Should I do a Novice test?

kirstyfk

kirstyfk

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 October 2003
Messages
7,140
Location
Edinburgh
Visit site
I have been riding for pretty much all of my life but mainly focusing on low level eventing and have never had a good dressage horse. Well I always think of it as a way to jump better! When I do dressage tests I stick to prelim as I feel me and my horses arn't good enough to do a novice test - i think I did 2 novice tests when I was 15/16.

At the moment I don't have a horse as I'm at uni and like to go travelling but I ride my dad's horse when I go home. Next weekend I have decided to take my dad's horse to a local dressage comp for a bit of fun. Tufty has done Novice tests with my sister a few years ago but its just been my dad riding him lately (who being a typical boy doesn't do stressage!) So do you think I should be brave and do a novice test bearing in mind I haven't ridden him for 6 months or stick to prelim?
 
Be brave! Maybe do a prelim as a warm up and then do the novice. I think some prelim tests are nearly as hard as a novice test just depends on what your horse finds easy and hard. If your horse is on the whole obedient and balanced then see no reason why not.
 
I would do it, I entered an Elementary at my second competion last year and the first test I ever did on him was a Novice, I hadn't done dressage in 3 years either.

The thing with Prelim is that you get professional prelim people who are pretty hard to beat so you'll probably get placed about the same anyway. It will also give you more interesting stuff to work on when you are at home schooling
 
as long as you stick to the easier novice tests you should be fine, even if you get a really low score don't worry, at least your comments will give you a idea of what to work on for the future
smile.gif
 
[quote
The thing with Prelim is that you get professional prelim people who are pretty hard to beat

[/ QUOTE ]

That is the saddest thing I have heard in a long time! I'd so rather be a rubbish prelim rider aiming to improve than a 'pro prelim'. Give me progress over rosettes any day!?

Or am I missing something?
confused.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top