Pairs Dressage question

[Britestar]

In particular to those dressage judges who have judged this type of class.

Do you think it is better for the horses to stay together throughout the whole test, or do you like them to seperate somewhere?

I have done these classes on and off for years, and always kept together as much as possible, only with a brief seperation to sneakily change sides for the canter (used to do it with pony who needed to be on the outside both reins as her canter didn't shorten very well). Now doing it with different pair who can stay next to one another the entire test.

Have watched others in the past, who do more of a synchronised test, which to my mind is not correct.

Just looking for others views on it.

Thanks

 

[dressagecrazy]

When i used to do Pairs dressage (par de doux) we used to be together for the main things like going down C line & then we would part & become syncronised. We couldnt even try to ride together as we where riding SI & HP.

So once we had gone down the C line one of us would go right the other left. It was great fun doing it.

 

[Sanolly]

Same with us, we came down the CL and then separated, occasionally coming back together.

 

[ecrozier]

We did it last year as you know and qualified for Lincoln, and I was told the more you did together the higher the mark you were likely to get so we did about 90% test side by side! Luckily on two 14.2 Arabs with very adjustable paces!

 

[ihatework]

It should be side by side as much as possible

 

[Farma]

Ive done a few and they have always been part of the test together and part syncronised. When we did the training we were always told to keep our stirrup irons as close together as poss.

 

[Britestar]

Cheers. The test sheet in the RC rule book say that the majority of the test should be together.

Any judges out there who judged?

 

[kick_On]

Defo do as much riding as a pair, as it not a mirror competition , you need horses of similar pace, colour and size and your defo need to be riding stirrup irons to stirrup iron (bruises will be involved in training!!!) So you horses that like each other, as this is why some people split!!! and judges know this!! that's why if you have similar test and only difference between test poeple test is that one has alot of mirroring the ture pairs wil always score higher! Plus you also need horses that a have adjustable paces as outside rider will need to ride faster around corners and circles.
Brilliant fun

 

[CLEEVALE]

The test sheet in the RC rule book say that the majority of the test should be together.

- where can I find the test sheet, I have looked everywhere?

 

[Britestar]

You'll find the test sheet in the back of the Riding Clubs rule book.

 

[OneInAMillion]

I like to have mainly together and a bit apart however it will seem strange but it is much more noticeable if you aren't "together" when you are apart as you should be exactly mirroring each other and if one gets to a marker before the other it can look a mess!