update: university equestrian team

holzrokz

holzrokz

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Feeling a little out of my depth after yesterday! But at least the feeling has now returned to my fingers and toes!

Went to our 1st teams first competition at writtle (is that how you spell it?) collage yesterday. After some mad driving to get there on time we arrived ever so slightly late at the freezing indoor arena. Couldn't stop shivering for at least an hour, why is it that indoor arenas sometimes seem colder than standing outside!?

Me being the obviously least experienced on the team had no idea what to expect. All the riders were far more advanced than me! I'm now wondering what i've gotten myself in for, really don't want to make a fool out of myself at our first competition which is now only 2 weeks away! (screams and digs a hole for herslef in the ground) I now have only one week (meaning one hours riding lesson) to practice jumping and possibly some of this dressage test :eek:

For starters i have never ever even performed a proper dressage test (apart from little practise tests during riding lessons!) Nor have i ever had to learn a dressage test.

Thankfully the showjumping seems to be 85cm's rather than 90cm's (not much i know but will make a difference to me!) which i thought it was earlier however! Have done quite a few showjumping comps but always on grass in a field with lots of space etc and the jumps were never all up to height.

On top of this gotta buy a shirt, stock, pin for the stock, maybe a jacket although may be able to borrow one and maybe gloves. Does anyone know if navy gloves conform to BD rules or do they have to be white or black?

Anyone else ever been in a similar kind of situation before? I don't care so much about doing really well or getting placed at all (know thats not going to happen!) just worried i will fall off/squash the judge/get eliminated for something stupid etc etc! If i get through this without being eliminated or falling off i will be happy :p

Any tips for learning dressage tests?
And just some general inspiration needed!

thanks for listening to the ramble, plenty more to come i'm affraid :rolleyes:
 
first things first try and calm yourself down!
competing or planning for competition is never easy when you're a bag of nerves as you'll just get yourself stressed out
tips for a learning a dressage test, draw the arena on paper and just keep tracing it with your fingers then actually walk yourself through it (running in the appropriate places) it really does work!
and don't worry about the jumping you sound perfectly experiences enough
tip for your items to buy, get a ready tied stock, so much easier and may save you money on a pin.
I'm sure you will do fine if you just remember to relax and have fun :)
GOOD LUCKKK
 
Oh that takes me back i did those BUSA comps for years they are AMAZING, best thing i ever did. Tips:

Don't get intimidated by the other teams being all horsey adn bossy and cliquey (if they are - some are friendlier than others) - just enjoy yourself and focus on yourself and whatever horse you end up on!

The jumps usually aren't as bad as they sound (even though i know you said you don't mind 85 cm), but even if they are 3 ft it's still ok cos you watch them being jumped round first, it's honestly fine.

Ride the horse not the test! love that one. practice it in your lessons (i also have a post it by my comp wiht the dressage markers on it so i can practice it in my head whenever i need a 2 min break form work!!).

It's hard judging whihc horse you think you'd be best off on, so make sure you are your team are aware (get your trainer to talk you through) who they think should be on the buzzy one, who's best on the lazy one, who'll get the extra out of the GOOD dressage one, etc etc. listen to your team mates as well as sometimes other people can tell better than you yourself can, but also don't be bossed around if you disagree!

Just go and have fun! these comps are an AMAZING opportunity, really good fun, so good for your riding and experience etc. Pls let us know how you get on!!!

OMG jealous i want to go back to uni!!!! GOOD LUCK!!
 
thanks for the great advice!
unfortunatly they've changed the format so now there is no choice what horse you get, each team picks out a letter for each horse from a hat so you just get whichever you choose! Although you are able to re-draw for the team if you want to. Hopefully no crazy ones come up lol!
I'll try to ignor the other teams, they seemed pretty nice at the comp i went to but that was the 1st teams so their 2nd teams will be different riders.
 
I did BUCS for the 3 years I was at uni (one year as captain) and gained a lot from it, but these would be my tips:

Don't take it too seriously! Its meant to be fun and whatever the outcome its good on the CV and improves your riding a huge amount. The other teams can be intimidating but as said above just ignore them and focus on the horse you're riding.

The dressage can be pretty hit and miss. If you have a sharp horse first or the slow one last, there is only so much you can do to change its way of going. In my experience the judges like you to be effective and neat (if possible to do both at once!). The people who sat there doing not a lot never seemed to do well. We always used the strongest 'dressage rider' to help the others warm up, of course this depends on who else is in your team and how well you get on, but it helped us all focus and you really don't have long to get to know the horse; another pair of eyes can do the world of good!

With the jumping, keep a good forward rhythm and ride as accurately as you can. Watch how the person showing the horse off rides it, and see how it goes for the other riders (if you're not on first). I understand the first round is now marked on style (whereas when I did it they just marked on penalties), and I know it sounds stupid but make sure your stirrups are the right length (makes a huge difference to your position/effectiveness and they mark you on this).

Anyway, best of luck. The first year is the hardest because you're not used to the format/atmosphere. Very jealous of you:)
 
I loved doing uni teams! Best thing about uni!!

You only get a very short time to get used to the horse so try to make the most of this time warming up. Also beware with the jumps - some places we went were 2'6" and too small but some places were well up to height with good spreads on them - 3'3" I think?

I thought I was a confident rider beforehand but my riding improved hugely due to the fact I got to ride so many horses. Enjoy!
 
HolzRokz, I am now getting on a bit, but in my youth I did uni teams. I was the non horse owning one, BUT because I rode anything I could get my hands on I could get a tune out of most horses, I eventually went on to become Captain of my team for 2 years and also represented team GB in an inter country uni comp in Switzerland, proving that you don't need to come from a priviledged horsey background to do well.

I think you may meet my daughter at some point - Are you Essex? there is some sort or Derby day against UEA in March where they compete against each other in all sports. B is in her first year at UEA and is on the team there.
 
Ah yes we have the derby day in march i think so probably will meet her at some point :)

If anything it will be great experience riding soo many different horses, i'm fairly used to that anyway, usually just ride whoever they put me on at home, just not used to riding such well schooled horses but if anything it will hopefully make it easier to get a tune out of them in 5 minutes :p
 
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