Very interested to see some dressage pics!

[Kc..]

Hey.. now i have never competed in dressage as i'm more of a jumper! However if i had the right horse i definately would take it up! I'd just love to see some pics of you and your horses doing dressage!

Also can anyone tell me about dressage competitions and the dressage tests, i'm very interested in haveing a go at veteran dressage with my 23yo eventer! But have no idea what i'm doing! He probs wouldn't do to well either as what ever you do he doesn't get on the bit anymore! But would be a bit of fun! :D

[Lgd]

Probably best to look locally for some unaffliated classes. There are an increasing number of venues who also offer walk and trot tests.

Most will use the BD tests which can be purchased direct from BD or via dressage diagrams.

You can do the open section of affiliated prelim classes without horse or rider being qualified although TBH if he doesn't go on the bit you would be better off doing the unaffiliated classes as the entry fees will be cheaper.

The official W & T test is called Intro A.

The levels then go
Preliminary
Novice
Elementary
Medium
Advanced Medium
Advanced
PSG
Intermediaire I
Intermediaire II
Grand Prix

The last four are the FEI levels used for international competition - PSG/Inter I are small tour, Inter II/GP are big tour.

Some pics of our dressage gang - I share a yard with two fellow dressage enthusiasts, we have a collection of six horses between us :eek:

Peri, my 'old lady' - ridden pics taken a few years back, she's had a maternity sabbatical to have her first foal. She's 7/8 TB, bred to event and preferred dressage. She made to Inter I level competitively but does do all the GP tricks.

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1501

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1500

Belle, is her daughter, now rising 2yo. She is KWPN registered by Mooiman who competes at international GP level. She's hopefully my future GP horse.

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=15700

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=17361

Tavia is my main competition horse at the moment, 12yo Russian Orlov x mare. Lost most of last year due to a field injury but she is back competing now. She's back out at Medium & Advanced Medium but hoping to go Advanced this summer.

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=16240

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=16242

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=16480

I'm also competing a friend's pony for her ATM as she has been unwell. BJ is a pure bred Fell Pony competing at elementary and medium level.

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=17103

The venerable old gent is George - he is still being ridden and will be 27yo in April was rising 24yo in the pic below but doesn't really look any different. He has competed to advanced in the past but just goes to do the odd elementary or medium nowadays as he just loves his 'parties'

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=7759

The youngest member of the ridden clan is Rolo an 8yo TB x WelshD/Shire gelding. He's a big lad at a chunky 16.3hh (his 'Mum' is 5'8")

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=17363

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=17363

[coss]

i can't add any info to LGD's but i'll add pics ;) i don't compete much so its basically me working at home - but i don't do much jumping, neither horse is good at it for various reasons... pics
Dawn - ex endurance horse, turned 30 last year.... she doesn't work like this regularly as i allowed her to gallop a lot when i was younger and when i didn't think in a dressage way, i was only interested in going fast ;)
http://file012a.bebo.com/4/large/2006/07/16/22/1359860817a1382790211b599603424l.jpghttp://file036a.bebo.com/6/large/2007/05/05/14/1359860817a4289112806b838353722l.jpg
http://file025a.bebo.com/11/large/2006/12/04/17/1359860817a2745438391b477063766l.jpghttp://file033a.bebo.com/11/large/2007/05/05/14/1359860817a4289125743b115145329l.jpg

Harry - i have taken him from a 5 year old who had done walk and trot on hacks only
http://file012a.bebo.com/6/large/2006/07/14/09/1359860817a1360096057b133159097l.jpghttp://file023a.bebo.com/9/large/2006/11/10/20/1359860817a2514585484b577278587l.jpg
http://file038a.bebo.com/15/large/2007/10/19/22/1359860817a5868817890l.jpghttp://file041a.bebo.com/13/large/2008/01/04/23/1359860817a6537361165l.jpg

[cwb]

Here's a couple of videos of my Danish friend doing dressage on her horses - first Crefi (who I have ridden)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyruhEQnFj8

and then Masai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkMnf0T3B0g

[Kc..]

Thanks for all the info etc and the pics are great everyone, all gorgeous horses.

A local competition yard hold regular competitions, and do have veteran dressage.. http://www.allenshill.co.uk/

What would i have to do for this does anyone know?

[coss]

if you click on the schedules then you will get an entry form up... you can email them or print the form off with a cheque. if you're just starting out then go for the prelim test :)

[Siogfinsceal]

I just love dressage was drooling watching the prix st george the other night. my own horse is a jumper and doesnt not like dressage but luckily I sometimes get to borrow a horse from the yard. This is me on one of the yard horses

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l184/siogfinsceal/Jenny/Jennyat2006Festivaldressage.jpg

[Kc..]

