Walk & Trot tests...

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MizElz

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Am I doing the wrong thing in entering Ellie in the Walk & Trot at the show on Sunday? As far as our dressage history is concerned, we've never scored over 61%, we've never been placed higher than 4th (all unaffiliated) and we never score highly for our canter. We've also only been to about five or six dressage shows, and at the two where we entered the Walk & Trot, it was by far the worst test of our day. I've entered her on Sunday for this one (as well as two Prelims) for a number of reasons: firstly, it allows her to have a spook at all the markers and any flowers that may be lurking around; secondly, although she is not a young horse, she is inexperienced in the dressage arena (as am I) and it generally helps both of us to settle for our later tests. The schedule states only that previous winners of a Prelim/Novice test are not eligible for the W&T; we certainly have not won anything! I'm worried now that it may be seen as 'pot hunting', but I dont see how it could be, TBH.

Are W&Ts only for novice riders on young horses, for those who are too scared to canter, or afraid to let their horse gallop in an open field?

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In my opinion you aren't doing anything wrong by entering it as you are within the restriction.
If she goes out this time she does two very nice prelim tests but doesn't necessarily win I would question as to why you might want to enter a W&T next time out, as to me you wouldn't be testing yourself by going backwards.
Does that make sense?
 
Well done you for giving it a go, I am/was thinking about doing a W/T with Betty.. lol she doesnt know what an outline is.. but I was going to do it for a bit of fun.. just to see how she goes.. however at the moment she has buggered her shoulder so.. untill thats fixed and she stops being a lunatic .... blah.. you know the rest!

But good for you everyone has to start somewhere and i think a W/T with no pressure is an excellent way to go...

Oh BTW.. B is 17years so hardly a spring chicken!
 
Yes, I think that makes sense
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I dont think I am looking to necessarily 'do well' in the W&T - I know she won't from previous experience! She was the same when we were jumping; I always had to enter a lower class, even if just to jump one round if we went clear, to get her used to the surroundings, and settle her down. Now I suppose I could have entered the W&T HC, but there seems no point when, as you say, we are within the restriction anyway
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I agree with Ifield. I think it's such a shame as the walk and trot tests are meant for those lacking confidence, novice riders or green horses that so many walk and trot tests are entred and won by people who shouldn't really be entering and that are either pot hunters or using them as a warm up in which case they should go HC. This is based on my experience locally.
As your horses canter isn't established I think it's appropraite that you enter the walk and trot test.
 
Have posted this in other post as well but:
Eligibility wise you can do a walk/trot test but as a local RC dressage secretary I know we aim the walk/trot test at people with youngsters who do not have an established canter or for young/novice people who are not secure in canter hence that we open it to lead reiners too.

Could be that our RC understanding of it is wrong though
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If you are working towards collected canter as you said in previous post (which you do not have to show until elementary I believe) then surely you can cope with prelim/novice tests
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I have a horse who used to be very spooky at boards, flowers, judges, shadows, leaves etc etc (
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) and before I got him I never did dressage but I used to just enter the two prelim tests and write off the 1st one if we had a bad test
 
Nats_Uk.....sorry, I may have misworded slightly, when I say 'collected canter' I mean cantering with something vaguely resembling an outline...which Ellie seems currently unable to do! As for true collection, my word, we are a million miles away from that
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I feel really bad now as most people are clearly seeing me as a pot hunter, which I honestly dont understand. We have never even been close to winning a test; in the one we were placed 4th in, there were only 8 people in the competition anyway. I don't lack confidence as a rider, but I do suffer greatly from nerves, and although Ellie is not young, she would be considered 'green' in terms of her flatwork. So if we dont fit the criteria, I dont know who does
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Worth also mentioning that it is on the advice of my instructor that I enter W&Ts anyway - she has seen how Ellie goes, and believes it is no bad thing to give her a chance - within the confines of the arena - to settle before the Prelim tests. I'm still paying the same amount as everyone else, and I want to make clear that we have never been placed in a W&T before.....so how on earth is that unfair to novice, beginner and lead rein riders?

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MizElz, seriously, don't worry so much!
You are within the restrictions, if the organisers were really intent on keeping it to very novice riders and horses then they would have a much tighter restriction on the class. ie. not to have ever been placed in any prelim class.
You aren't going to be the only one doing that class and the prelim's!
Go and enjoy yourself!
 
I have entered Walk trot tests on my youngster basically cause he isnt ready to canter in a ring. 1st time at the walk trot test he freaked and jumped out the ring! 2nd comp we went to he bucked down the arena! Hes perfect at home altho his canter at home is something to be desired but we are working on it. Hes no wear near able to do a prelim hence the walk trot. If i were able to do a prelim i woudlnt compete in the walk trots but thats just my opinion.
 
I don't see why you shouldn't, you're eligable and as you say you and Ellie haven't done much dressage, but if you do well this time then I would consider not doing the w&t next time or doing it HC. I do the w&t because I am a nervous nelly and although I've ridden for years and George isn't a baby, going to shows and cantering in a marked out space is a huge challenge for us.
 
I think you should do the W&T. If you're worried about being perceived badly do it HC, which will make you feel better and when you see the scores you will know where you would have come if you had competed normally.
Its not as if you go and do dressage tests all the time, so why shouldnt you be allowed a practice test? I dont see a problem with it.
 
