greybadger19
Member
I sat the Senior Equitation Exam a couple of weeks ago, and, bottom line, found out today that I didn't pass. Not unexpected, as I had probably the worst day at work the day before that I have had in a very long time, and didn't go in to the day in the right frame of mind at all. While there were no massive clangers, I came out of it knowing I hadn't ridden as well as I can. But, these things happen - will re-book it tomorrow! Given there is so little kicking about these exams, I thought a short download on it would be useful to anybody thinking about taking it.
There were just two of us taking the exam - so having two people and three assessors made for feeling of very definitely being assessed! No place to hide...
We started with the outside assessment. The day always starts with riding a horse outside, with showjumps and XC fences available, as if assessing it for purchase. You've got about 20 mins for this. I had a mid-weight horse, early teens, who was forwards enough but always felt to be questioning every fence, and really needed his hand holding. Great for a confident rider, as he had a cracking little jump in him, but not so good for somebody a bit novicy. Lots to talk about, and I was broadly happy with this bit.
Next we rode the dressage horses. The aim is to assess their current level of training, training history, how they would score (and at what level) competitively up to Advanced Medium, and what you'd work on in the future to improve them. There were two, and we had about 20 mins on each. First I rode was a lovely mid-teens chap, with clear schooling above the level required as his first response to my trot aid was a lovely passage. All the exercises were fine, but the half pass right in trot fell apart a bit, which gives something to talk about (key thing is if something doesn't go well, talk about it, otherwise the assessors think you didn't notice, or think it's fine). Changes were obedient everywhere, from half pass, counter-canter, or on a serpentine. However a few were late behind and lacking straightness. I put this down, in the discussion, to me blocking a little in the hand, not riding them as forward as I could, and perhaps not being as subtle with the old outside leg as I could be. Second horse was a lovely chap in a double bridle. Worked up to elementary level, and not a jot above. However had a habit of coming behind the vertical and curling his neck up, and felt a bit 'draw reiny' at times. Worked to get his canter forward and his next released. Discussed all this, what I'd do with him to correct this, and that he'd suffer in the submission collectives as a result.
Straight on the lunging. I had a sweet little 5yo, who worked well in straight lines, but had a habit of running from aids, but didn't understand any lateral influence. Worked on this to develop his suppleness and acceptance of the aids, and his trot work improved throughout.
After a short break, on to the showjumping. This again is about assessing a horse up to Foxhunter level, again with about 20/25 mins riding. We had a course set up to use as we wanted, with combinations on various stridings between 3 and 5, and a touble combination with 6 strides to an oxer too. Warmed up my horse over a few fences at about 1 / 1.05m high, then put the fences up to about 1.10 / 1.15m and cracked on. Very excitable / tense horse, who had a habit of rushing fences and running after, but he had a phenomenal jump. I didn't really test any more demanding lines (doglegs etc), which I commented about in the discussion, but I should have ridden them too. Took a while to settle and get on with him, but discussed that I'd happily take him out now at Newcomers if the pair understanding was worked through.
Finally the XC. Had a mid-heavy hunter type to play with, where the brief was he is a client's horse, looking to move up to BE90, but he struggles with control after fences. After warming him up in a shorter frame, I essentially showjumped him round some of the schooling fences. All fine until he ran out at a skinny. Worked on some exercises to correct this, which were effective. Commented that moving to BE90 would be fine from a scope point of view, suggested exercises to improve the work after fences, but that time would need to be spent on more technical fences to build his confidence.
A rather busy 4 hours, in sweltering conditions! The feedback was all along the lines of effective assessments and future work plans given, but I wasn't always coordinating between seat and hand, and sometimes blocking in the rein. Which is pretty much what I came out of the day thinking about myself - so no great surprises, which is good in itself. Good to know what the assessment is like for the next time too - all good experience regardless of the result.
There were just two of us taking the exam - so having two people and three assessors made for feeling of very definitely being assessed! No place to hide...
We started with the outside assessment. The day always starts with riding a horse outside, with showjumps and XC fences available, as if assessing it for purchase. You've got about 20 mins for this. I had a mid-weight horse, early teens, who was forwards enough but always felt to be questioning every fence, and really needed his hand holding. Great for a confident rider, as he had a cracking little jump in him, but not so good for somebody a bit novicy. Lots to talk about, and I was broadly happy with this bit.
Next we rode the dressage horses. The aim is to assess their current level of training, training history, how they would score (and at what level) competitively up to Advanced Medium, and what you'd work on in the future to improve them. There were two, and we had about 20 mins on each. First I rode was a lovely mid-teens chap, with clear schooling above the level required as his first response to my trot aid was a lovely passage. All the exercises were fine, but the half pass right in trot fell apart a bit, which gives something to talk about (key thing is if something doesn't go well, talk about it, otherwise the assessors think you didn't notice, or think it's fine). Changes were obedient everywhere, from half pass, counter-canter, or on a serpentine. However a few were late behind and lacking straightness. I put this down, in the discussion, to me blocking a little in the hand, not riding them as forward as I could, and perhaps not being as subtle with the old outside leg as I could be. Second horse was a lovely chap in a double bridle. Worked up to elementary level, and not a jot above. However had a habit of coming behind the vertical and curling his neck up, and felt a bit 'draw reiny' at times. Worked to get his canter forward and his next released. Discussed all this, what I'd do with him to correct this, and that he'd suffer in the submission collectives as a result.
Straight on the lunging. I had a sweet little 5yo, who worked well in straight lines, but had a habit of running from aids, but didn't understand any lateral influence. Worked on this to develop his suppleness and acceptance of the aids, and his trot work improved throughout.
After a short break, on to the showjumping. This again is about assessing a horse up to Foxhunter level, again with about 20/25 mins riding. We had a course set up to use as we wanted, with combinations on various stridings between 3 and 5, and a touble combination with 6 strides to an oxer too. Warmed up my horse over a few fences at about 1 / 1.05m high, then put the fences up to about 1.10 / 1.15m and cracked on. Very excitable / tense horse, who had a habit of rushing fences and running after, but he had a phenomenal jump. I didn't really test any more demanding lines (doglegs etc), which I commented about in the discussion, but I should have ridden them too. Took a while to settle and get on with him, but discussed that I'd happily take him out now at Newcomers if the pair understanding was worked through.
Finally the XC. Had a mid-heavy hunter type to play with, where the brief was he is a client's horse, looking to move up to BE90, but he struggles with control after fences. After warming him up in a shorter frame, I essentially showjumped him round some of the schooling fences. All fine until he ran out at a skinny. Worked on some exercises to correct this, which were effective. Commented that moving to BE90 would be fine from a scope point of view, suggested exercises to improve the work after fences, but that time would need to be spent on more technical fences to build his confidence.
A rather busy 4 hours, in sweltering conditions! The feedback was all along the lines of effective assessments and future work plans given, but I wasn't always coordinating between seat and hand, and sometimes blocking in the rein. Which is pretty much what I came out of the day thinking about myself - so no great surprises, which is good in itself. Good to know what the assessment is like for the next time too - all good experience regardless of the result.
