What is the judge looking for at Elementary?

S

spotty_pony

...
Joined
29 July 2005
Messages
12,552
Visit site
As title. Hoping to have a go at my first Elementary test in about a months time. My boy has been scoring well in Novices so thought we would give it a go! It is only unaffiliated, but I was just wondering what the judge will expect to see. Do they expect a more 'advanced' outline at this level? My boy is currently working well into a soft round outline and stretching across his back into the contact. Is this still fine for Elementary or will they want to see him working over his back with a slightly more advanced outline (e.g slightly higher head carriage?) Not sure if that makes sense?!

Hopefully somebody can answer! :o :)
 
spotty_pony said:
As title. Hoping to have a go at my first Elementary test in about a months time. My boy has been scoring well in Novices so thought we would give it a go! It is only unaffiliated, but I was just wondering what the judge will expect to see. Do they expect a more 'advanced' outline at this level? My boy is currently working well into a soft round outline and stretching across his back into the contact. Is this still fine for Elementary or will they want to see him working over his back with a slightly more advanced outline (e.g slightly higher head carriage?) Not sure if that makes sense?!

Hopefully somebody can answer! :o :)
Click to expand...

Yes they need to start showing a more uphill tendency and start showing some 'sit' behind for the collected work so they should be more together throughout the entire test than at novice. If you are scoring high 60s+ at novice then the early eles shouldn't be a problem. At unaff it is hugely mixed ability whereas at bd most horses will show the same way of going for that level so if in doubt get to a few bd comps and watch some classes at that level x
 
Basically they are expected to have developed better balance and suppleness to maintain the rhythm and fluency throughout the test including the smaller 10m circles. The mediums need to be marker to marker so the horse needs to be sitting more to sustain this. The returns from the medium work need to be an elastic compression of the energy, not a slowing. The rein back needs to be straight, fluent and in diagonal pairs ( a much neglected and often poorly executed exercise). It is the start of lateral work, so a fluid glide sideways in the leg yield with poll flexion rather than too much neck bend and falling through the shoulder. Then finally the simple change, for which the horse needs to be able to sit sufficiently well that it lands like a cat (rather than crashes onto it's shoulder and into the bit) and the first walk stride is forwards and crystal clear four beats (so often we see shuffle and back up to canter). Hope this helps. Just making the transition to elementary with my big lump who has taken some time to develop. The key is to pick your tests carefully so that you build both yours and his confidence. Our first outing we went training (no recorded score if it went pear shaped, lol), I chose long arena tests and neither had the simple change (he sometimes still sneaks in a trot stride if I haven't got his hind legs sufficiently engaged and whilst it is permissable for the downwards to be progressive at the level it's a maximum score of 6 if the subsequent upward is soft and the walk has been clear). I find unaffiliated at the level whilst good for an outing, can be less useful by way of judge feedback unless the judge is listed. Hence my decision to use the 'training' section of the affiliated to get a better feel for where we were at the level under competition conditions where I realistically expect a 5-10% reduction of what we achieve at home due to my tension and his lack of experience. Hope that helps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top