WTF?! Dressage tests sure have changed...

[AMH]

Have finally sorted out my dressage saddle and joined BD, so planning on getting the little mare up and running to go out and hit the prelims after New Year.

Have identified a competition - either Prelim 15 or 18. So I download the diagrams, and there's a whole lot of letters I've NEVER SEEN BEFORE!! Now, admittedly, it's many years since my previous dressage experience (very sketchy and mainly Pony Club), but since when has there been a P marker? Or a G on the centre line?

Maybe forever and I've never seen them before. But it's only Prelim... Is this right? I'm having a little nervous moment now...

 

[charlie76]

those letters have always been there! Its the extra ones in a 60 x 20 rather than a 40 x 20

 

[rossiroo]

prelim 15 is in a long areana 20x60m so extra letters are added.

 

[AMH]

Hmmm, but what if I'm at a venue with 40x20 arenas? Maybe they don't exist any more...

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Forever, line up the middle is D X G. (Don't cross God)

But there are more letters around the perimeter as well. You will have had AKEHCMBF. (all king Edwards horses can make big fences) in Pony club but it should be AKVESHCMRBPF (all king Edwards horses can make big fences with an RSVP).

Hope that helps. Never ridden a dressage test in my life just my daughter used to do a lot of it!
FDC

 

[MissChaos]

40x20s do still exist As rossiroo says, the length of arena is specified for each test. If you're only going to a venue with a 40x20, they'll be using these tests.

 

[AMH]

Ah, so a venue with only a 40x20 wouldn't have 15 or 18, is that right?

God I sound like a total novice...

 

[Snowysadude]

They will have an 18 as thats 20X40 but 15 they wont if they dont have a 20X60 school. D X G have always been on the centre line even in 20X40 arenas though!

 

[AMH]

See, I knew about X...

Oh dear, I can see this all going horribly wrong... Showjumping is so much easier - at least it's obvious where I'm supposed to be going!

And it's 15 and 19, not 18 (sorry), so that's not helping matters - looks like 19is for 60x20 arenas too.

 

[smellsofhorse]

Why dont you do some u.affiliated dressage first, get used to the 2 different arena lengths and get used to the letters.

Will be a bit cheaper too then going straight into affiliated.

 

[charlie76]

Its actually easier to ride a test in a 20 x 60- far more room! Just remember your 20 m circles don't go all the way to x!

 

[wimble]

Forever, line up the middle is D X G. (Don't cross God)

But there are more letters around the perimeter as well. You will have had AKEHCMBF. (all king Edwards horses can make big fences) in Pony club but it should be AKVESHCMRBPF (all king Edwards horses can make big fences with an RSVP).

Hope that helps. Never ridden a dressage test in my life just my daughter used to do a lot of it!
FDC

I learnt it as "All King Edwards horses carry many bloody fools". Anyone know any others? Anyone know one for all of the 60m markers, in order?

 

[TheShark]

I learned it as 'all king Edwards horses carried many brave fighters'

 

[Naryafluffy]

All King Edwards Horses Came Marching Bravely Forward Down Across (X) the Green. Or
A Fat Brown Mare Can Kick Ever Hard.

 

[Dirty_D]

I learnt it as "All King Edwards horses carry many bloody fools". Anyone know any others? Anyone know one for all of the 60m markers, in order?

I learnt it as many blundering fools!

 

[Katd66]

20x40

20x60

 

[Honey08]

You're not going mad. I remember tests from years ago, and they hardly ever used anywhere but x to halt on the centre line, and you halted on entering as well as ending - doesn't happen at prelim or novice levels. Don't worry - its only a couple of letters more to learn, it won't be a problem. Just because you don't know the letters doesn't mean you can't do affiliated - asuming you and your horse are going well.. Good luck!

 

[thistledonicely]

I learnt it as "All King Edwards horses carry many bloody fools". Anyone know any others? Anyone know one for all of the 60m markers, in order?

I learned it as (anti-clockwise) A Fat Bay Mare Can Hardly Ever Kick. Am yet to encounter one who has, so maybe it's true

 

[monkeybum13]

I learnt it as "All King Edwards horses carry many bloody fools". Anyone know any others? Anyone know one for all of the 60m markers, in order?

That's what my mum taught me too

 

[AMH]

You're not going mad. I remember tests from years ago, and they hardly ever used anywhere but x to halt on the centre line, and you halted on entering as well as ending - doesn't happen at prelim or novice levels. Don't worry - its only a couple of letters more to learn, it won't be a problem. Just because you don't know the letters doesn't mean you can't do affiliated - asuming you and your horse are going well.. Good luck!

Thank you! And thank you Kat for the pictures of the arenas, that's really helpful.

Unfortunately, I need to sell the Little Mare on, so I would like to get some points on her card (if I can!). And since I don't have my own transport and need to rely on lifts, if everyone else is going affiliated then so will I!

I'm actually quite excited now...