Sparkle in dressage

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OliveOyl

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My horse is very consistent in her work, comes out and does a good, solid test every time out, averaging 65%. However judges have commented that although she has nice, correct paces and produces a calm, very obedient test they want to see more "sparkle" for higher marks.
Do you think you can train sparkle in to a laid back horse? And what exercises do you think would help?
 
You can train sparkle into a chillled out horse but it is difficult to do without causing tension. Slightly higher energy feed can help and teaching her to work in a higher, more advance outline so she can use herself more will both make her look 'flashier'. Your best bet is to have a lesson with a serious dressage rider who will be able to advise you on what is best for your mare. As you are in Worcestershire you aren't far from Carl & Spencer - I have access to their numbers if you PM me.
 
if you increase the engagement of the hindleg through specific exercises, it will increase elevation and give a more off-the-floor, impressive look.
unfortunately i think a lot of tension is overlooked as it is mistaken for sparkle, but maybe that's just me.
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Hi

You can train sparkle in certain ways, sparkle is cadence, so a collection of fitness, connectivity and having your horse truly through gives that feeling of specialness, sparkle and cadence.

One way that you can increase it is to get your horse a bit fitter, and sharper to your aids, hacking is great for doing this, getting her a bit lively etc.

Teaching a few piaffe steps can also help.

It is good that you are getting 65% in your tests, as with more sparkle you will get more than this.

Diana
 
I some horses are very tense Kerilli yes, but I think true sparkle is not achieved through tension. That said, in a big atmosphere on a very fit and sensitive horse is always going to produce a little big of tension.

Diana
 
I have this problem too so last week at competition tried to gee horse up beofre 1st test. Result - he got a bit edgy and tense - judges comment "needs to relax frame to show more suppleness'. backed off him for 2nd test - judge's comment - 'needs to work with more energy for greater suppleness'. Aaaargh!
 
We had exactly the same with Chocolate, he actually finds the lower level tests very boring and does them totally obediently but without the sparkle you get when you ask him something more difficult.
We changed his feed to Saracen's prep 14 and equijewel, and the following week and from then on he was much better.. The equj can be adjusted accordingly and it does seem to give energy without stupidity..
 
Dutch, normally i'd agree with you, but have you watched the vid of Blue Hors Matine at WEG? amazing atmosphere, and a tension-free performance, to my mind anyway. really really should have won gold.
i know that's the exception to the rule though!
 
Guys, I wouldn't worry too much if you are doing correct tests, you can add sparkle as the training continues and your own confidence grows! Often it is a progressive thing, some horses are naturally very exuberant, flashy, and spooky!

Diana
 
I shall see if I can find a video! I know what you mean about tense, horses flicking their toes being mistaken for controlled cadence! The lovely bay horse to the left of your signature photos looks just like a horse that I had, she was young and crazy at the time but she could jump amazingly well!

Di
 
Thanks for your help everyone!
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Having had a horse that had rather too much, erm "sparkle" and struggled to keep it's legs going in the right direction in a test, I have to say I do enjoy being able to just get on with a test, sparkle or no sparkle!! But would also like to improve further if we can, so need to push the boat out a little further and see how we go.
 
Arrghh, yes! I have seen that video before, I agree, it is a beautiful test and the horse does not look tense at all. Horses always seem to lose the first halt when they get to Grand Prix! At elementary they would probably write on your sheet- square but wobbly! lol

Thanks for giving me the link to that video, I shall keep it!

Di
 
[ QUOTE ]
Dutch, normally i'd agree with you, but have you watched the vid of Blue Hors Matine at WEG? amazing atmosphere, and a tension-free performance, to my mind anyway. really really should have won gold.
i know that's the exception to the rule though!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not to reopen the debate - this horse is a truly fabulous and prodigious talent - but why does everyone say there is not sign of tension in this test when the horse wrings her tail pretty much constantly? I'm not saying she IS tense, I am saying that is a recognised sign of tension and yet somehow the fact that she has floppy ears seems to cancel it out.
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It will be interesting to see if she can come back and fulfil her early promise. I guess that will be something to chew on for the people (like me) who are concerned about the repercussions of "pushing" young horses.

Of course, exceptions do not prove the rule and this horse is without doubt an exception. But then again, that means she's not the best example to illustrate a point, especially regarding the common rank and file.

Calm, forward, straight.

When that is achieved then the rider can add pushing and carrying to add expression, elevation and control to the stride, which I think is what many people mean by "sparkle" (and which can look similar to incorrect "hovering" to the uninitiated). The horse also needs to be "happy" in it's work and taking pleasure in using itself well, so as to portray an enthusiastic participation, not a rote job.

Of course, some horses just naturally have more expression and often they are the same horses people struggle to settle at the beginning.
 
I do understand your point. I think for all horses competing at grand prix, properly in that sort of atmosphere you are going to see some tension somewhere.

I think Blue Hors Matine enjoys her work. Most dressage horses are "on the edge" with their work, they are very active horses!

Diana
 
Oh, I'm not arguing that the horse is fantastic and absolutely, GP horses doing that work in that atmosphere are going to show "tension" appropriate to the circumstances. Compared to many Matine looks particularly well adjusted!

I only take issue with the comments I've heard over and over that the horse shows NO sign of tension when the tail clearly COULD be one. And I have actually heard people claim the floppy ears prove it! No, she just has floppy ears. Like Rocher. Besides, everyone knows horses show tension in individual ways and not all horses exhibit (or release) it in the most common ways, such as mouth faults or spooking. In fact in some cases anxiety is confused with "sparkle", especially if it produces a held neck or hovering gait through tightness in the top line. A really "through" horse looks literally fluid and the joy positively shines out of it. It's amazing to watch. The catch is I suspect few people ever get to see such a performance in their daily lives and so don't have a benchmark.

The purpose of dressage is to make the horse more beautiful.
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