Novice BD tests - becoming too difficult?

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Booboos

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I entered Freddy for two Novice tests for the weekend without looking at them, N37 and N38. Rusky has been doing Elementaries and Mediums for a while so I am not that familiar with the new Novice tests, so it was a bit of a shock when I looked them up! Difficult counter-canter, rein back, 10m trot cicles, medium canter - these two look more difficult than some of the lower Elementaries. Why is BD making the Novice tests so difficult? This is a young horse why should he be muddling through such demanding moves?

By the way, I watched E48 last weekend and almost everyone in the class seriously messed up the 20m half circle in counter-canter and then simple change (simple changes from counter-canter in Elementary!!!! What ever next!)

Rant over
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N37 and 38 aren't new tests as far as I am aware. I find 38 flows really nicely (maybe it rides easier than it looks?)
Have a read through 34 or 35 (they are new this year) or even 20 for that matter, horrid stop starty tests. Yuck!!
 
hey i done n37 a few times now and i love that test flows really nicely for me i prefer harder tests as it much more to think about... the counter counter is fairly easy in this one i wouldn't too much you will be fine...
 
Ditto what lfield says. I found 38 was okay but am riding 35 this weekend and yuck
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Its very bitty - even my instructor read it and said what a horrid bitty but busy test
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Also - why all the changes in the collectives now
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Well, I shall try to think positive, but that counter-canter on the sharp angle with a give and re-take and then C-C to trot does not inspire me with confidence
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Agree, i find some of the elementaries easier, and infact last weekend got a higher % in elementary than novice.

I have to avoid tests with reinback in as horse can't do them yet. I need some help on that area.
 
Novice 37 used to be 39 and has been around for years. It is the hardest of the Novice tests and has been the Open championship test for as long as I can remember.

Don't think 38 is particularly difficult but by virtue of being a higher number it is going to be more demanding than the lower number tests though I can't see the counter canter is any harder than the 22.

The lower number elementaries are very easy and to some do seem easier than the likes of 37 and 38 however you do have to show medium trot from marker to marker in the Eles whilst the Novices only require a few strides and the counter canter in 42 is tight in a short arena and much harder than that asked for in 37 and 38.

The 20m half circle in counter canter to a simple change in Ele 48 is very hard and is not asked for again until Med 75 which is the Open championship test at medium level!!

However Ele 48 is being scrapped next year so BD obviously think there is a reason it is not so suitable.
 
I have to say I really like Novice 38. But some of the lower Elementries do seem easier. I also would have got a better score in the Elementries at the weekend had I learnt the test and not go wrong twice
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Ditto what lfield says. I found 38 was okay but am riding 35 this weekend and yuck
frown.gif
Its very bitty - even my instructor read it and said what a horrid bitty but busy test
crazy.gif


Also - why all the changes in the collectives now
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

This test rides alot better than it reads!!

I have also judged it and it flowed quite well and most of the competitors liked it having ridden it.

The extra collectives are a bit of an experiment by BD and give us judges the opportunity to be more precise in informing the rider where we feel the strong and weak points in the training are. It also gives us the chance to reward good individual paces rather than have to drop the mark down beacuse the horse might have had a great trot and canter but a crap walk.
 
The higher number novices will be harder than the lower numbers as will the higher number elementary's will be harder, try to pick shows where they are running the tests that you feel you can do.

38 actually rides really well, the walk trot across diagonal sits horse back before asking for canter in the corner and the medium trot comes immediately after the canter which makes it easier for horse to give. It is easier to get into counter canter from 15m half circle than across diagonal as you dont hit track at such a sharp angel and this needs to be introduced at novice to prepare you for elementary.

Most of the tests are designed to give you an idea of what your horse should be working on at that time in its career.

We need different levels of novice so that those coming from Prelim into Novice ride the early numbers and work up and those nearly ready or ready to do elementary can do the later numbers.

Good luck with it I am sure you will be fine.
 
Just a suggestion for RB training. Do it from the ground using the voice - it gets them really stepping back freely and promptly. Then transfer to doing it mounted using voice command and then gently rein and leg aids. Worked for me
 
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