Stressage.....just shoot me now

[Kenzo]

I am a complete air head, sift brains..... a complete and utter useless pile of poo but am I the only one?

(this is the part when you bombard me with replies saying no no I do it all the time, don't worry about it etc etc)

Why oh why do I know a dressage test, get a 3rd of the way through it then go wrong, then go blanc, not recognise where I've gone wrong to enable me to pick up the movement again to carry on?

Its not like I'm nervous though, but I think I talk myself into it, worrying about forgetting the test and going wrong, then I actually do and its really starting to annoy me, I felt like kicking myself yesterday. I know the test, I've practiced it in the school, gone over it in my head, on paper...you name it, but come to doing on the day, I fcuk up...every time!

Is it really that bad to actually need a caller, now there is nothing wrong with having a caller, if your nervous or you don't know the test but in my case....its just pure uselessness!

Suggestions on a postcard

 

[pipper]

i never have trouble remembering my test......on paper or trotting round the office BUT in the actuall thing...FORGET IT!
i always have a caller - even though half the time im not listening to her as i know the test, it just means that when i reach the point where my mind goes blank i can prick up my ears and listen.
just get a caller in.........

 

[Eira]

I'm in the same boat , so I am having a caller

 

[Taboo1968]

Hey I have a caller too, usually know both tests but have them just as back up!!!!

 

[spookypony]

No, you're not the only one. I rarely go wrong, but yesterday, I did too...was so concerned about the bad footing that I did my half-15m circle at the wrong end of the arena.

Perhaps just use a caller for a while and stop beating yourself up about it? Maybe get your caller to call only every second movement, or only to prompt you if you yell "help!"?

 

[Kayfm]

Ditto Piper. A caller is there if you need them !! we all go blank under pressure (well thats the best excuse i can think of) no matter how much you have practised.

 

[Kenzo]

Are you sure your both in the same dunce boat? or are you trying to make me feel better? lol

Perhaps its because its a different arena...maybe thats my problem?

I keep expecting a few mares and foals to bob the heads over the bottom half near C, a few chickens to come in and flap across the areba from H (from the adjcent chicken run) and avoid being dumped and falling off on the broken rail thats near letter B hmmm maybe thats it.

Must be the nice flat surface, dressage boards and flower pots thats putting me off

 

[jesterfaerie]

I am usually good at remembering tests however the last one I did I could remember it in the warm up but ended up messing it up as I had been practicing on my own horse and had to miss parts of the test out as he was unable to do the movements - ended up missing these parts out in the actual test

then had no idea where I went wrong, ended up doing it wrong again

Could possibly do with a caller next time ugh.

 

[Eira]

No no , I really am in the dunce boat

And anyway having a caller makes me concentrate on listening for them rather than panicking to how I'm riding and how Sol is going

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I thought it was common knowledge that the second you enter a dressage arena you forget your name, the date, whether you remembered to put clean underwear on, why you're there and - of course - most of the test!

 

[Pat10]

Er - I've been known to go wrong WITH a caller (who has been known to shout exasperatedly 'NO the OTHER right!!!')

 

[juventino]

[ QUOTE ]
Er - I've been known to go wrong WITH a caller (who has been known to shout exasperatedly 'NO the OTHER right!!!')

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's even more embarrassing!

 

[horseywelsh]

i was competing yesterday and the girl before me went wrong and ended up going down the centre line the wrong way and saluting to the judge behind her (the bell was ringing but she was oblivious). When she realised she was in fits of laughter, as were we

 

[Silverspring]

Stressage without a caller? What is this sport you speak of?

 

[Kenzo]

[ QUOTE ]
i was competing yesterday and the girl before me went wrong and ended up going down the centre line the wrong way and saluting to the judge behind her (the bell was ringing but she was oblivious). When she realised she was in fits of laughter, as were we

[/ QUOTE ]

your jokeing!....orr bless her, mind you I laugh but it sounds like something I would do!

 

[Kenzo]

[ QUOTE ]
Stressage without a caller? What is this sport you speak of?

[/ QUOTE ]

lol good question, if I find out, I'll be the first to tell you

at the moment, it's way over my head

 

[Annagain]

Sorry *waits for thing to be thrown at her*
I'm the lucky one, I have a photographic memory and find learning and remembering dressage tests really easy. The last one I did wasfor a ODE a few weeks ago. My test was at 12.40 - I first looked at the test at 10.30, in between bathing him and plaiting up!

I did one in the winter where I literally saw the test 10 minutes before warming up. I thought I wasn't 100% sure of it so had a caller. She got confused and was about 2 movements ahead of me. I noticed and carried on with what I thought was right not what I was being told - and I WAS right. So I knew it better than someone reading it!

If only I could perform them as well as I can remember them!

 

[Kenzo]

I can beleive it actually because my friend is exactly the same, she can read it once and know it and never have to look at it again....mind you she is a school teacher, far too clever for my books!

 

[Katie__Connie]

Hmm i dont get this very much... but i think thats because im in pony club and at PC events it tends to always be the same test for the whole season!!!

But my pony spooks at the boards and the car and the grass and the nearby hedge and the letters and the other horses and the people and the horn and....
you get the picture!!

 

[Storminateacup]

Its all very well having a caller - IF you can HEAR them.
I never can, no matter who calls for me. The sound of my heart beating, the sound of my horse breathing and his foot falls always make me half deaf. Its funny 'cos I can always hear EVERY word of the caller when I am watching someone elses test!

 

[Storminateacup]

The only trouble with having a caller is when they just get on with the business of reading it, no matter what you are doing!

There is a real art to reading a test so that you are with your rider leading them along just about half a movement in front of them.

Its no good if the caller is not watching where you are in the test, so that they can help you, should you get lost.

I think its best to know your test quite well and just fall back on your caller if you really get stuck.

 

[Kenzo]

[ QUOTE ]
The only trouble with having a caller is when they just get on with the business of reading it, no matter what you are doing!

There is a real art to reading a test so that you are with your rider leading them along just about half a movement in front of them.

Its no good if the caller is not watching where you are in the test, so that they can help you, should you get lost.

I think its best to know your test quite well and just fall back on your caller if you really get stuck.

[/ QUOTE ]

You have hit the nail on the head there, because when I did a few tests on a horse for someone, last minute thing, got talked into doing it, my excuse was I can't I don't know the test!....they said no worries we'll call it for you, twice they messed up, hence why I've never had one since and managed on my own, but the last couple of times I've struggled and messed up myself.

Yes your right though, there is an art to it.

 

[horseywelsh]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i was competing yesterday and the girl before me went wrong and ended up going down the centre line the wrong way and saluting to the judge behind her (the bell was ringing but she was oblivious). When she realised she was in fits of laughter, as were we

[/ QUOTE ]

your jokeing!....orr bless her, mind you I laugh but it sounds like something I would do!

[/ QUOTE ]

nope not joking, she was in a world of her own. Glad she could see the funny side beacuse we were all wanting to laugh but didn't wanrt to in case she was upset.