Those who have their tests called?

PaddyMonty

PaddyMonty

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Do you actually hear what the caller is saying.
All my BD tests so far I've had called but realised I dont actually hear what is being said.
Not because calling is poor, just that I know the tests anyway and the caller just becomes background noise (sorry MrsH1970) and yes I have gone wrong when test is being called.

I've called for quite a few people recently and some clearly dont need me there. I could be reciting a Baa Baa Black Sheep for all the difference I'm making. The others would certainly be lost without with the test being called.

So for those that use a caller, do you really need one and if not, do you actually hear what is being said?
 
Not quite the answer you are looking for as I never have my tests called but... when you are in a split indoor arena or outdoor for that matter I can't stand it when people have their tests called because I do hear it and I do take note of what's being said and I do go wrong because I'm usually riding a different test!!
However, I am also one of those people who listens to the commentator as I'm going SJ or XC to hear what they say about me on the way round ... deaf as a post if I'm sat face to face with someone having a convo, go figure!
 
I don't use a caller now, though I suppose I would if I was going to do two tests. I tend to only ever do one though, as horse goes better if I just do one than two. I am pretty good at learning tests now (though we're only doing Prelim!!) so as long as I've practised in the week and the day before, I know where I'm going. Only prob with that is horse anticipating the moves, getting over excited and cantering in every corner because that's what we practised at home!

If I have a caller I focus on them and stop riding so we always do a bad test. If I do it without, I concentrate on riding and I can zone out so I don't hear other callers or the commentator. I don't tend to get distracted by anything but if I do then I immediately forget how to ride and where I'm going!
 
PaddyMonty said:
Interesting that you say that. I don't hear commentators either and am totally unaware of any spectators.
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That must be my strange brain function then as I spot spectators, thank the fence judges and locate the photographer so I can smile! Thinking about it, if I concentrated on what I am doing a little more I might actually get some placings ;)
 
I didn't like having tests called because I found it distracting as my mind was on listening and not riding so I record the test onto an iPod or phone or similar device and listen to it while I'm doing housework or cooking dinner, it's pretty amazing how it will get stuck in your head!

I've never noticed spectators or photographers, I seem to be blinkered when it comes to competing, everything except the fence or where the next movement will be is blocked out but once I did hear a commentator call me Mister which annoyed me so much I stuffed up a jump off.
 
I've ridden hundreds of tests in my time.
I still like to have them called, I find it like a safety blanket and I generally relax and ride better.
I do hear what is being called, but very much as background noise. I generally only tune into it if I have a 'where so I go next moment' !!
I always learn my tests though.
 
I find it useful to be called, but if I'm concentrating on a I movement I won't necessarily hear the next part. However if I am unsure where to go, I listen. I always learn my tests though so a caller is useful rather than a necessity.

I hardly ever actually get one though as we mainly compete alone...
 
I don't need need one, I always know the test (ish) but I still hear them as reassurance :) I've gone wrong being called too, my left and rights go wrong :p
 
When I can get one I use a caller, but I think of them more as a spotter in gymnastics, its only if I blank suddenly (which I do more often than I would like) But some times I ignore them anyways and go off course :D

Gingerlegs that is talent to be able to smile for photographers! I only smile at the judge when I know I have messed up ;)
 
I have a caller but instead of hearing what they tell me to do next, I tell myself in my head then they just confirm it! I don't really pay attention but it is more of a security blanket. I do know the test but when I have to ride it alone I go into a bit of a panic!

I did go wrong once though. The one time I did actually listen. It was "change rein HXF" and I just all of a sudden picked up on the "F" so proceeded to trot straight past H to change at F! What a wally
 
I absolutely always have a caller if I'm allowed (hate having to learn for BE). But that's probably because I literally glance through the test for about 3 minutes just before I get on! I dont practice the exact test at home, unless its a BE one then of course I have to in order to learn it. I do listen, but occasionally if something happens like the horse spooks or something mid-test then I'll miss what was just said so I have gone wrong. We dont take pure dressage very seriously though ;)
 
gingerlegs said:
That must be my strange brain function then as I spot spectators, thank the fence judges and locate the photographer so I can smile! Thinking about it, if I concentrated on what I am doing a little more I might actually get some placings ;)
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That made me laugh. I need lessons from you gingerlegs as all my xc photos look like I am either on the loo or about to require the loo!
 
I rarely have tests called because my OH refuses and there's not normally anyone else with me. On the odd occasion I have had tests called, I either haven't heard a word of it (in my own little world) or I've caught a bit of it, mis-heard it, got confused and then gone wrong :/

It is nice to have as a safey blanket though. I could have done with it a couple of weeks ago - managed to go wrong three times over 2 tests!! In my defence I had only briefly glanced at them and they were awfully similar so I got them muddled. I do think most people know their tests well and the caller is there for safety blanket.
 
I like having a caller as a safety blanket...I do try and learn my test but it's helpful to tune into the caller if I'm not 100% on the movement.

Although it is important to find a good caller - in the past have had the wrong movements called out, I've questioned it, assumed I was wrong as I didn't have the test in front of me and listened to them!
 
I dont use a caller, but i often recommend clients to have their test called, as especially if they are nervous, having a caller just removes some anxiety. But i was at Keysoe today, and they had two outdoor arenas side by side with each arena having a test called very loudly! I was warming up, and very easily tuned out both callers, so it didnt bother me, but i'd love to know how each of the riders managed to concentrate enough to hear their own caller, but not next doors, seemed harder than learning a test to me! So those of you who have callers, how do you cope when that happens? I'd hate to tell someone to use a caller if it was going to make it worse for them.
 
I don't have one because my brain can't cope with people telling me to do one thing while I'm trying to do another. I'm not a big fan of people telling me what to do at the best of times ;)
 
I try and always have a caller as I just can't retain more than one test in my head & if I try & learn 2 I get them mixed up - I tend to do 2 or 3 tests & my brain is just not capable of retaining that information (age is catching up with me) and I have in the not too distant past gone into a test without having looked at it at all & was totally reliant on the caller - ought to do this more often as I won the class!! Probably because I was concentrating on what they were saying & not worrying about anything else :-)
 
I actually find if I'm concentrating on where I am going, little things with horse underneath that I would pick on and tweak I don't obsess over, so I never have a caller.

Although I might regret that this week having to learn four tests!
 
daffy44 said:
I dont use a caller, but i often recommend clients to have their test called, as especially if they are nervous, having a caller just removes some anxiety. But i was at Keysoe today, and they had two outdoor arenas side by side with each arena having a test called very loudly! I was warming up, and very easily tuned out both callers, so it didnt bother me, but i'd love to know how each of the riders managed to concentrate enough to hear their own caller, but not next doors, seemed harder than learning a test to me! So those of you who have callers, how do you cope when that happens? I'd hate to tell someone to use a caller if it was going to make it worse for them.
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Daffy44 - this is exactly my issue, I try to switch off but I'm too aware of everything going on around me... mainly doing BE I don't have the issue as no callers allowed!! But I did some unaffiliated Dressage this winter where there were 2 arenas in an indoor, one Prelim and one Novice. I went wrong in my Novice test because all that was going round my head was what the caller was shouting!
Embarrassingly I did snap at the steward on my way out (later apologised) about letting people call a different test indoors being quite unfair .... making things even more awkward I won the class even with the mistake! Felt like a right tw*t :/
 
I did wonder gingerlegs, i understand why people use a caller, and i have no problem with it, and i can always tune out a caller if i'm riding my test next to them. But hearing these two callers side by side i thought it must be so difficult to listen to your own caller and not the other one, so i wondered how people managed?
 
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