one test at a time so when I was doing different tests on the same day I use to cram them between classes, luckily I have a good short term memory! I must admit it was very hard the day I was riding 3 horses and each was doing 2 tests (3 different tests) and the times meant that I was doing one test then another then back to the first then doing the third and then the second... you get the picture
crazy.gif
 
How about learning it 5 minutes before you're supposed to go in to do it? Happened to me today, apparently they changed the test we were doing and didn't tell anyone until this morning, however I only found out when I realised the person before me was doing a different test!!! Had to learn the test in less then 5 minutes and it wasn't allowed be commanded, wasn't a problem though as I won the class!!! I've also arrived at shows before and had to learn 3 tests when I've arrived, havn't gone wrong in a test yet but I reckon it's bound to happen sooner or later!!
 
My mum refuses to read it to either me or my sister.. she sez that it's not fair if she goes wrong for one of us and not the ther... so i always learn them! TBH i find it quite easy really. I tend to do it bowt a week before so i can have a week to practise because boy do i need it!
 
I have to look at them at least a few days before and then turn the front room into an arena and run through it - the neighbours must think I'm mad!
 
I thought I was bad! I always get the test read if allowed (and just read over it once a few days before so I know vaguelly whats involved in case I dont understand something).

If its for eventing where I have to learn it, I usually get my mum out who reads it out to me while Im sitting on the horse and I go and do it twice, that's pretty much it until the actual event. I will do it in my warm-up though.
 
I am actually getting very nervous now!!!

Not only am I absolutly hopeless at dressage but everyone's talk about it is making me worse (I'm such a wuss).

The time is fast approaching now, that I need to decided on when and where I am going to do my first ever test!!! EEEEEEK!! Even typing it is scary!!

I have found a place that does dressage at all levels and have printed off their schedule for the next 3 months. As I am unsure when I'm going to do my first test, I have made a note of all the Prelim tests they are doing over that period.

They have 3 classes per event that I could have a go at and thus possibly 3 different tests! eek. I have narrowed it down to 5 possible tests in total to learn (P4, P7, P10, P12 & P18).

Is it totally unrealistic to learn all 5 tests?

What tips have you guys got?

I plan on getting each test with diagrams, as after trying to read one, I kept pulling funny faces of confusion!

If anyone has vid's of them doing these tests I would love to have a look at them, so I can see what I am letting myself in for!!

I hope it goes well for you tomorrow CC, what test are you doing?
 
Hi Mooch, I did P13 and N27. Was only entered for P13 but he was such a sod that I went in the Novice as a late entry. Got our best marks ever (65% for the P and 611.8% for the Novice) but the Prelim certainly didn't feel like it was worth 65%.

He was really nappy, v strong (to the point where I made him crawl along so the judge then commented he needed more impulsion, lol!), and generally not concentrating. Very fiddly in his mouth as well. First test for over 6 months though so not too bad!

We got 61.8% for the Novice which I'm quite pleased about - the last time we did a Novice we got 54% so there's definitely an improvement. He was better in the Novice as he evetually did settle. Trot work was fab, really pleased with it, but now just need to work on getting him to settle and maintain impulsion and consistency. Was really naughty in the first canter though, refused to go on the correct lead, wouldn't let me correct him, just kept spinning round and bouncing around!
smirk.gif
Judge just put "DISOBEDIENT" for that movement....LMAO! You have to laugh don't you!
smirk.gif
 
You've had a cracking day then!!!

Well done on those results!!
grin.gif


I wonder what the lowest ever score is? As I think I might beat it!
grin.gif


I printed off P4 and P7 today and had a little play at bits of them in the afternoon on Milly. I wasn't a disaster but it wasn't exactly neat!

Mil's seems to think that once in a stride it is go, go, go! Transitions what are they!? lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top