Making the step up to elementary

[Notimetoride]

My horse has been getting up to 67% (BD) at novice so I'm starting to consider a step up to ele. Snag is, the tests look really hard!! I can't find an 'easy' one. You seem to get far more thrown at you at ele and I've no idea how I would remember the test. The step up to novice was pretty easy, but ele seems like an entirely different kettle of fish. Other people just seem to happily step up without much of a worry, yet I'm already thinking its way beyond me and I'll just stick at novice.

 

[Red-1]

I think it can sometimes be an advantage that the tests are a bit more fast moving (as in o e movement follows the next). Keeps the horse at attention.

I have stepped a couple up to ele, successfully, but I think that could be because we were not chasing points. I was just trying to help the horse all of the time, as in help him balance for the 10m circle, help him balance for the transition etc.

When all you are doing is helping then there is no stress. To my surprise the placings/points came even though that was not my aim, or probably because that was not my aim. So much so, we stopped doing them as I did not want more than 12 points as we still had education to do at Nov!

If learning the thing is what worries you, then arrange a caller. As long as it is someone who actually knows how to call at an appropriate time.

 

[paddi22]

what harm is it to give it a go? try some unaffiliated ones and see what the areas you need to work on are. they will also give you a chance to get your head around the tests. i found it really handy to always run through a full test at home when schooling dressage, just to get my head used to managing moves coming up faster

 

[paddi22]

I found stepping up a level a great way to improve the level below (if that makes sense). I'd never go into an elementary test expecting to wow them, but I can see the benefits it has for my novice tests.

 

[milliepops]

I've been helping a friend who is getting some consistent results at Novice now, so it's time to start thinking about Ele for her too. Have a look at the short arena tests, the early ones are easier than the harder novices. We did Ele 50 last night which has a couple of simple changes in it but they are set up really nicely and the whole test rode really well for a first go. It's also very symmetrical so quite easy to learn. from memory 42 and 44 are quite simple as well.

 

[milliepops]

I found stepping up a level a great way to improve the level below (if that makes sense). I'd never go into an elementary test expecting to wow them, but I can see the benefits it has for my novice tests.

oh yes, definitely. it sharpens your riding and the horse's reactions quite noticeably I think. My welshie is competing across 3 levels at the moment as she's starting PSG but still has some Medium and AM champs to do, i feel like we are doing a much better job at those now, having had the experience of presenting the harder tests.

 

[paddi22]

oh yes, definitely. it sharpens your riding and the horse's reactions quite noticeably I think. My welshie is competing across 3 levels at the moment as she's starting PSG but still has some Medium and AM champs to do, i feel like we are doing a much better job at those now, having had the experience of presenting the harder tests.

yep i was really surprised at it as I was always someone who wouldn't step up a level until i knew i was competitive at it. But my trainer totally has me thinking a different way now. Getting my head around the speed and feel of more complex moves has really established a better understanding of how to do the simpler moves better.

If i was selling a horse and it needed to have a good record, I wouldn't do that with them. But my own horses I kind of write off early higher level tests as educational for me and him.

 

[Notimetoride]

Ok I think I need to just do short arena. The comp I'm already doing a novice test in,only has long arena tests so I was looking at entering an elementary long arena test, but they all seem quite hard. Maybe I'll take a step back, not enter an ele on that day and just do a short arena one at a low key unaff comp sometime.

 

[Notimetoride]

The 'easiest' long arena ele I could find is E57 with the canter 3 look serpentine with simple changes. I was getting stressed just thinking about it ! I've put it back away in the folder and will do a short arena ele test another day

 

[paddi22]

I am an eventer who isn't a big fan of dressage, but i found the long arena tests a lot easier to ride. Theres more space between moves and it just feels a lot easier than the short arenas. I'd def recomment doing the long arena elementary over the short arena to start

 

[paddi22]

sure just give it a go. The worst you can do is lose a mark on a move. I actually find the tricker tests a lot easier to do wele in as there are way more moves. I hate the prelim tests where you have to canter around the whole arena for a move, its much easier to lose marks that way! At least in the trickier tests if you mess up, you have another move coming up quickly!

 

[mavandkaz]

Have recently just made this step up. Actually found it easier then going prelim to novice. I have only done three so far and am picky about which ones.
We started with E42 which is short arena and has nothing extra in it compared to a novice, it just has 'more'. We have also done E43 a couple of times, again it rides well with the only extra being leg yield. I have avoided simple changes as our canter/walk transitions need some work.
Just go for it and have fun - I bought my horse as a 'happy hacker's so never expected to do any of this and am just put having fun

 

[Kikke]

I thought the elementary step pretty easy. Did 43 a few times which is really friendly I find. Perhaps you're not completely ready if you find the tests too tricky.
No harm in given one a go, perhaps on a ticket or UA if you are afraid of having the results on your BD results.
Next year shoulder in is going to be introduced in elementary so depending onhow you do with that you may as well try it now!!
Good luck.

 

[Notimetoride]

I thought the elementary step pretty easy. Did 43 a few times which is really friendly I find. Perhaps you're not completely ready if you find the tests too tricky.
No harm in given one a go, perhaps on a ticket or UA if you are afraid of having the results on your BD results.
Next year shoulder in is going to be introduced in elementary so depending onhow you do with that you may as well try it now!!
Good luck.

Our shoulder-in is just about passable. Tbh we've got most of the moves (except a rather hit and miss med trot) but putting them all together is a scary thought. We could manage a short arena ele I think, but I feel the long arena tests are a little hard for us atm. And I'm sure I would forget where I'm doing collected and working paces !

 

[paddi22]

lon tests are honestly easier.. people said it to me at the time and i didn't believe it! But they are totally easier! you have time to set up the moves.

 

[Kikke]

lon tests are honestly easier.. people said it to me at the time and i didn't believe it! But they are totally easier! you have time to set up the moves.

this is so true!!

 

[Notimetoride]

this is so true!!

I'm used to long arena tests and do plenty of them. But the ele ones seem so much harder. The short arena ones def look easier on paper.