Teardrops in canter for dressage - PLEASE HELP!

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saskia295

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AAGGHH! I am doing Novice 28 on Sunday and have been practicing for a while now. However, those darn teardrops in canter are really hard!

The movement is to, just before M half circle 15m then return back to the track between B and F and trot at F.

What I'm finding is that the angle to come back on is too steep so when you're kind of counter cantering, we either break into trot early or the transition back to trot is really unbalanced
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Has anyone got any tips to keep the canter and do a decent balanced trot transition? I'm really struggling. I think if it was in a long arena, you'd have enough time and a less steep angle to work across and it would be ok but we really seem to be getting stuck here so I'd really appreciate any tips you guys can give me.

Thanks
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Keep your outside leg on, not leg yield but almost.
Make your circle smooth, slow the canter down before you do the teardrop.
All I can suggest really!
 
Hey! I'm doing novice 28 on Saturday to Crofton! Where are you? I'm having the same problem - its not so bad when its in a long arena as the angle is not so steep but this is really hard. Its going to be a bit hit and miss for me but I find if I can have him really listening and steady we can manage it - if I let him run on too much he gets unbalanced and changes in front! They are very hard!
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I'm enjoying pinching all the advice you are getting!
 
I rode this last week - my trainer's advice was to complete the half circle as soon as possible and aim for 1 horse's length after B or E (ie ensure it is only a half circle not 3/4 or your line to the track will be very acute). Keep the bend over the leading leg and use your inner leg (ie not near the arena wall) to maintain the canter. Good luck.
 
The reason you find this hard is that this really tests the conection and control of balance in the outside rein.
Give yourself as much time and space so, when it says 'just before M do just that . Half halt in the outside rein drawing your spine up and your elbows heavey. Turn your body throught the pevis not just in the head and keep the outside shoulder infront of you , in that you must keep activating the inside leg into the outside rein. Half halt again as you finish the i/2 15m and then in your minds eye draw a straight line from that end point back to the track slightly before f. Making sure that the outside leg is back behind the girth and that you continue to ride the canter on the right leg . This is important for the balance, the maintaining of the canter without loosing the straightness and then riding the transition from the right canter to the right trot THEN change your flection to the left once you have made the canter trot transition.
Many people forget this and the transition becomes muddled as they forget and ride a left transiton when they are in right canter.
so it is all about that inside leg to outside rein connection and the balance created within the frame work of that connection.
Think of what it tests and why and it gives the clue as to how to ride it!!
Good luck and i hope this makes some sense.
 
Thank you for all your help everybody, I had a go this morning and they were actually a bit better, so fingers crossed it'll be ok on Sunday, although I think it could be a bit hit and miss!

Grumbledor - I am doing combined training at Kingston Maurwood on Sunday. This is our first novice test and his second time indoor jumping so hope it won't be too much of a disaster!!! Good luck to you too! x
 
I would second those who say start your half circle as late as possible (ie 1 and 1/2m before M) so that the top of the half circle actually touches the top edge of the arena between C and the corner.

The later you leave it to start the half circle the less steep the angle is back to the track.

When judging this test I am constantly amazed how many people start the half circle way to early and then find it impossible to ride a balanced return.

We expect to see a stride or 2 of counter canter before the trot transition at F so again aim to return about 2 horse lengths before the marker.

BD changed the wording on this test to try and help people ride it better as it used to say 'between B and M 15m 1/2 circle' and you would see riders starting it just past B not having a hope in hell of returning without the poor horse falling on it's nose.
 
Ooh I've heard its lovely over there - just a bit far for me to go though - I look forward to seeing some pics!! Good luck!
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