Should I try dressage? And....paying to hack? Bit long....

[Apalacia01]

Second post of the night - really pushing the boat out!

I was thinking about entering for an Intro A Walk and Trot Test, but now, am getting the mega jitters. I don't really have a 'school' and feel that I am just going to make a fool of myself. The pony is hard to get 'on the bit' and I think I will just look a bit stupid. Has anyone else recently done anything like this!?

Other thing is...to get where the place is where the test is is over 1/2 mile, major road work...(dual carriageway...but I have seen people riding in the dark along there...don't ask). however, I can pay 70 quid to get a one year pass to the woods. On the website they said they did 3 month, 6 month and 12 month passes. Well, they only do the 3 month passes for the last 3 months of the year (understandable) but...I am a student, I don't have 70 quid....and I am moving myself and the pony in 4 months to another county. Is it worth paying the money just for the chance to compete and also maybe have professional lessons (oh....and the use of a school!)

Cookies if you got this far!

 

[stormyhorse]

I did my first dressage test last year and had major butterflies, but it was really good and I really loved doing that i did 8 in total last year. My first test was at a local riding club evening dressage competition and they has a restricted section that i entered, for people who hadn't been placed in a dressage competition before, so that helped my nerves. I was worried that people would look at me and think she is no good at dressage but there were people who had naughty ponies and for your pony being hard to get on the bit, there were at least a couple of people who didn't even try to do it. Hope this helps

 

[TGM]

Don't worry about being on the bit - at walk and trot level you are unlikely to be the only one with a horse not in an outline! At this level I suspect the judges are more likely to be looking for horses that are calm, forward, obedient and bend the correct way around corners and circles!

Regarding the pass for the woods, why not ring or email them and explain your situation and see if they will bend the rules and let you have a 3 month pass? Worth a try!

 

[Taboo1968]

Go for it!!! Everyone has to start somewhere..... Just remember to be accurate at the markers so you dont lose marks through being late or early in transitions....

As for the pass, I would explain to them you are moving in 4 months and only want the pass as a safety thing so you dont have to hack down "that" road..... I am sure they would bend the rules!

 

[Apalacia01]

Tried telling them that I am leaving - they are rather stubborn. I think that they expect people with horses to be able to throw around 70 odd quid, but I will ask if they will give me a refund after the 4 months.

Yay! Something to work towards! Even if I don't do it, I guess it will be good practice. Going to go and try plaiting now!