OMG we got a rosette in dressage yesterday and after some advice too?

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Pidge

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Just at local Riding Club Show yesterday and had entered the walk and trot dressage when there as wasn't going to do it after last months attempt
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but someone had dropped out so I thought I'd have a bash even though we were both kitted out to jump
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Well Pidge obviously thought we were jumping not doing dressage as he was very excitable
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we entered at walk and were supposed to halt at X but I couldn't get him anywhere near it, sideways backwards you name it, oops! picked up canter before C sorry meant to be trot
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track right and exit the arena before B nearly taking the marker out
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at this point it felt like I was sitting on a time bomb ready to explode
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For these movements we got a 4, 3, 3
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Pidge then obviously twigged that the white boards weren't jumps so settled a tad and the rest of the test was reasonable. Not as forward as I would have liked but if I'd have put my legs on a bit more we'd have done a very nice canter round the arena
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So was extremely surprised to get 2 7's for our 20m circles in trot and we got just over 52% and came 6th
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and got a lovely rosette too (there were 11 in the class so at least we didn't come last)
So am very shocked and very pleased but also would appreciate any tips on getting Pidge to chill out at the dressage arena as we always tend to explode somewhere in the test whether at the beginning, middle or end
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photos later when I get them from mum
 
Well done you!

The only thing that I have found to settle horses is repition - just keep going down that center line, even if you don't want to always go out and compete does your riding club (or similar) ever leave boards out so you could go and practice?
Sorry can't be of more help
Can't wait to see pics.
 
I've given up on dressage with my mare as she just will not settle enough to do a decent test (shame as she has lovely paces) BUT while schooling yesterday (after hacking out first!) I discovered that after doing a fair bit of canter work she went into a beautiful outline in trot and worked like a dream. So while we may not be able to ever do more than a walk trot test I have discovered that doing a fair bit of canter work before asking for concentration works a treat. Maybe Pidge could do with a bit of a blast around (within reason of course!) before being asked to settle and work.
I will be trying that again to make sure it wasn't a fluke but if it isn't it's a real break though for us (my mare is 12 and should know better by now)! Worth a try anyway
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ETS Oh and bloody well done! I can only dream of a rosette for dressage.
 
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I've given up on dressage with my mare as she just will not settle enough to do a decent test (shame as she has lovely paces) BUT while schooling yesterday (after hacking out first!) I discovered that after doing a fair bit of canter work she went into a beautiful outline in trot and worked like a dream. So while we may not be able to ever do more than a walk trot test I have discovered that doing a fair bit of canter work before asking for concentration works a treat. Maybe Pidge could do with a bit of a blast around (within reason of course!) before being asked to settle and work.
I will be trying that again to make sure it wasn't a fluke but if it isn't it's a real break though for us (my mare is 12 and should know better by now)! Worth a try anyway
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ETS Oh and bloody well done! I can only dream of a rosette for dressage.

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Really strange you should say this - my flat work hasnt left much to be desired recently. Yesterday I took my horse for a blast round the farm ride, then took him in the school to do some 'proper' trot and canter and he did the best work he has done in weeks, really using his back end and coming down onto the bit beautifully! I think the good gallop and jump he had first got the edge off him and made him concentrate!
Pidge are you nervous going into the ring? As whenever Im nervous my horse always d*cks about and is tense even though he's a bit of a lazy donkey. So perhaps try to make sure you're both chilled before going in! And I agree, repetition helps a lot.
Oh and Well Done in your test, sounds like you did really well. You didnt come anywhere near last, so dont even think about that. I got an 'Oops' rosette once for coming last in dressage. It was a shameful test lol!
 
Strangely before I do a dressage test pickle goes a lot better if he has had a bit of a blast round a field. I only found out accidentally, was warming up in the warm up field, had forgotten when warming up in a field I can't use his snaffle! so as I asked for trot we went bombing round the field until my friends pony blocked our way. Then went into to dressage test and did the best test I have ever done!
 
thanks
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quite often school round dressage boards at livery yard as they hold regular comps too. It's just when we go out to 'play' he gets a bit excited
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For example when waiting outside the SJ ring because he knows where he is he will NOT stand still which can be a tad embarrassing at times
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Came out of the test and did some more trot work in the warm up area and he was lovely, even started to lift when I really put my legs on but if I'd have done that in the test we'd have been the other end of the showground in no time at all
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thanks
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I've tried the going for a blast or doing some canter work first to get the energy out of him, but it makes him worse as canter is his favourite pace so he then thinks every time my leg goes anywhere near him that it means canter - get good comments from my instructor on how off the leg he is though
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unfortunately he is too fit and even 2 hours of XC schooling does not take the edge off him and he is still pinging so not sure what I can do to chill him out a tad?
 
mmm think you may have hit the nail on the head there perhaps as after our atrocious start I thought **** it I feel like quitting and coming out the ring
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so just kind of gave up
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Perhaps I was nervous? Pidge is a bit of a sensitive soul and does pick up things very easily so maybe it was me not him then?
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Don't worry I got an oops rosette last time for our dressage attempt, my friends say the special stands for special needs though
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