Richard Davidson and Walk and Trot tests

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eahotson

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He disagrees with them at affiliated level. Who agrees/disagrees with him. As an older rider who is interested in maybe doing the odd one I have to say I agree with him.I think they have a very real place at unaffiliated level along with things like clear round jumping.When you start to move up though you should be capable of at least prelim level IMHO. Prelim 4 for instance isvery simple.
 
I personally don't think they will catch on at affiliated level, I am sure BD only released them as W&T tests are becoming more popular and BD were missing out on a source of income.
 
I dont like them.

For me when I started BD in 2007, it was a real achievement as I had worked hard to get to a appropriate level and start competing. With W&T tests, the bar feels like it has been lowered and its more like an unaff competition.

Also, dressage is about working with the horse (I think) and if someone can't canter a 20m circle then why are they honestly competing.

It's just another source of income for BD
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Well I think that for someone just gettinggoing at unaffilated level they are wonderful, as is clear round jumping for the people aspiring to jump. Don't think its right for affiliated level though!
 
I disagree with having affiliated walk and trot tests, just like I disagree with BE's pre-intros. It's just going to bring the standard of dressage lower... IMHO, if you're not capable of doing a prelim test then you shouldn't bother with affiliated dressage at all!
 
I agree, as someone who has worked really hard with a"normal" pony to achieve a standard ready for our first aff next week, P18 & N25, I don't think I would feel the same sense of achievement to go & do this, nor see the point in the expense!! As for jumping, agree there too, we've been doing tons of clear round, as that's whats currently required, but wouldn't want to fork out for BSJA to jump round 70cm, when there's loads of places we can do that, when we're ready, just maybe we might venture round the BN, then I'll feel thats a real achievement!!
 
i agree, if you have a young/inexperienced horse or are a nervous/inexperienced rider then why pay all that money to affiliate if you can't canter a 20m circle.?! there are plenty of these at RC/unaff level and the lower prelims are so basic, i just can't understand the need for w & t tests in BD...
i also think the pre-Intro BE is not really a good idea, just a way of making more £££.. you only have to look at the results in the classes run last year to see why..
 
I think they have their place in unaff. but not affil.They can get a young horse used to the atmosphere at shows.
Having said that when we went to Richard's for a lesson ,I was tempted to ask if he could just work on walk and trot as we wanted to do those tests but I wasn't brave enough.He actually did do work on different walks and seeing in one of his articles he was making fun of a lady who said she could do different walks,I was so tempted .lol
 
Well - I've spent the past 5 years conquering lost nerves and I can't see why everyone seems to have such a problem with Walk & Trot tests.
You guys are obviously so far above my standard that W&T tests needn't concern you.
I don't understand why RD/anyone needs have a go at those of us who don't have the nerve/energy/fitness or whatever to do Prelim and WANT to do W&T tests.
For someone like me doing a walk & trot test is a stepping stone to many things - I want to compete but I don't want to let my horse down, so why shouldn't I start somewhere?
I bet RD did his first test at Grand Prix level when he was about 8 on a 16.3hh WB, well some of us aren't so lucky!
 
I have the GREATEST admiration for the paralympic riders as does Richard Davidson as it happens.Their situation and tests are different but often include some very advanced movements on some very talented horses.Some of them compete successfully to advanced medium against able bodied riders as well. I too battle with nerves and would regard a good walk trot test to be a very realachievement FOR ME.Just don't think its applicable at affiliated level thats all.
 
Everyone seems to be in agreement.

Walk & Trot tests are fine for unaffilated - I have done them with my young horse. I'm not BD affiliated, not good enough yet.

Before I considered affiliation I would want to be regularly in top 3 of unaffiliated prelim tests, which includes canter!
 
May I say Richard is a very sympathetic and patient teacher, my daughter has only just started lateral work and he explained things simply and gave her all the time she needed.
He was an absolute gentleman with us all He gave us his full attention even though his next lesson [who was an experienced British team rider] was ready.He never chatted to them or took phone calls, we had his full attention.
He doesn't deserve any flack
 
I dont see why anyone has a problem with them. Just because they are one of the classes doesnt mean you have to do them! But it might give a novice a reason to go affiliated which in turn could mean they have a go at Prelim etc a bit later on. I couldnt care less if they want a walk only test (be a bit like watching paint dry for the judges though!!)
 
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I think in unaff they are great but why would you go affiliated if you can't canter?

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my thoughts exactly, and what's the big deal with cantering anyway?
I think they are great for youngsters and inexperienced people/horses but why would you pay money to affiliate to BD when you can't canter?

My local show center doesn't even do prelim at affiliated level they start at Novice.
There's loads of unaffiliated walk and trot tests about now anyway.
 
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.I think they have a very real place at unaffiliated level along with things like clear round jumping.When you start to move up though you should be capable of at least prelim level IMHO. Prelim 4 for instance isvery simple.

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I have to agree with this and the cynic in me thinks it's a source of revenue for BD!
 
No-one is saying that these people (i.e - me!) can't canter. Just that as a stepping stone to Prelim and in conquering nervous horse/rider feelings they are a good start.

BD can be VERY intimidating to a nervous rider - if you could do a walk and trot test it's one less thing to worry about.
IF people want to do Affiliated walk & trot, why not? It's a free country (or it was the last time I looked) - perhaps if less people judged each other it would be a nicer one too.
 
Back was I was lad you went to pony club to learn your craft. Then it was off to the local Un-aff show to test how well you had leant and to develop your ring craft. You suceeded or failed. If you had ambition you looked longingly at those competing at affiliated shows and dreamed of one day having the skill to compete along side them. You worked hard day in day out. You fell off and made a fool of yourself but you got back on and tried again vowing to do better next time.
As years went by the hard work and dedication paid off and finally you made it to the affiliated show. The sense of achievement was unbelievable. it didn't matter that you came last, you'd got there, reached the long sort for landmark in competing. More years and more hard work finally gained that elusive placing. Al your dreams became reality.
Then the PC brigade were born. People were no longer allowed to fail, they merely deferred success. It was decreed that striving for a goal should not be necessary. All should be available to everyone no matter the ability or effort put in.
Now we can jump BSJA at 70cm (2'4") when Unaff used to go up to 4'. We can almost do BE on the lead rein and BD is just another jolly day out. And why not I hear you say as long as people have fun and can take part? I would respond "Is the death of dreams, ambition and a REAL sense of achievment an acceptable price?"
 
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