Walk/trot prelim tests - standards expected?

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Patches

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If I did a local prelim walk and trot test, unaffiliated of course, would Patches way of going in this video be acceptable? We're just not great at schooling as hacking is our thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSXhFevnNgQ

This video was taken in April 2007, so several aspects of my riding have improved, I sit more lightly in the trot now and Patches doesn't snatch her head on me as much these days (because I got assertive and gave her a smack and a good kick for doing it!) I still don't seem to have the leg to gather her up though and consequently she still rides strung out. All things to work on with regular lessons this year, of course.

My lower leg is a little less wobbly these days, but still not perfect but I don't believe it ever will be. My legs tire very quickly when riding from the squeezing through the thighs. I feel it across my pelvis. (previous pelvis issues post pregnancies)

Would I get laughed at or is her general shape the usual overall picture for genuine prelim entrants? Of course, I don't expect to win any classes with this picture, but I don't want to disgrace myself either.
 
She has a lovely rhythmic trot, and yes her outline needs work but, no you wouldn't get laughed at. Pick you venue, some seem to be a bit high brow with loads of people poncing around doing prelim who should be doing novice or elementary. Good luck
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You don't notice her dragging her toes?

I can get fleeting moments where her outline improves, but it requires so much leg that I tire long before she gets the idea!

This video was taken after we'd just moved all of the jumps out of the "school". We'd been riding a good while, it was hot and I was rather pooped.


The people doing prelim who are more than capable of doing novice or higher are the ones that worried me. It would only be for a bit of fun and to say we'd given it a go, however shamefully.
 
Of course you will not get laughed at, you and Patches will be fine
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All I'd say for prelim is keep her moving forward and be accurate with your shapes and you'll do great!

Have confidence in yourself!

Good luck, I look forward to hearing how you get on.
 
Nope, didn't notice it at all.

Just pick your venue carefully, find a nice friendly one (there are plenty about), and not one full of over horsed dressage wanta be's, who think they are better than everyone else...........mind you tis fun beating this sort, especially when your on a cob!!
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Of course you will not get laughed at, you and Patches will be fine
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All I'd say for prelim is keep her moving forward and be accurate with your shapes and you'll do great!

Have confidence in yourself!

Good luck, I look forward to hearing how you get on.

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So basically stay on the markers, trot when you should be trotting, walk when you should be walking and don't run the judge over is pretty much all that's required to not completely disgrace myself?
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Now, now....cob or no cob, I have no delusions of grandeur when it comes to mine and Patches schooling.

I'm starting weekly lessons up again soon, so there is scope for vast improvement before I dare to embark on my first "test".
 
The thing to remember is that you're doing it for yourself and not to care what other people think. No one will be looking at what anyone else is doing, they're usually too terrified themselves!

W&T tests are about getting you to have a go in the first place and should be really low key. There will always be people poncing about doing P when they should be doing N and E, but they're usually the people who wouldn't actually stand a chance in those classes against better horses and riders! Ignore the pot hunters (plus there really shouldn't be anyone like that in W&T tests) and just enjoy it. I use dressage as a chance to get a snapshot of how my horse is going - you want to see improvement in the scores and comments over time (hopefully!!) so it's a marker of how the training is going.

Stop worrying and enjoy it!
 
You need to be accurate, the horse must be obedient (walk when asked to, not 5 strides after, turn when asked etc), and you just need a nice rhythmical, obedient test. So not like my last N test with R when he refused to canter at all for one movement and the judge just wrote "naughty pony, did not canter" and I got a 3 I think!
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I can recommend NOT rearing when you salute the judge, or being bucked off as you exit the arena on a free walk on a long rein!!!
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Oh and your horse kicking and smashing the judges rear window doesn't go down well either (not me thankfully).
 
Pretty much and smile
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The feedback should be good hopefully, and then you can try and improve, go back the next time and when you beat your last score and be extremley(sp) satisfied.
 
Thanks CC.

You have absolutely 100% explained why I want to give it a go. Of course, my instructor will be able to tell me if I'm improving, and if Patches is improving her way of going, but I would like someone independent to give me a subtle critique (as in I won't show my sheet to others!) and hopefully I will, as you say, see scores improving.

It's just something to work towards, on a low level to keep me focussed on flatwork schooling.

Thanks for the encouragement. I really do cringe with how I sat in rising trot on that video.....eeeeeep!
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I can recommend NOT rearing when you salute the judge, or being bucked off as you exit the arena on a free walk on a long rein!!!
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Voice of experience there by any chance?!
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Oh the shame of sitting at X on your backside!!!
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Ooooops! Bad Rhyn!

She will walk when asked and trot when asked.....and importantly halt when asked. She's really good at stopping, lazy minx.

My issues are more with how I end up with her strung out (but that will come with my lessons hopefully) and that she might well trot, but getting a decent impulsion in the trot will be the battle.

Maybe I'll get comments along the lines of "Never seen a horse trot so slowly, she could walk quicker!"
 
We can steer around the arena in a fashion. Can't guarantee she'll always be looking in the direction she's supposed to be going though. We like to look to the outside alot!
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You'll be fine and no-one will be laughing at you- people are far too wrapped-up in themselves and their own worries and insecurities.

As others have said, just concentrate on being accurate, forward and rhythmical and most important of all - remember its not that important in the great scheme of things, its about having fun
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Haven't had a chance to watch your video, but from what I have seen of you and Patches in the past, I'm sure you'll be fine! When choosing your first competition look for classes with restrictions on them - ie horse/rider combination never to have come 1st-3rd in a dressage class - then you will find there will be more people like yourself competing so you won't feel so intimidated!
 
Thanks TGM.

That's a very good idea actually. I will do that.

I've ordered a nice black jacket, as I want to go hunting next season (it was on offer on Robinsons) and I've been musing about the other uses I might possibly have for it as I won't be needing it for a while.

Very low-key dressage prelim tests could be one.
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One of mine, in the free walk, stopped dead and reared bolt upright - judge wrote reluctant!!!! But still got a mark for it!!!

Accuracy is where a lot of people lose marks, so make sure you are spot on in your transitions at the given markers!

Having watched the video, think you will be fine
 
Patches if I can do it anyone can! I was terrified I was going to make a complete eejit of myself, George doesn't really go in an outline and does sometimes stick his nose out, and I'm not the best rider by a long shot. But loads of people on here just told me to keep him going forwards and ride the test really accurately (I practised it so much I think George was doing it in his sleep!). We came 4th out of 18 with 67% and I was thrilled and amazed - go for it!
 
You'd be absolutely fine, go for it.

Daisy did her first walk and trot test last summer and we came fourth in a class of over 20. I've never posted the pics before because they are embarrassing but if you're curious to see the standard that can get you a fourth have a look
http://www.sjm-photos.co.uk/gallery/20070825a/81
In my defence she had been out of work for several months after kicking herself in the field and I only took her for the experience of the sights and sounds of a show.

If you get a chance volunteer as a dressage writer at a different show before you go. I did it over the summer because it was a way of being involved when she couldn't be ridden and I found it really interesting. Most people lose marks on much flashier horses than D because they are overbent or the horse is resisting. They get the test wrong, get the shapes of their movements wrong. The biggest reason for losing marks at this level seems to be accuracy. If you ride a really accurate test with all your transitions in the right places and everything the right shape you'd be amazed how many marks you can get
 
i would go for it!! i am taking my extremley wobbly 5yo welsh d out who has the turning circle of a sherman tank - out to do walk and trot soon, so good luck!!
 
I say go for it I'm going to have a go at the next one at Rodbaston, could be entertaining me thinks
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you can't possibly be worse than me and Pidge now
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