What's expected in eventing dressage?

abbijay

abbijay

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I took BP out eventing last weekend, it's only now I've come down off the buzz of the XC to actually read my dressage sheet critically (beyond just being a touch 'nyeh' about the score) and, with very little experience of riding the BE tests I wondered if anyone could tell me a bit more about what they're after?

I came out of the test feeling pretty happy that, despite being on grass, it had all gone to plan so felt guaranteed a 60%+ score (I work on the basis that if we do all the movements in the right place at the right time it would be impossible to score less than a 6) and hoped to pick up quite a few extra marks along the way, without thinking BP had been showing his inner Va-Leg-Warmers to their true capacity (he has started doing unaff Novice tests with marks over 60%). He is a very genuine and accurate pony, as long as i remember to ask him, but being a purebred clydesdale he struggles with truly working from behind in a light and easy frame.

We scored a pleasing 36 but if this had been in pure dressage i would have expected higher and having looked at some of the comments I can see "6, could be rounder over the back". The test we rode (BE91) is easier than any prelim I've done and I thought that things like self carriage and roundness would be less important than accuracy and obedience.

So eventers out there: is your dressage marked more stringently than pure dressage or was the judge just completely jealous that I own the best horse in the world and she doesn't?

P.S. I don't care too much, we still came away with a nice big orange 5th place rosette and for a bumbling, riding school nervous novice and her cart horse I feel it is a thoroughly respectable result!
 
Was this an affiliated event? If not quite possible your judge was listed and may not appreciate the lesser known dressage horse type. Even at be90 you don't need to be a listed dressage judge. Generally they should be looking for the same as a BD judge though. There's nothing special about eventing judging other than I've found they really hate tension and tightness through the back. If you want to look at some low 20's tests I have a few on my YouTube. Search Nicola Holehouse.
 
Because there's not much going on in the lower level tests I think they do tend to judge it based on outline and self-carriage as there's not much else to be looking at. Many people can do an accurate test at this level, so they've got to be able to distinguish between them somehow! I really wouldn't bother about it - sometimes at this level it's about overall impression and preference really.
 
You will probably have the same judges for unaff eventing and dressage, as you will if you do BE/ BD, so they are looking for much the same, however forwardness, roundness, suppleness and self carriage will usually score higher than a test that is accurate and obedient if it lacks the requirements for the level of test based on the scales of training.
The fact that the BE tests are generally simple means the marks will reward correct training as there are less movements to mark therefore accuracy is less essential, most judges at events like to see plenty of impulsion, will often forgive a moment of cheekiness as they realise that the horse will be fit and ready to go xc, also most tests are on grass which is less forgiving especially for a big horse.

Well done on the placing 5th is a great result for your first event.
 
There's not a lot going on in BE90 tests, so the emphasis is more on the overall picture rather than accuracy of particular movements. Keeping moving forwards round the circles will get you better marks, many people back off due to grass footing/balance etc. and it's way more obvious on a big horse.
 
abbijay said:
So eventers out there: is your dressage marked more stringently than pure dressage or was the judge just completely jealous that I own the best horse in the world and she doesn't?
Click to expand...

:lol: Definitely this!!

Well done :) I came out of my first ode quite confused - we were given a 34 for the dressage which I thought was very generous as we were cantering sideways everywhere that we were supposed to trot!
 
I don't think I have much to add that's particularly useful but wanted to say well done and I would love to see pics of your horse at the ODE, he sounds awesome! love clydesdales, and well done!!! Add pics!

This is all interesting though about the dressage - I'd often heard the judges are actually a bit less stringent about self carriage etc when doing ODEs as compared to dressage, but I guess it depends on the judge and the event and the area....I'm doing my first one this weekend WAAAAAAAAAAA can't wait so I'll be extra careful and will report back on the judges ;-)!
 
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