Question... Walk/Trot Tests

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Kate260881

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Now I've been out of the competition circuit in the UK for about 7 years now so realise I'm a bit behind the times. But I've noticed a lot of talk about walk/trot dressage tests. Now, certainly for me, this seems a little pointless as I feel going out and competing is something to aspire to and therefore you should have the basics covered before you even think about doing this. And a controlled canter is what I would count as one of the basics. I feel that this is making certainly affiliated competing far too easy. Surely if you can't canter your horse you shouldn't be taking it somewhere as unpredictable and busy as a competition ground.

I realise this may be a bit of a controversial post but just wondered what other people's views were. Should going out and competing be something we aspire to and be an achievement just to be doing it or should it be something anybody can do regardless of the standard of riding they are at?

And no, I don't think that everybody should be at say Discovery/Novice Dressage level before they go out and compete but I do think they should be able to control their horse in the first 3 basic paces.
 
I am taking my young horse out to his first comp in a couple of weeks and we are doing a unaffiliated walk trot test. He is well schooled and yes I can have a nice controlled canter, but this will be his first competition and I'm not sure how he'll find it - probably all very exciting. Therefore I find the walk trot test a good introduction for young horses. Its the first time he'll have had to warm up in an arena with lots of other horses, possibly bombing round, the first time he'll have seen boards and flower pots etc and I'd rather we start off with something simple, the easier the better!

I know lots of people have different views on these tests and I'm not sure I agree with Affiliated Walk/trot tests, but at unaffiliated level I see nothing wrong with them
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Personally speaking I am a very nervous competitor! I am going to enter a walk trot test next month which will be the first time I have taken my mare to a competition. We are perfectly capable of a decent canter, in the school or hacking. For me cantering is not an issue but I like the fact that the test is so short I can't possibly forget it! As far as I am concerned this is the logical first step for us. It means that I only need to learn a short test, and, if my horse reacts with excitement to other horses being around I do not need to canter and therefore avoid her getting even more excited.

I am looking at it as a stepping stone to greater things! If I can go and do two or three walk and trot tests, I will then know how my horse is going to react and it will be an ideal place IMO to get rid of first time nerves.

I don't see it as much different to doing a 1' clear round at a local show. It is there to build horse an riders confidence. surely classes like this that encourage beginners to have a go is a good thing?

I think these classes are a nice entry level and confidence building experience. I really can't see the harm in that.

Jo x
 
My partner has done a couple of walk and trot tests. He has been riding about 10 months and can hack out on his own, doing walk, trot, canter and the occasional gallop. In the arena he finds getting a canter difficult as my horse is a big cob who needs a lot of support and encouragment to do a 20 m circle and who has breathing difficulties meaning that I don't want him cantering round and round while my partner practises - the horse can do it as I compete at novice level on him - I have encouraged my partner to do walk and trot tests as it gives him a reason to practice in the arena and something to look forward to. I don't think that doing a canter is a minimum in the arena (I do think it is if you are going to go out hacking off lead rein) and I don't see any reason not to hold these tests.

In addition I know of people who do walk and trot tests because although they can canter in the arena thier nerves mean they feel more comfortable not cantering at a competition.

There are many reasons why people do walk and trot tests and they are not all because they can't canter in a controlled way.
 
I totally see all points of view but certainly in the case of being nervous so don't want to canter, surely more work needs to be done at home before going out. And if you're too nervous to canter, what would you do if your horse did actually freak out at anything... ask it to spook in a calm manner in only walk or trot?

The thing is, it never used to be a problem when these tests weren't available. And I do think that this is different to doing a 1' unaffiliated showjumping round as the structure of this is the same (technically) as say a 3' round. I wouldn't dream of taking my horse to a 1' round if I couldn't control it over jumps in canter, even if I then chose to trot the whole thing.

Whereas the 'structure' of a walk/trot test is different because there is no canter at all.
 
