Tense comments? all dressage riders pls.

[prudunce]

Im gettin my fizzy mare out AS much as poss 2 do unafil dressage 2 de-fizz her and try and get better scores at my events.Thought she was gettin better,until i got beaten by a lazy cob wiv head in air.I aslo watched other riders in novice classes and lookin at the horses,they dont seem to bother wiv a nice low head cariage like i worked hard towards?maybe thats where im throwin points away>tryin to get an outline and losing a balanced calm pace?? do judges pref a nice pace,rather than an outline?? oh i know theres no quick cure,BUT any suggestions 4 gettin better work when askin 4 canter,as all i get is very tense??not sure wat else 2 try??as she works well at home&out in lessons?? wish i cud dope the minx(did i just say that,sorry)! but its very frustrating when she is norm chilled!! any tips very much welcomed!

 

[TGM]

I think a lot of judges would prefer to see a calm, obedient, rhythmic, forward test that lacks roundness, rather than a tense, agitated horse in a round outline (which often isn't truly on the bit but pulled into shape with the hands).

 

[viola]

Hi! I agree with TGM as to an outline, especially if it's an unaffiliated competition. Someone I teach won on 70% Unaff. Prelim RC Champs. and we concentrated mostly on relaxation, acuracy, rhythm and athletic forward going paces. The horse is prone to tension fits and shortening the neck so we take rounder outline slowly with him.
If I were you I would forget about her neck and aim to produce quality paces instead as you mentioned anyway.

BTW - if you PM your email address I can send you pictures of you and your mare XC schooling at Lockskinners (or similar name, don't remember). I was there with J.'s dad and her dog

The quality is far from good but I am happy to email them any time

 

[skye123]

yes i think so too.

my horse gets very tense and wound up when we go in the ring and we often got 53%. the next time i did a competition i decided to completly leave her head alone and just to aim for a nice relaxed test etc.

we got 63% and came 5th

 

[Paint it Lucky]

I agree with everyone else, don't worry about outline when competing, instead concentrate more on accuracy and staying relaxed, don't take it too seriously and then she shouldn't either. You could also try giving yourself longer to warm up (at least half and hour) so you don't get stressed about her not being ready on time etc. Try and ride her as you would at home, forget you're being watched, use lots of half halts to keep her focused on you, be gentle with her and focus on accuracy and a good outline should come of it's own accord.

 

[parsley]

I think that relaxation and rhythm are first on the training scales - if you look at the collectives on your test sheets you can see what is required and the judge will underline what you need to improve. My cob started off poking his nose out but still got reasonable scores because he has very rhythmitical paces - he is bringing his nose in a bit now as we are working on engaging his hindquarters and bringing his back up, rather than trying to bring his nose down.

 

[mickey]

I have often seen horses pulled into false outlines at prelim, lacking forward movement.
Above all, they want to see a horse truly moving forward in a good rhythm (And if that forward movement is moving into a good solid connection with the rein then so much the better). Pulling a horse into a false outline and not going forward enough is completely the reverse of what they wish to see and is incorrect....

 

[helencharlie]

I feel that relaxation and rhythm in a test come before an outline. I have worked very hard with Charlie to achieve relaxation and rhythm and it is only now that the outline and engagement of the hindquarters is happening.