Tips for competiting ?

[Acobandawelsh]

Exciting thread for me! Finally picking up a trailer this weekend ready to start our BD journey. My welsh is ggoing very sweetly after a good 8 months of weekly lessons with a very good dressage trainer. At the grand age of 40 never really had the chance to compete properly. 4 children and 1 becoming very ill for 4 years (fine now!) I can finally have a bit of time out competing
So its been a few years since i did a dressage comp. I am planning to do a bit of unaffiliated for the first few times locally on a sunday and doing prelim. We have been doing some elementry work.at home but feel the prelim will be a nice starting point. The aim is to affiliate in the summer .
I have a navy soft shell jacket, stock and a brown hat, brown boots or dark navy boots. Does everyone wear white breeches? ? i have some lighter breeches (cream) do you think the white would look better ? I dont want to look over dressed ?
Also i have a terrible memory, i will be going alone so no caller. I have a speaker watch i use at home. I am worried i will have a memory blank when i get there! Any tips?
Thank you for reading if you got this far! So excited!!

 

[oldie48]

First of all, just enjoy the outing and your outfit is fine, you don't need white breeches but don't forget gloves. I've always gone to comps on my own and although I learn the test/tests I often find someone who will call for me. When in the warm up there's often someone with another rider who is happy to help. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[tristar]

if you re starting, there is no pressure, just go and think of it as a fun thing , riding your own horse that you know well and who is going well, smile a lot, try to relax by de contracting your muscles, do some carrot stretches with the horse, and get there early and have a good look around and watch a few warming up, and focus on yourself and your horse, blot out whats going on around you

 

[Gloi]

Don't take it too seriously. Think of it as a schooling session with the judges comments being hints as to what to work on for next time. You are really only competing against yourself and giving yourself a marker to work with.
Your clothes will be fine. It is not a beauty contest.

 

[GreyDot]

All sounds very lovely! And definitely don't forget your gloves. For the first few outings, I always view them as a fun arena hire with an added bonus of a judge's opinion on where we are in our training. You get to ride on a lovely surface, your horse gets to experience a busy warm-up area and then being taken away by himself to concentrate for 5 mins (all great learning moments) and you get to show your work off and get feedback. It's a win-win situation as long as you remember, this is an enjoyable occasion
Have fun and best of luck!

 

[Birker2020]

I hope you have a wonderful time, I am so hoping it will be me next at my first dressage outing on new boy.

Best of luck OP x

 

[Acobandawelsh]

Thank you everyone!
Yes! Gloves, i always ride in them and have some navy ones
Trying not to put myself under too much pressure and good idea about finding someone to call my test on the day ??