Which are the best prelim for a novice?

[Mrs C]

Hi all. I'm thinking of doing my first dressage test in the hopefully not too distant future I'd also like some tests to do in my schooling sessions. I'm going to order the intros plus a couple of prelims. Does anyone have any thoughts on which are the best for a novice rider? Also, looking on the BD website, you can order test plans or test sheets. Are the plans worth the extra money?

Thanks

 

[Jesstickle]

Prelim7 is the easiest test in the world. It's just trot round the outside and do twenty metre circles.

It's boring but very straight forward.

 

[Batgirl]

If plans are the ones with diagrams they are worth the money as it is easier to recognise the movements, as for which tests it really depends on what your horse is good at, I like P7 and P4, both quite simple. Prelim 14 for example has give and retake the reins on a circle and quite a lot of transitions. I got the set of W&T and Prelims from my local tack shop in laminated sheets with diagrams for about £20, well worth the money, as I progress I can pick more difficult tests.

Hope this helps a little

 

[monkeybum13]

Prelim 1 is very straightforward, as is 18.

Personally I cannot stand the sheet with diagrams on, much prefer written ones.

 

[Mrs C]

Thanks all. I've got a funny feeling I'll end up ordering a full set after this

 

[justjoules]

I am doing my first test in just under a month! I am doing prelim 7! I also liked the look of preli 4 best of luck.

 

[Mrs C]

Thanks JJ and good luck! Hope to see a good report on here!!

 

[madeleine1]

ive only dne prelim 4, 10 and 14 and id say 4 and 10 are easy and 14 is almost a novice test. i have also done novice 24, and 20 and i hate 24 and really like 20 it helps them bend more in 20. thats all the dressage tests ive ever done hope that helps

 

[Mrs C]

20 sounds like it'd be good for my schooling sessions so will try that too. Thanks Madeleine