Not really: I said they are nervous about cantering at competitions - not that they are too nervous to canter - they can and do canter at home but prefer not to while at a competition; there is a great deal of difference between the two. Like everyone else if their horse has a freak out they would control it the best they could.
 
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Surely if you can't canter your horse you shouldn't be taking it somewhere as unpredictable and busy as a competition ground.


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Whether it's 'can't' or 'not willing to' I totally agree with you on this one. I don't think anyone should go to a show in the mind set that they will not need to canter.

I was horrified when I heard they were bringing out a walk/trot test as I feel the low Prelim tests are really quite straight forward for even the most novice horse and rider to complete. I genuinely believe any young horse could do a prelim test with a few months of schooling, if the horse was nervy and unpredictable you should be taking it to a competition with no intention of competing until you are more sure of how it will react.

I always take youngsters to their first few shows either in hand or under saddle without competing. I would then expect them to go along and do either 2 prelims or a prelim and a novice (I'm old school, you don't travel to a comp and only do 1 class!)

Also if you can't remember a test then get a reader, it's not hunter trails and I have yet to hear of a unaff dressage show not allowing readers.

Re the 1' showjumping class, I find the concept ridiculous! (and didn't know they even existed!) surely they are just raised trotting poles?! When I was jumping ponies (not that long ago!) unaff nursery novice pony classes was still 1'6" and that was for the tiddler kids that did thelwell impressions round the course not for actual ponies. I wouldn't dare take a 13hh into a 1'6" I would be moretified (and I didn't have SJer ponies, I had a little Highland)

A young horse won't refuse to jump because the jump is too big when we are talking 1'6" to 2'. It will refuse to jump because the fillers/flower/wings are too colourful/scarey, which means the rider hasn't spent enough time schooling over a variety of jump (or hiring somewhere you could use different jumps) and is therefore unprepared for the show they intend to compete in.

I don't think it about putting people off competing it's making sure the horse and rider is ready for low level competition before they roll up at the show ground. Walk/Trot test and 1' SJ classes definitely do not serve this purpose and I think could cause dangerous rider/horses to end up in the warm up arena next to those that had prepared properly.
 
The idea of walk trot tests is for young or green horses to gain experience or for novice or nervous riders. I'd do walk and trot tests as my late starters canter still needs a lot of work and because I'm a nervous nelly. However if I was riding a horse with a more established canter I'd do a prelim despite my nerves.
A lot of people pot hunt with these tests or use them as a warm up without going HC and I do think that people should only be allowed to do one level of test at unaffiliated competitions to give those who really are at either walk and trot or prelim level a chance of getting placed.
 
My 12 year old son competes in walk and trot tests, personally I see these as a valuable part of his and the horses education. My horse competes regulalry showing dressage and wh which means we often ask for more spirit. My son also competes in these shows doing walk trot and canter on both reins and individual show. Dressage is much more about working correctly and as he is a novice rider I see the walk and trot tests as being beneficial, the score sheets help you see the errors both you and horse are making and thus helping you correct these problems. It can almost be seen as an additional lesson, which i'm sure even the most experienced of riders still have some form of tutoring.
 
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Re the 1' showjumping class, I find the concept ridiculous! (and didn't know they even existed!) surely they are just raised trotting poles?! When I was jumping ponies (not that long ago!) unaff nursery novice pony classes was still 1'6" and that was for the tiddler kids that did thelwell impressions round the course not for actual ponies. I wouldn't dare take a 13hh into a 1'6" I would be moretified (and I didn't have SJer ponies, I had a little Highland)

A young horse won't refuse to jump because the jump is too big when we are talking 1'6" to 2'. It will refuse to jump because the fillers/flower/wings are too colourful/scarey, which means the rider hasn't spent enough time schooling over a variety of jump (or hiring somewhere you could use different jumps) and is therefore unprepared for the show they intend to compete in.

