Prelim dressage

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Wan2bEventer

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6 November 2007
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Buckinghamshire
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Hi guys,

I am in the process of trying to master Prelim dressage. I can get my mare to do a wonderful trot and we get good marks for accuracy. I lose her outline in canter and she tends to 'fall' into downward transitions, but we are working on both these things with my instructor and I know that they will just take time.

I have my second ever Prelim test (7) coming up at the weekend and I would like to know a few things which I think could help me improve my mark - we got 62% in our first prelim which was a week ago.

- What do the judges particularly look for in Prelim?
- Where do most people tend to lose marks, so I can deliberately focus on these areas!
- How many marks will I lose for her loss of an outline in canter? Just so I know!
- If anybody has any specific Prelim 7 tips, I'd love to hear them!

Thanks so much guys.
 
Transisitions and square halt would be easy marks. As would straight centre lines. Here are the biggest mark dropping areas.

Prob a mark or two for loss of outline.
 
I'd be intrested in some tips to help the canter as i'm struggling with this on my 5yo. His walk & trot are lovely as are the transition within these paces but once in cater outline goes and the downward transision is aweful
 
Best places to pick up marks in a prelim:
Straight centre lines
Square halt
Accurate transitions - i.e. at each marker
Correct size circles - 20m circles not squares - having written for many prelim tests, it is often a sore point with judges when people ride squares or give their circles corners! Remember the circle has four points to ride to and you should only briefly touch the track on the circle (not ride in the CM/CH corners etc)

Probably will only lose one/two marks for loss of outline.
 
My horse has a very onward bound canter and some little tips I have been given on my downwards are:
Half halt directly before transition
Keep shoulders relaxed and square (don't lift them up/hunch them)
Relax hands (I sometimes find a slight release of contact as my horse comes back to trot stops him from coming against my hand)
 
Don't forget to keep us posted as to how you do!

Good luck
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