what would make you more interested in giving dressage a go? :)

S

sophiebailey

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 March 2011
Messages
1,212
Visit site
I'm joing my local RC's comittee next year, and my task is to get people interested in the dressage days.

For those who never compete, and even for those who do, what puts you off competing/competing at certain venues?

What is it about certain events that make you want to return to compete again?

What would make people who don't compete want to compete?

Would ideas such as having a free clear round for every dressage entry interest people? Or having the opportunity to ride a test, see your results then re-ride to improve your marks?

Would people be interested in flatwork clinics? Dressage to music? Pairs dressage?

What have other clubs done previously that has been good fun?

Basically, what can I do to get people interested in dressage who already aren't?!

Answers on a postcode please, no idea is a bad idea!!

:) :)
 
I think "pure" dressage people might not think it's very fair to give out CR tickets with each entry - surely better to say for every X classes you enter you get a class (jumping / showing / dr) free or a CR ticket more frequently or something?

I don't compete at venues which are badly organised and run very late, have poor warm up facilities (or annoying members who behave like plebs in the warm up), or who use the same judge every time (especially if I don't like the judge!). I prefer venues who restrict classes to some degree (massive classes tend to mean long waits) and who don't give out specials to everyone (they mean very little and just clutter the place up :o ).
 
Thanks JFTD Good ideas thank you :)

As we have very few people that attend dressage atm, the idea is to entice the showjumpers/showing crew to give dressage a go, so the idea of a free clear round was to appease the sj'ers really! :) but I see your point, will re think!!
 
Our local RC no longer has dressage events in the winter as it was loosing too much money.
Maybe if they had a novice 'fun' class at the summer shows to help promote dressage within the club, that way members who are not normally interested would have the chance to try it out. Then get them to leave a comment card as to whether they would be interested or not.
 
I like certain venues that have good warm up facilities and a nice surface/arena to actually do the test on. Being on time, friendly and relaxed organisers is great. I also like venues that restrict classes, for example you can't do a walk trot test if you enter the prelim or higher as well :)
 
Dunno whether this happens any more, but losing points for a swishing tail in a prelim test! Would be lovely to get encouraging comments (constructive criticism), but that's cos I'm a sensitive dressage beginner!
 
How about trying some prix caprilli tests??

Prizes would entice, even if not money you could do 1st- free entry to next test, 2nd- bottle of wine, 3rd- bag of treats??

Limiting number in class, I HATE having to wait for the next 20 horses to go to get class results. And quick turnover of putting sheets out to collect. Venue near me takes about 40 minutes to do one sheet, and scoring does not take THAT long.
 
In all honesty, years ago nothing would have persuaded me to do a dressage test. The only purpose in flatwork for me, was as a base for jumping. The only thing that got me interested was riding brilliant dressage horses through a job. And needing almost perfect flatwork to get my 14.2 round big courses. So to an extent I think its something difficult to persuade someone to try if they'd rather jump.
There is one thing that worked near me. Local yard did a dressage to music fun class. With the emphasis on fun. Novice riders trotting round with no reins doing the hand jive, more experienced riders doing nice flatwork, but pretending to sing down mics. Kids racing round to pop music. It was only a tiny affair for a laugh, however I think it would get more interest than say intro & prelim. Then when they've all had fun, pounce with the sales pitch! And maybe run it alongside a cr.
 
I would love to get started and do a little low pressure dressage test as its been sooo long since I've done anything like that... so encouraging beginners is always good! Something you do for the experience.

My main trouble would be transport though, so organising a sort of 'car pool' for horse boxes and sharing hire would be great, maybe you negotiate a discount with local transport companies and see if they could do a pickup of several horses to an event?
 
I like the idea of pairs and music - clinics for these might help as many wouldnt have the foggiest where to start.

Also what about drill rides with yards competing against each other? Minimum of 6 participants per ride, must include certain moves and be so many mins long. Nice bit of friendly rivalry :D *also good after the 2nd bottle of wine!*
 
Prizemoney! Yes, I'm that shallow! :D

No, ok honestly you do need decent prizes - with showjumping you win money which makes taking part cheaper if you win your entry fee back. I don't want feed vouchers or sacks of feed, just give me the cold hard cash! :)
 
maybe like the coffee shops do so you have a card with say 6 squares on every time you eneter a class you get a stamp in the box when you've filled it up you get a free class? something like that.

i really like the one they have near us so you have a 15/20 minute slot you ride the test once and get a sheet then straight after the judge tells you what you could do better and gives you some tips you have a quick practice - you then ride the test again and get another test sheet then your best score goes into the placings works well from what i've seen but it does mean that prelims are essentialy competiting agains mediums ect but i dont worry about placings with those ones as im more looking for tips and the improvment!
 
I would be attracted to a dressage show if they club could offer a caller for everyone who enters. I find it off putting trying to remember the tests when I'm not used to it and my mum is useless at calling them!!
 