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Actually agree with this, but was trying to make the point that the size of fences don't make that much of a difference to the horse before about 3'.... I just didn't put it qutie so well. Clearly my English sucks
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the score sheets help you see the errors both you and horse are making and thus helping you correct these problems. It can almost be seen as an additional lesson, which i'm sure even the most experienced of riders still have some form of tutoring.

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Yes but if you are doing canter as well you also get scores for this. If you want to break it down further, if you are capable of the canter and your main aim after doing well is to get the pointers from the score sheet, why would you pay for only getting comments on 2 of the gaits when you could get comments on 3?
 
I agree with what your saying, but its not only about getting the pointers. if your not getting 70% plus in a walk and trot your obviosuly not ready to move on to the next stage or your horse isn't working correctly and more walk and trot work is required! If we never aspire to win then why do we bother to compete, isnt the idea of competition to perform to your absolute best - as soon as my son does a lovely walk and trot test and corrects all the wrongs on the score sheet he will then move onto the next stage which would be prelim, infact could even miss that one out and go straight to novice after all if you can walk trot and canter why bother with prelim at all!!
 
This is one of those weird conversations because I can totally see what you mean and why you do it, I just don't agree with it. I just don't think there is ever a reason to not canter. I don't think you can get a good idea of how a horse really work without it either. I have never competed in a walk/trot test neither has anyone I know from my generation and we never had any problems with it.

On a slight side note as well, certainly my mare works much much better and swings through her back much more after doing canter work. If I went to do a walk/trot test I'd probably get worse results than one that included canter.

Also, when it comes to learning tests, I have always always had to learn tests as I've only done dressage for eventing and I think that if the only reason you don't want to canter is because its an easier test to learn is just laziness. Why bother if you can't be bothered to learn the test? And you can have readers as well so surely this is a moot point. But then I also think that having a reader isn't necessary but maybe that's just my upbringing. I'd probably find a reader more of a distraction than a help!
 
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I agree with what your saying, but its not only about getting the pointers. if your not getting 70% plus in a walk and trot your obviosuly not ready to move on to the next stage or your horse isn't working correctly and more walk and trot work is required!

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If I never moved on in dressage due to not getting at least 70% for every walk and trot part of a test I wouldn't have gotten past Prelim, 70% is a really quite good score, the 1st are usually in the low 70's!

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If we never aspire to win then why do we bother to compete

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But you just said you treated it as an additional lesson, surely then the point is not winning but getting pointers which then beggars the question why not go in, balls up on canter but get pointers as to why the canter was awful?
 
I am doing my first walk and trot test on sunday. I am looking forward to it but know we will probably make a pigs breakfast of it.
I also jump clear round at 1ft so I fit both of your categories for a "what is the point" award.
The point for me is simple. I am a nervous novice with a young horse and all of it is just experience for him and me. He is capable of far more but his issue is the nerves of the person on his back.
I am well aware I look a complete idiot going to mini jumping at 31 years old on a 16HH clydesdale cross. I don't care. I enjoy my horse, I canter him out hacking and I am not pot hunting. I hope one day to be able to do far more but right now I am doing whats right for me and my boy. If that doesn't fit with anyones elses idea of what is right then tough.
 
Yes but as Kate quite rightly said walk and trot is the easiest of tests and most horses should comfortable achieve late 60's its when the tests become more difficult that you can expect the scores to become lower. I pointed out one reason why you would do walk and trot tests that to improve your basic skills and get your horse working correctly especially for new novice riders/horses, there are several other reasons to add. If i went out to compete of course I have getting placed in mind or else why would i bother filling up the wagon taking a morning out of my weekend when i could just as easily stay at home and have a lesson! But with all that aside, my horse is capable of achieving 70% in walk and trot he is also capable of that in prelim so i would expect that until my son can achieve regular high scores he isn't ready to move on, not saying that he cant compete in prelim if he wishes to do so! Everyone is different and wants different things from their horses I want my novice son to match the ability of the horse and get better, how many young kids these days can ride all day long whilst hacking out but ask them to work correctly in a simple dressage test would not be able to do it first time??
 
