UK DRESSAGE RIDERS, moving up levels

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Eventing1998

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Hi all! I have a pony who’s currently competing prelim upto 73%. We had a go at our first novice getting 66% and winner on 68%, so not too bad.. but
A lot of people say school at a level above what I am competing at..
So I was wondering, those competing at novice, what movements should your horse be able to do / school at? What novice / elementary new moves & exercises should the horse be learning at home? Got counter canter and medium trot.

Thanks all! :)
 
I think it's not just additional movements that are being referred to when people say you should train a level higher, but a more developed way of going. So when I have a horse competing at Novice and thinking higher, I would want to be able to develop engagement, balance, suppleness etc of an elementary/towards medium way of going, really secure contact with developing self carriage, showing the understanding of collection in trot and canter, though maybe not yet quite ready to work in collection. able to show good lengthened strides from marker to marker instead of just "some " strides in the middle of a diagonal etc. ability to maintain the quality of pace when riding more advanced shapes like 10m circles and deeper corners etc.

In addition, I would be making sure that basic lateral work was secure - leg yield and shoulder in both feature at elementary and are helpful to develop the basic way of going.

The idea is that when you are away from home the horse is firstly very confident in the level-below work, so as you inevitably lose a bit of focus due to strange surroundings, the work for the competition is well within the comfort zone. And competitively, you stand a bit above those who are competing at the top of their level of training, as your horse should have a more established way of going.
 
milliepops said:
I think it's not just additional movements that are being referred to when people say you should train a level higher, but a more developed way of going. So when I have a horse competing at Novice and thinking higher, I would want to be able to develop engagement, balance, suppleness etc of an elementary/towards medium way of going, really secure contact with developing self carriage, showing the understanding of collection in trot and canter, though maybe not yet quite ready to work in collection. able to show good lengthened strides from marker to marker instead of just "some " strides in the middle of a diagonal etc. ability to maintain the quality of pace when riding more advanced shapes like 10m circles and deeper corners etc.

In addition, I would be making sure that basic lateral work was secure - leg yield and shoulder in both feature at elementary and are helpful to develop the basic way of going.

The idea is that when you are away from home the horse is firstly very confident in the level-below work, so as you inevitably lose a bit of focus due to strange surroundings, the work for the competition is well within the comfort zone. And competitively, you stand a bit above those who are competing at the top of their level of training, as your horse should have a more established way of going.
Click to expand...

I thought shoulder in only feature from medium upward? Not seen that in any eles yet?

Away from the point sorry but the rest of the answer is helpful to the op x
 
yes, years ago the gap wasn't quite so big because there was s-in and walk piris (and you had to do ele in sitting trot) and I think that's what this is aiming at, drawing back the huge gulf between ele and medium.
 
milliepops said:
yes, years ago the gap wasn't quite so big because there was s-in and walk piris (and you had to do ele in sitting trot) and I think that's what this is aiming at, drawing back the huge gulf between ele and medium.
Click to expand...

Ok, I have had a look at the 2018 rule book and no ele test in there numbered 56 and no 2018 tests, is it one going in next year 2019? Am I looking in the right place?
 
milliepops said:
I think it's not just additional movements that are being referred to when people say you should train a level higher, but a more developed way of going. So when I have a horse competing at Novice and thinking higher, I would want to be able to develop engagement, balance, suppleness etc of an elementary/towards medium way of going, really secure contact with developing self carriage, showing the understanding of collection in trot and canter, though maybe not yet quite ready to work in collection. able to show good lengthened strides from marker to marker instead of just "some " strides in the middle of a diagonal etc. ability to maintain the quality of pace when riding more advanced shapes like 10m circles and deeper corners etc.

In addition, I would be making sure that basic lateral work was secure - leg yield and shoulder in both feature at elementary and are helpful to develop the basic way of going.

The idea is that when you are away from home the horse is firstly very confident in the level-below work, so as you inevitably lose a bit of focus due to strange surroundings, the work for the competition is well within the comfort zone. And competitively, you stand a bit above those who are competing at the top of their level of training, as your horse should have a more established way of going.
Click to expand...
Great Thankyou that’s really helpful :) she has leg yields in walk, trot and canter, just started learning should inn walk &trot! X
 
holly2018 said:
Hi all! I have a pony who’s currently competing prelim upto 73%. We had a go at our first novice getting 66% and winner on 68%, so not too bad.. but
A lot of people say school at a level above what I am competing at..
So I was wondering, those competing at novice, what movements should your horse be able to do / school at? What novice / elementary new moves & exercises should the horse be learning at home? Got counter canter and medium trot.

Thanks all! :)
Click to expand...
Should of added: in a normal schooling session at home we do excercises including:
Medium trot
Counter canter
Shoulder inn
Leg yielding
Lots of transitions
Circle work

Am I missing anything? Should I be teaching her more avd trans for instance walk to canter, canter to walk etc..
 
holly2018 said:
Am I missing anything? Should I be teaching her more avd trans for instance walk to canter, canter to walk etc..
Click to expand...

it wouldn't hurt, if your normal walk-trot and trot-canter etc transitions are prompt, balanced etc. I tend to think that each new thing they learn will have a positive impact on the stuff they already know well. If you can teach a horse to do direct transitions, then you often can use that to improve the quality, engagement, balance etc of the basic paces for example.
 
OP its really helpful to have the input of an instructor who knows you and your horse too, especially when you are learning new things. They can help you make a plan to master the movements in the way that will suit your horse's natural understanding and play to their strengths.
For eg I had an ex show jumper who just loved to canter, and we did zero walk to canter until we had to, because once she had done it she wanted to do it non stop, and it would have had a detrimental effect on the other parts of her test!
So the training while it has to cover the movements might happen in a different order or priority level for each combination of horse and rider. Some less supple horses can really benefit from more lateral work, some that aren't so quick off the leg can benefit from more transitions, and then what you gain from that can help you achieve the other parts that don't come as easily, if that makes sense.
 
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