I think for low level it is good if you can book your time rather than being given your time.

Making it easy to enter encourages me - email or online application.

Not having to enter too long in advance encourages me and many busy people.

If you are full running a wait list and refunding entry fees if someone withdraws and their place can be taken.

Good warm up facilities.

Good parking, I'm rubbish at reversing the trailer!

One place I go to provide a caller in return for a charity donation.

Oh and if there are likely to be long waits for score sheets emailing them out at the end of the day.
 
how about a training only class?

you gets marked as normal and sheet handed over. its nor compared to others or put in order 1st, 2nd etc.

choosing your own time would be good. I like going early others like a later time.

plus a loyalty scheme sounds good.
 
Some really good ideas already - I would love to try dressage to music without spending £100's on getting a CD done specially; pairs dressage; love the idea of do 5 tests and get 6th free; good judges are really important imo - unfortunately RC's sometimes have problems getting good judges (well ours does).
 
Not having to plait.
Yes I know it shouldn't take long but I am lousy at it and my horse has a proper mohican so looks a mess with out. Plaiting is the final straw and I only do it if I can sj and xc after.


Wine woould motivate me as well :)
 
Very Restricted walk trot classes say for people who had never been placed in dressage before or perhaps a pony and cob class so people with non traditional dressage horses might give it a go.

I was very nervous about doing dressage but started through my local riding club as they were so friendly and encouraging and I could hack to the venue. It is at a local RS so lots of people entering on RS horses and ponies not just people on big warmbloods which made it feel more accessible. The judges were also choosen to be encouraging.

I started off in the restricted walk trot tests really nervous but have now progressed to winning an open prelim and I don't have a traditional dressage horse but a hairy native pony who I hack to the venue. The organisers are really encouraging and although there are people on traditional dressage horses they don't always win!

I would then come back to the yard and tell others about my experience and when they see me doing well on a pony they were encouraged to join in. So lots of people now go.

We also have rossettee for highest placed riding club member as well.

I can remember the first time I won a class the riding club organisers seemed so happy for me and it was really nice because they had been encouraging me from the start.
 
Last edited:
Vodkagirly said:
Not having to plait.
Yes I know it shouldn't take long but I am lousy at it and my horse has a proper mohican so looks a mess with out. Plaiting is the final straw and I only do it if I can sj and xc after.


Wine woould motivate me as well :)
Click to expand...

There isn't actually a rule though is there saying you have to plait? Much as there isn't a rule that you have to wear a white square numnah :)
 
I don't plait my new forest and I have a brown numnah and wear a tweed jack and tie not a stock and blue jacket.

ladyt25 said:
There isn't actually a rule though is there saying you have to plait? Much as there isn't a rule that you have to wear a white square numnah :)
Click to expand...
 
SO1 the rc that DH and I compete at has so many natives and cobs doing well in so many classes it is the warmbloods that feel discriminated against!
 
another idea that a local rs has recently done has attracted a lot more people is combined training, as well as BE combined training, so the combined training will be sj and a BD test, whereas the BE combined training would be sj and a BE test. I'm wanting to event, i have purely show jumped before, but the BE combined training is a great opportunity for me to try some BE tests without having to worry about the xc or sj. So this might be an idea?? :)
 
As a non-dressage person who wants to improve so I can do a one day event, here are my ideas:

Like - judges who actually bother to comment on your sheet so you can use it to improve. Last one I did, I got 3 comments that were useless so I went home with 5s & 6s but no idea why.

Like - improver clinics - pick-a-test, ride the test and get marked, judge spends 20 minutes helping you improve certain things, re-do the test and get remarked and see the difference. That was great.

Like - anything to make it more fun and more relaxed. Music, pairs, demos, clinics

Like - readers provided or available
 
We've more than doubled our entries for our Open dressage (less than 20 to a regular 40-50+) by
1) Doing a really attractive schedule
2) Making sure it is well-advertised
3) Members league - points towards end of year prizes
4) Qualifiers for local champs - we have Bookham Sunshine Tour and SE Unaffiliated Champs that are held at Hickstead (this is a real draw)
5) Lovely rosettes, token first prize (horse treats)
6) Offering simple catering - tea/ coffee/ cake /bacon butties
7) Being friendly and welcoming - having stewards helping is good as lots of event are self-stewarding but if you are on your own it's nice if someone can give you a hand or read a test
8) Offering clear round (but you need someone to set a course and people to put it up and down it's hard work and you need plenty of volunteers.....)
9) Not cancelling (RC got a rep for cancelling so we decided not to cancel even if we got low numbers because it creates uncertainty)
10) do a turn-out prize for members
11) We try to get results up asap on the day and on website asap

We have had quite a lot of new people join this year as a result of our dressage. Our problem is getting people to do jumping!! Any tips? :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top