Question... Walk/Trot Tests

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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.

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Not read whole post so may be repeating things....

I personally have never done a Walk/Trot test and went straight to Prelim as not being big headed
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but i can canter perfectly fine and i thought it wouldn't be fair on those who struggle with it.

To me Walk Trot tests are for beginner/novice types who genuinely are not confident in canter/competitions or for green horses.

I don't see a problem with beginners doing the tests, if they are on a suitable horse for them then it should be unlikely to charge off i canter/gallop or misbehave with them?
 
I suppose seen as BD have introduced the Intro Walkk and Trot tests which are sold in their dressage packs along with advanced medium tests they believe they're is a requirement. Hell I may even start riding and doing one myself and yes i'm absolutely petrified of riding my schoolmaster pony will not have me sat on his back!!! And i'm not 20stone either
 
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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.

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<font color="red"> I did a CRC WT test with Sirena when she was 4, she had an explosive canter and I did the prelim class too (with the predictable canter explosions). I really don't see this as pot hunting, I wanted to see how she would behave in a competition environment (explosive!). Why should I have gone HC, it was her first test ever and she never did another WT test again. These two tests were unaffiliated but they were at Hartpury and it was a BAPSH Championship Show so very busy.

There are people who do these tests time and time again with little or no improvement, when I take Lluna (my baby horse) I will do a WT test for her first, are you seriously saying I should go HC on a baby horse on her first test, just because I will also want to do the prelim? Why should I be penalised on my baby just because there are those who will stick at that level forever? I agree the WT tests were introduced for inexperienced horses/riders, they are meant to be a stepping stone, you are supposed to move on not stay there forever, and I also agree that perhaps unaffiliated competitions could introduce something to prevent those people who do pot hunt from entering time and time again, something like 'combination not to have won a WT more than twice' I know some RCs do that for some prelim tests, there is no reason why they could not for WTs too.</font>

ETS: Now working medium, competing affiliated Elem, so BD through and through - please note that Silversprings opinion is not necessarily that of BD!
 
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FFS its only a bit of fun its not life or death... Surely in the current climate doing something to make you smile/forget for a moment the dire state this country is in can only be a good thing..

You must be a fantastic rider to be able to look down on others trying to enjoy their horses whatever level they are at
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Well said Mary!

BTW when do you get your times for your WT Test?
 
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