HovisnSids mum WELL SAID.We are all entitled to enjoy ourselves.Don't agree with walk/trot at affiliatedlevel though. Clubs are for everyone and should be inclusive.People will join them and hopefully progress.
 
I am doing a walk trot test this month.. Yes the horse is very capable of more however I have never done any kind of test/competition in my life so its more for me than him..
 
Absolutely, and just so you all know i'm a none rider just an unpaid groom with lots of enthusiasm, I can take pride in how my horse looks in the ring! So i also think you are all very brave too!
 
Personally I think the walk/trot tests are a great idea.
For me they are an easy way to break yourself into dressage.
I am a confident and competent rider but a nervous competitor...so I have less to worry about this way.
 
One question to all those who compete (or intend to compete) int he walk/trot test. If this test did not exist would you be unable to compete or wpuld you just have to muster the courage/train your horse well enough to go straigh in at prelim?

I genuinely don't believe this test opens the competition door to any more people, I think it's just a bit of a get out for all those that either want a red ribbon but can't canter properly or are too afraid to canter in the ring but would do it if there was no other option.

I wonder what will be next at cross country for 'young horses' and 'novice riders' are we going to see 1' natural jumps (all pinned for safety!) scattered across a perfectly levelled field (pot holes could cause a stumble which could lead to a bruise or even a fracture!) for people who are not quite confident to go round a normal 2'6" unaff novice course, heaven forbid these people were not given the opportunity to compete
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At any level, there is nothing forcing you to canter- if you don't feel confident enough/horse is uptight etc etc and you don't want to canter, don't- but you can still do a prelim test. I've seen this done- think it was a novice test. the girl obviously wasn't confident on the day to canter- so she trotted the shapes. Nothing wrong in that- presumably she got a 0 for those movements, but would have had the marks for her walk & trot.
 
The answer to your question is it does exist, and I believe it does open up the doors for people to ty their hand at dressage. Maybe people just wouldnt bother going at all. I know my son wouldnt have wanted to go in and do a prelim so he would have probably stuck to showing and not bothered with the dressage! His portfolio can now proudly include showing and dressage and on occasion coming home with a red rosette!!
 
Absolutely, I thought the main point was to have fun......me and my horse are capable of walk-canter transitions, collected canter etc- - he's a bit of a schoolmaster...i have never done a dressage test in my life, so if I did, I would go to a walk/trot test first .... so a) I didn't make a tit of myself and b) good chance i would do pretty well at it and boost my confidence.
Stop being so b***** precious about the whole thing, next you'l be saying no point in competing at all unless you been selected for the Olympics.
 
The answer for me would be I wouldn't compete. For me this is about giving my young lad all the experience I possibly can within the constraints of my ability. Its not about ribbons or cups its about him getting used to being somewhere else, going in the lorry, other horses etc. That way if the time ever comes when i have to sell him that at least he's got a little bit of experience.
I have to say I think your comment ref cross country is a tad patronising. I have no intention of taking Hovis cross country competing until he and I are safe to do so. I have taken him to a cross country course and had a play around in the water and over some logs but he needs to learn respect for solid jumps.
 
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Stop being so b***** precious about the whole thing, next you'l be saying no point in competing at all unless you been selected for the Olympics.

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LOL! Clearly because I think Premlim is basic enough for anyone to compete in I am not too far off thinking there is not point in competing at anything other than Int 1/Freestyle Level!

I not being precious about the whole think, to be fair if you wanted to call me anything it would be elitist as I believe only people of a certain calibre should be out competing, mainly those people who are happy/willing to canter their horse and/or pop over fences over 1ft!

As I say call me elitist but leave the precious chat for those who don't canter.
 
Why....is that the be all and end all? That you should have to canter in the ring? Who are you proving something to then, yourself or the likes of you passing judgement?

No wonder people are put off competing when thats the attitude of fellow ''sportswomen''....
 
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