Prelim dressage - what's more important...

[Flicker]

accuracy or quality of transition?
I got a very low mark in a test at the weekend for a canter transition because it was early (it was at the corner marker, rather than between the marker and C as called for by the test).
I'm not sour grapes or anything, but the transition itself was very good: crisp and forward and soft. I allowed my horse forward a bit early because the 'moment seemed right' so to speak - If I'd tried to hold him back a few more paces, I probably would have lost the rhythm and I think he would have hollowed. So I would have had an accurate transition, but probably not a very good one.
What are judges more interested in at this level - accuracy or quality?

 

[Snowysadude]

Accuracy and impulsion every time from what personal experience. I did a novice the other day (ok not prelim but unaff at bigger comp centre so similar) and got a much worse mark for my lovely transition into canter on one rein that was a little early than the other rein where he hollwed and ran into it but it was on the marker!

 

[eahotson]

TBH I think, especially if your horse is a genuine novice, that you have to do the best you can for your horse and his schooling and not worry too much about anything else.Your accuracy will come in time.

 

[Steorra]

Strange...as a rider I would go for quality of transition. Every good quality transition is a little step towards better paces. However, some judges seem to go for accuracy above all else.

Also, I've found judging at this level can be a bit of a mixed bag. I don't mean to wind anyone up by this comment, I know there are some very knowledgeable ones, but also some that when I was competing I learnt to avoid. One in particular praised the horse I was riding for her rhythmic, balanced canter...she was an ex trotter doing one of her first dressage tests, the canter was unbalanced, downhill, motorbiking...I don't know which test she was watching but it surely wasn't mine!

Something that I found very helpful was writing for judges. This allows you to get a very good view of what they are looking for, and most judges and venues will be delighted that you have offered to help.

 

[Luci07]

The reason you got a bad mark is that the judge will mark each movement. Therefore if you cantered early, you are effectively "not" doing the movement that the judge is looking to see so will be marked down accordingly. So, lets say you had to trot from E to C - if you break early into canter, you are not performing the required movement.

But this also works in your favour. If you totally muck up one of the movements, then just remember its only one movement and you can redeem it later!

 

[ThePony]

Accuracy. eg, if you are asked for a canter transition between c and m, but you have your transition either before c or after m then you will get a lower mark as you didn't do the transition where asked. Getting a transition at any point is easier than having your horse prepared and then get the transition at the required place. That is why the easier prelims give you a longer area to get your transition (between two markers), then harder tests just give a marker that the transition happens at. Some places (particularly those that help encorage novice combinations) will mark more generously and reward a good try and nice transition even though it wasn't where it should be, but at other places (that perhaps run more aff and use aff judges) then you will find that you won't pick up marks for a good transition if it isn't where it should be.