Thank you, Ifield, I'm getting in a bit of a panic about it here. Silly really
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I've just gone and read my schedule again; in actual fact, the restrictions for the W&T are identical to the ones on the first Prelim test......apart from the 'must not have won' aspect, they also state that horse and rider must not have any BD points (we've never even registered) and must not have completed a BE event (another never), and must not have more than 10 Riding Club points (we have none).

Ho hum. I thought I was doing the right thing
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Thank you, G_G and RV - I think you're both right, and if we do remotely well (not likely, considering current form when schooling) then I wouldnt dream of doing another W&T. I dont want to lose sight of the fact that this is our first time out since September 07; we are neither of us in 'competition mode', and Sunday is likely to be a big challenge in all ways, regardless of what the type of class! And although I've ridden all my life, I do get very nervous, and am likely to fluff up at least one of my tests through collywobbles
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I would rather that be the W&T than the Prelims!
 
Oh well that makes more sense!

I wouldn't have said you were a pot hunter - well didn't get that sense from your posts. If you are still establishing canter then yes I would still do the W&T tests but personally I wouldn't use her spookiness as a reason to do it, as I said my horse is/was just as bad (have done virtually entire tests on wrong bend as he bananaed at boards
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). The boards will be just as scary in a W&T as a Prelim and normally you have gone round on both reins before you canter in a Prelim anyway
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I would just find it strange to do the W&T and then 2 Prelims with the 2nd one I assume being a 'harder' one i.e. 14, 18 etc. Normally we get people entering the W&T and the 'easier' prelim (e.g. 7) or both prelims.

Anyway (after all of that
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) I hope you and Ellie do okay. I'm sure you are both better then you think you are. If you are eligible to do the W&T then do it.
 
I don't see it as pothunting at all, as you've said its your first time out since September, neither of you have done loads of dressage, you've not won anything, your canter as yet is not well established. Go for it!!!! Sounds like a good idea to me
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Thank you, Nats....I honestly hope we're not seen as pot-hunters; I would be the worlds biggest hippocrit if we were! I used to hate it on the jumping circuit; kids entering ponies that were winning at 2'9 BSJA in the unaff. 2' classes, just because there was nothing in the rules to prevent them scooping all the rosettes
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I know that the 'higher' prelims are meant to be harder, but the tests at this show are 10 and 13, not much difference really in what is being asked for. And we tend to try to enter three classes if we can, to make it worth going!

Thanks for your comments, though - given me food for thought, and I probably wont enter a W&T again!
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Go and enjoy yourself! It's your first show this year so just concentrate on having a good time. If you do well in the W & T well you don't have to do it the next time. I'm a nervous wreck when I haven't been to a show for a while (which I haven't, but I'm hoping to soon). You said you were looking forward to it in your previous post, so don't worry and have a great time.
Good luck for sunday!
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[ QUOTE ]
Go and enjoy yourself! It's your first show this year so just concentrate on having a good time. If you do well in the W & T well you don't have to do it the next time. I'm a nervous wreck when I haven't been to a show for a while (which I haven't, but I'm hoping to soon). You said you were looking forward to it in your previous post, so don't worry and have a great time.
Good luck for sunday!
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Thank you very much! I'm so looking forward to getting Ellie all dolled up; its our first time out with new bridle and spangly browband too!
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Yeah I know some people like that unaffiliated who never go any higher then novice/intermediate because the restrictions say ££ winnings and they never go BSJA.
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Agree not much diff. between 10 and 13 (bit unusual to run two very similar ones?!)

Good luck anyway
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Yeah I know some people like that unaffiliated who never go any higher then novice/intermediate because the restrictions say ££ winnings and they never go BSJA.
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Agree not much diff. between 10 and 13 (bit unusual to run two very similar ones?!)

Good luck anyway
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Yep, I thought that about the prelims! They're also running two novices, 27 and 25, in that order! A bit strange!
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Thankies anyway
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Totally agree with Redvendatta, hit the nail right on the head, enter HC and explain to the secretary your reasons and I'm sure everyone including yourself will be happy, that way your horse gets to practice and have a few Scooby do moments and nobody is left feeling robbed because your too experienced for the class or however people may look at it when you enter the prelims.

Other than that....don't worry and good luck in your tests!
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I think I've just answered my own question....

Whilst running through the test with Elz half an hour ago, I asked myself, if we get placed/get a decent mark (i.e. over 65%), will I feel we have achieved something?

And my answer was yes. That's what it's all about for me; if it doesnt mean anything to you, you shouldnt do it!
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We are doing our first show Saturday week and we are doing the Walk & Trot test. I am a show Virgin
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and need breaking in gently!! Also Cropi has not been to a show for years (certainly not in the 3 that I have had her) and from what i understand she was a bit of a handful so goodness knows whats going to happen. They are doing them once a month during the summer, so I am well prepared for it to go totally and utterly tits up this time and aim to get a bit better each time.

We do canter, in the school and out hacking, we have had the occasional gallop but we are just starting off gently to see how we go.

Good luck
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i did a W&T test recently, not because i can't canter, but because my canter is more like i am about to jump out the school XC style
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If you havent won a W&T test or any level above i think you are still W&T level - thats how it works round here anyway, you can compete in the (RC level) dressage series but if you win the class you have to move up next time or can compete at that level again but only HC.
Good luck have fun x
 
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