what do people do? - sorry I'm being feeble minded

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parsley

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I have been enjoying doing a bit of dressage - we generally get between 59 and 66% with the perisistant comments that I need to ride more between hand and leg and he needs to be more supple and accepting of the bit (pokes his nose out!). I was looking at doing a test next Sunday and it occured to me that I probably already know what the comments are going to be! We are improving but its going to take more than a week so I am in two minds about going - I could save the £12 and do some more schooling or go and get some feedback from the judge instead.

What do the rest of you do/ any suggestions?
 
I'd save up and have some really good instruction. At the lower levels the right training is even more important.We can only afford good training once a month in dressage and the same in jumping but we'd rather miss a couple of shows and get help
 
If your only doing the one test then maybe it may be better to not go and just work on schooling.

I personally would go but then I like going out competing and mine although gets similar comments each week I can always find something we have improved.
 
I agree with Carthorse - spend the money on a lesson instead. (not meant to sound harsh!)

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Depends, does your horse work better at home? Is the nose poking a result of being out and about, if so the more you go out the better, the milage would do a young horse good. However if your comments reffer to a general schooling problem wherever you ride and you feel you've reached a plateu I'd agree with the others and save up for a lesson with a really good trainer, you might discover a new technique or exercise that boosts the marks
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Or kill 2 birds with one stone and go out for training.
 
I think if the judges comments are consistent and there is no improvement the more you do I would go and have a lesson or two, work at home on what your instructor says and then get out and about again to see how you go.
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I would spend the money towards a lesson with a recommended trainer instead, it's no fluke getting good dressage marks, they have to be trained for in most cases unless you are a professional rider.
Find one who has had success themselves with chunky horses like yours and understands their problems (I'm not saying other trainers can't but it makes them a lot more sympathetic!)
Then most importantly, stick at it.
Make sure you lunge your horse properly as much as you can, which should build up the correct muscle structure to enable him to carry himself correctly.
If the same comments come up every time, it sounds as if he is not forward enough off your leg (idle..) so invest in a long schooling whip to help him respond to less "leg".
Finally get your OH to pay for a lesson next birthday/anniversary etc) on a schoolmaster at somewhere like Talland. They aren't intimidating I promise, and it will allow you to feel what you should be trying to achieve. Unless you can actually know what that feels like it's an impossible task!
I did low level dressage with a chap similar in build to your horse, and it can be very rewarding, what they lose for non flashy paces they gain in accuracy and obedience.
Good luck with him.
 
Thanks for the helpful comments and for noone telling me to stop dithering! I have booked myself in for an extra lesson this week - I generally only have one a week so this week I have got riding club and two lessons
 
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