Novice 24 - what's with the loops?!

[khalswitz]

Had a run through of Novice 24 for our first Novice attempt on Saturday... actually rode surprisingly nicely despite looking horrendous on paper. Even the medium canter on a circle, and the change of lead through one horse's length of trot... and whilst his first medium trot is always a bit tight, the second one after the canter is a stonker he seems to like having lots to think about, and it stops me over-riding the paces too much as I'm having to think about preparing for the next movement.

HOWEVER - what on earth am I supposed to do for the loops? On right rein coming from C, is it right bend at M towards X, bend change between M and X to left, round the loop at X, then back to right bend between X and F for the end of the loop at F?? I'm guessing it's a test of suppleness???

Just asking as whilst we were schooling, I had a friend ask if Geoff was refusing to do a proper leg yield... and suddenly wondered what the hell I was actually aiming to achieve! I did try watching on Youtube but couldn't really see... I'm more useless even at watching than riding (and that's saying something...)

 

[HBBambee]

I find Anna Ross Davies videos really helpful. I was going to try to explain but watch this and it should help. She demonstrates a 5m loop but it will give you a good idea of how to ride a loop. From your description it sounds as if you are creating too much bend and over complicating the loop movement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpuMSbSqARY

 

[khalswitz]

I find Anna Ross Davies videos really helpful. I was going to try to explain but watch this and it should help. She demonstrates a 5m loop but it will give you a good idea of how to ride a loop. From your description it sounds as if you are creating too much bend and over complicating the loop movement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpuMSbSqARY

Overcomplicating... doesn't sound like me at all ... I'm probably just having a massive brain fart, but I just don;t quite see how I'm supposed to do it... sure it will be a lightbulb moment...

Thanks, will take a look!!

 

[HBBambee]

haha You could always start by doing the movement in walk to get your line and then progress to doing it in trot. I always go back to basics if having a moment, gather things together and start again.
Also youtube "Novice 24" and watch other people riding the test.

 

[Supanova]

I did Novice 24 last week. I was practicing it with my trainer (List 2 Judge) and she said it was a very funny test and nearly everyone rides the loops terribly. She said it was important to show suppleness and bend. I interpreted this to mean bend right from C to M, and then i see the loop as being in slight left bend (sort of straight as you move away from M and then increasing the bend to the left as you are close to X) and then returning to straight and then right bend as you get back to F! Sorry probably making it terribly over complicated. I got decent marks for my loops in the actual test if i remember correctly so hopefully along the right lines!

 

[khalswitz]

I did Novice 24 last week. I was practicing it with my trainer (List 2 Judge) and she said it was a very funny test and nearly everyone rides the loops terribly. She said it was important to show suppleness and bend. I interpreted this to mean bend right from C to M, and then i see the loop as being in slight left bend (sort of straight as you move away from M and then increasing the bend to the left as you are close to X) and then returning to straight and then right bend as you get back to F! Sorry probably making it terribly over complicated. I got decent marks for my loops in the actual test if i remember correctly so hopefully along the right lines!

That's what I was thinking - i.e. not a straight line from M to X with a bend at x, rather like an actual bendy thing...

Good to hear she thinks its a weird test too - if not for the loops it would be lovely but it is weird!

 

[GlamourDol]

Slightly off topic, but I'm doing Nov 24 on sat too.
Are we at the same place?

 

[khalswitz]

Slightly off topic, but I'm doing Nov 24 on sat too.
Are we at the same place?

Are you in aberdeenshire?? I'm at the Cabin

Either way good luck!

 

[GlamourDol]

Nope the other end. South Wales. Good luck.
Got a really really cheeky question to ask and its actually thanks to you that I realised, just sat down to look at my test and I've got the 2002 version. Is there any chance that you would email me the proper one? Pretty pretty please?

I am wondering though, if it can still be called sabotage if its my boss who gave me the test sheet and I'm competing her horse? lol

 

[khalswitz]

Nope the other end. South Wales. Good luck.
Got a really really cheeky question to ask and its actually thanks to you that I realised, just sat down to look at my test and I've got the 2002 version. Is there any chance that you would email me the proper one? Pretty pretty please?

I am wondering though, if it can still be called sabotage if its my boss who gave me the test sheet and I'm competing her horse? lol

Shame, would have been nice to feel like SOMEBODY wasn't going to laugh at us

Mine is laminated, and there's a distinct shine across the scanned copy that makes it slightly useless to anybody... Try dressagediagrams.com, you can download tests from there? Sorry.

And yes, obviously sabotage. Although is it the 2002 version you're doing? A friend got caught out at unaff where they ran the 2002 version!!

 

[Kokopelli]

I was riding my loops terribly but my RI told me to ride them as three straight lines keeping the same bend. So one straight diaganol, straight for a bit then a diagonal back to the track. When you ride it like that it does smooth out to a nice curve we went from 5/6s to 7/8s

 

[khalswitz]

I was riding my loops terribly but my RI told me to ride them as three straight lines keeping the same bend. So one straight diaganol, straight for a bit then a diagonal back to the track. When you ride it like that it does smooth out to a nice curve we went from 5/6s to 7/8s

Oooh, good tip, thanks Geoff is not the... bendiest... of horses, so dreading the loops actually more than any of the other 'new' movements from prelim. This will make it much easier than trying to change bend quickly, thanks

 

[GlamourDol]

Shame, would have been nice to feel like SOMEBODY wasn't going to laugh at us

Mine is laminated, and there's a distinct shine across the scanned copy that makes it slightly useless to anybody... Try dressagediagrams.com, you can download tests from there? Sorry.

And yes, obviously sabotage. Although is it the 2002 version you're doing? A friend got caught out at unaff where they ran the 2002 version!!

Thanks, someone has come to my rescue. Nope, affiliated so definitely 2010. I wish they would re number them instead of just changing them. Good luck tomorrow. Let me know how you get on with the horrible loops.

 

[khalswitz]

Thanks, someone has come to my rescue. Nope, affiliated so definitely 2010. I wish they would re number them instead of just changing them. Good luck tomorrow. Let me know how you get on with the horrible loops.

Best of luck to you too!!! Have fun!!

I have a feeling that even without the loops were not quite ready for novice just yet, but will be fun to have an attempt and see where we are, and turns out there is only 5 unaff entries so we will defo come home with a rozzie which is a very comforting thought

 

[GinaGeo]

I was told to ride them as if they were a serpentine, just a bit squashed!