Prelim 13 vs Prelim 14 or stick to Intro A?

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Sorry for the crazy title! It's pretty much all there. Want to 'do' a bit of dressage this year, and my local RC are running a friendly event on the 17th March. Just realised I have booked the day off work, so can't really not do it

My query is thus; I do have copies of all the Prelim tests, haven't looked at them yet, but just wondered if either one of the above is 'nicer' than the other? I could happily go in there are do Intro A, very happy with our walk and trot and have had good comments about those paces been rhythmical etc. though we need to do more work on our bend (thanks JFTD). Our canter is far from perfect, although I can pretty much guarantee striking off on the correct leg, that's about the only good point!

Since this is a friendly event and I do really want to get going on prelim, do I just go for it and potentially muck it up (I'm certainly not going there to win a prelim LOL!) or feel comfortable and stick with the Intro A?

 

[Ferdinase514]

Go for the prelim - neither is tricky

 

[debsflo]

Can you do both ?

 

[JFTDWS]

If it's BRC (that's your local yea?) it's not exactly uber competitive so you definitely won't look out of place doing prelim Fergs did his first prelims at their shows (and his first WT on his 4th b'day actually ) and he was (and remains) by no means polished in dressage circles Not much to chose between them as I recall - so go for it!

 

[dianchi]

Do both!

 

[dafthoss]

Do the prelims, I've never ridden an intro but I doubt you'd be out of place at any unaff venue with an unpolished canter. YP still pretends he has never been asked to canter a circle in his life when he goes in to a test

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Thanks all, but naughty people - can only afford to enter one!

JFTD, that's correct, been to their dressage before and it's definitely more a fun thing. Just want to have a play in their nice arena LOL!

 

[chestnut cob]

Do both. I took my green horse (just 6 but never schooled before April/May last year at all, just hunted) out to a couple of local unaffil DR shows in the autumn. Did the W&T the first time then the W&T and Prelim the second. Couldn't guarantee correct canter strike off and expected to spend most of the time yelling and screaming for the other horses, never mind worrying about staying in the boards or not ending up joining the judge in their box... I just did it for experience and there will be plenty of others doing the same thing.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Thanks for your advice chestnut cob, but sorry your post just cracked me up I suppose at least I'm sure she'll stay within the boards so that's something

 

[chestnut cob]

Thanks for your advice chestnut cob, but sorry your post just cracked me up I suppose at least I'm sure she'll stay within the boards so that's something

Must admit I was pleasantly surprised by my boy. I'd taken him SJ the week before and he'd be AWFUL, screaming, running away, barging, throwing himself around (and this was before I'd even got on...). It was his first ever show and I fully expected the DR the following week to be just as bad but he did actually settle down quite well. Third time out, 2 weeks later, and you'd think he'd been doing it all of this life

 

[kc100]

With all the prelim tests I find there is not much in them, they are all fairly similar so if I were you I'd read through both tests, watch them on youtube and then make a choice which one you feel most comfortable with.

As long as you can actually get into canter, then you wont get a zero so its worth giving the prelim a try - tell yourself its only an experiment and you are doing it for the feedback from the judges then it wont matter what your score is.

Have fun!

 

[Charlie77]

Do 14, i like 14 i got my highest ever % last time out not bad because untill a few mins before we went in i thought i had entered and so learnt p19 lol, mirical i got round at all! Maybe its a luky test!!!

 

[shadowboy]

I prefer prelim 13 having looked at both being ridden it looks more fluid and there's plenty there to keep wondering minds busy.

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Still not decided, but they both involve cantering 20m circles, something we're not great at. Had a go today and she's not happy about it. Though at least she's cantering sensibly rather that doing 100mph like last year! I'm doing lots of work on bending, circles etc. so will see how we get on. Any tips?

 

[JustKickOn]

Both of those prelims are lovely to ride. Go for it!!