So what would you classify as a "good" dressage score?

katiieking

katiieking

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I know everyone has their own personal "good" scores, I'm happy if I'm at 65% :p

But what would you classify as a good score?

For example, in school 80% = A, 70% = B etc, so you always know how your doing!

However, since dressage competitions can vary greatly depending on who's competing on the day, some days you can win on 63%, others 73%, what would you classify as a "good score"?

A score that you could place with most day's your out?
 
I'm usually happy with anything mid 60's as the hairy highland isn't the most natural for dressage to say the least! But he gives it an honest go, does the best his stature - chunky body and short legs! - allows and has a bit of fun, so, to me, that's what it's all about.

Failing that, any score given by a judge who isn't laughing hysterically at the end of our test. (this did happen once!).
 
Greylegs said:
Failing that, any score given by a judge who isn't laughing hysterically at the end of our test. (this did happen once!).
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Aww serious? That's hardly fair, we've had a judge snigger once when I smiled after my test as I was pretty pleased! Apparently not everyone appreciates enjoying it haha
 
katiieking said:
However, since dressage competitions can vary greatly depending on who's competing on the day, some days you can win on 63%, others 73%, what would you classify as a "good score"?

A score that you could place with most day's your out?
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With dressage as in showing the scoring is done by a judge, some judge harshly & others are a little more forgiving. As long as all entries are judged by the same person & with the same criteria in mind the results will come out right. Additionally the score to win will probably alter depending on the test being ridden (Prelim/Novice/Elementary etc). Problems arise when riders are after points to qualify for regionals & the score is important as that will determine the points the rider collects.
 
Last test I did I was very disappointed with 55%, but hey ho that's life- doing another on Sunday so really hoping to get 60+ - going to try and be nice and accurate and let my boy do his thing.

On the same night as the 55% mark, I did the same test on another horse and got 45%..... hey, if it was a university score it'd still be a pass :rolleyes: and in fairness the judge's comments were very encouraging, commenting that I had ridden 'very patiently' and the 7 I got for my riding in the collectives meant I wasn't that bothered about it at all, actually I was very pleased that she actively sought something positive to comment on, despite the horse going round like a psychotic giraffe on speed.

So any way, my point is a good score can mean different things to different people.
 
I'm happy as long as we stay within the boards :o (they are not - i repeat, not - something to eye up, get excited about and try to leap over throughout the duration of the test)
 
I ignore the % and compare notes from a previous test when i get home. I do get upset with myself if i get less than the previous test result tho.
 
starryeyed said:
I'm happy as long as we stay within the boards :o (they are not - i repeat, not - something to eye up, get excited about and try to leap over throughout the duration of the test)
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^^^^
This! Funny, I did my first ever dressage test y'day on a horse that has only previously showjumped. I have only had her 4 weeks and I could feel her going "whaaaatttt????" the whole way through the test! Bless her! We got just over 60% and I was ecstatic because this is something she has never done, was clearly bemused but still tried her little heart out! Now if she is still doing that in 6 months then maybe not so happy.....
 
as a rule somwhere around 70% as thats a fairly good test (on the 1-10 scale), but but it depends on the range of scores in the test, I have won a test with 90% - on that day i would have been pretty disappointed with 70%.
 
For me it's anything above 60% because fatticus eqquinus over here has naturally high head carriage and can find it difficult to go into a nice, soft outline and often gets called hollow even though hes not :)
 
I'm very happy with over 60% :) My last test I got the comment "barely trotting" lol. He's just soooooo relaxed. He's always accurate and obedient, just need to combat the "needs more impulsion" and stop him falling asleep during free walk .......
 
For my better horse i aim for minimum 70% at novice and nothing below 65% at elementary. For the young ones i accept we will get around 60% for the first few but expect late 60s if they can walk trot and canter obediently.
I define a good score as one 3-5%from the winner for my lot though they occasionally have other ideas!
 
Anything in the 60's is good for me :) but at the end of the day dressage is subjective, it is just one judge's opinion and their opinion will differ to the next judge. I have written for dressage judges a few times now and they all vary wildly - even at affiliated!

I'd love to be getting into the 70's, but old giant hunters tend not to get up to those dizzying heights :rolleyes:

If you look at GP competitions and what scores the pros are getting, it can vary from in the 50's to over 80% if you are Charlotte D and Edward Gal. So if even the very best in the world have to settle for somewhere between 50 and 80, then as long as you are in that range you know you're ok.

I think as long as you are improving on your outings and feel like you are getting somewhere, then that's all that matters.
 
My great sigh of relieve is not that I finshed the test its that im still on board after that im gratefull for anything.
 
When we were going out regularly, I was happy with 60-65%, if I'm going up a class, or somewhere new, I'm happy with making it round in the right direction - 50% is a bonus :rolleyes:

Since there can be so much variation between judges, I generally go by how far off the top score I am, and the range between top and bottom scores, rather than the number of points I get...
 
Thanks for your input guys :)

I just hate the fact I can't go out and aim for a certain score to try and place if you know what I mean? For example, SJ I go out and aim for a double clear with a fast time to try and place! Not quite so easy in dressage haha
 
Would depend on what level we were attempting and how established I felt we were at that level - I aim for 70 at novice (don't we all) ;) because I think horse & I would be capable of it as have had 7s or 8s for every movement on a novice test at one point - just can't get them all to happen in the same test yet :p so I am happy with 65%+

TBH as long as I feel the test went well - using our at-home performances as a benchmark - I am happy regardless of what the score is or our placing.

I'd rather get 70% and come last in a really good class of horses than win with 60% and not be happy with our performance... but there isn't much chance of the latter happening round here anyway!
 
From my big ginger horse I expect 70% as a minimum at Novice with a good score of about 72%+ then I expect 65% at Elementary as he isn't entirely established yet so I count a good score as 68% for us at that level. It is so subjective that I just compare the scores in the class- it's the most satisfying thing when a harsh marking judge gives you a good score! :D
 
On my old horse, if we got between 55% and 60% I was happy. He was a grumpy old sod who really didn't like the dressage game, so staying in the arena and not losing control was my main goal :D
 
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