Thanks everyone!
So sorry if i'm being dumb but say i enter this dressage test.. which i most likely will. What do i do once i'm in the ring? Walk, trot, canter? Nim has done dressage in the past and does know how to do it (without bending his kneck) so he would probs do it for me but still.. it's nice to know :D

[Kc..]

As you can see in this pic he won't make the best dressage horse.. However i just want to get a bit of experience in a competition so i know what i'm doing then maybe i can pinch a ride on a friends horse! :)

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb152/kc-saxmax72/Nimby%20and%20co/1632918090a5788508426l.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb152/kc-saxmax72/Nimby%20and%20co/1632918090a5788508401l.jpg
:p:D

[coss]

the tests have a pattern. you'll have the letter round the arena and each test tells you where to go - get a caller if you can't memorise or don't feel happy riding from memory. it will start with enter at A at working trot and end with a salute somewhere on the centre line (X or G) there will be circles and i think loop backs in Prelim 10. you'll need to get a copy of the test so you know where you're going and can try to rehearse ;)
i notice you're in a pelhem - you'll have to get hold of a snaffle, take off the martingale and bandages too :p

[Kc..]

Thanks that's brill! :D
I will use a snaffle and remove everything else those pics are schooling in a very large field and a bit of jumping.

I guess no grackle either?
I have normal noseband bridle if that's a prob?

[coss]

It is obligatory to use a noseband. Either a drop, flash or cavesson
noseband must be used with a snaffle bridle. A cavesson noseband
only must be used with a double bridle. Drop nosebands and flash
straps must lie in the chin groove. Grackle nosebands are permitted
only for Eventing. Nosebands must not cause discomfort.
from a BD rule book - double bridles are only permitted at elementary and upwards ;)

[Kc..]

This is all much more confusing than i thought :p
Ok so i need to put my noseband on it? do they have to be the same colour lol!
So i looked at the entry form i have a choice off
Preliminary Standard Test 10
Novice Standard Test 32
What in all of creation do either of them consist of! And i thought jumping was confusing :p
I've always fancied a bit of dressage though.

[coss]

This is all much more confusing than i thought :p
Ok so i need to put my noseband on it? do they have to be the same colour lol!
So i looked at the entry form i have a choice off
Preliminary Standard Test 10
Novice Standard Test 32
What in all of creation do either of them consist of! And i thought jumping was confusing :p
I've always fancied a bit of dressage though.

:p
you have to have a noseband. it looks better if its the same colour as the rest of the bridle but you won't be marked down if its not :) Its up to you which noseband you use, flash or cavesson - you know your horse best :)

Preliminary Standard Test 10 aka Prelim 10 ;) has got 10m circles in. as a general gist;) prelims have medium walk, free walk on a long rein, working trot, working canter. They generally also have a couple of 20m circles (in any of the paces although canters sometimes start half way round the circle to make it easier). Half 10m circle are very common in walk and sometimes trot. Your free walk on a long rein will usually be across a diagonal (eg H to F) or a short diagonal (eg H to B) but are sometimes a half 20m circle. I can't tell you the test straight off as they are copyrighted but if you email the venue they may give you a copy. If they don't you can order the tests from BD for 40p per sheet British Dressage sheets found here (http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/online_shop/category/test-sheets/products)
i have all the tests except the 2008 ones as its good to look through the ones you aren't anywhere near too and horses tend to work better at home so i practise tests that are 1 or 2 levels above what i would compete at :p
you can get test plans (they have diagrams so you can see a birds eye view of the pattern you should be riding) but they are more expensive test plans (http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/online_shop/category/test-plans/products)
i downloaded an order form elsewhere on the site but can't find it now - they might just be doing online orders (?)

Novice Standard Test 32 aka Novice 32, I know very well, i've ridden it loads and i love the test but if you've not ridden a dressage test before don't do this one. Its got a lot in it including, medium walk, free walk on a long rein, working trot, medium trot, working canter, medium canter, give and retake the reins in canter and various different circles... its a lot to remember and you and your horse have to be very tuned in to ride it, as i say, if you've not ridden a test before then it would be very difficult.
I take it you've ridden in a school before?

[IrisSilverMoon]

I have a few dressage photos! :D

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/354369690_91799a73e0.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/354367646_47a62bc6af.jpg

and here's some shoulder in...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/354372842_1f62b21ef6.jpg

and some piaffe!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/354372837_ab958faced.jpg

I'm also a firm believer that any horse can learn dressage, so don't worry if you don't think your guy is up to snuff yet, it will take some time to get him there. DO you have an instructor that can help you along?

[holiday]

This is Molly shes 16.3hh Clydesdale x TB and worked to medium level until she retired to be a mum!!!! Shes in foal to my stallion (dont ask she didnt like the nice German Stallion we chose so we put Harry to her to get her started - via AI!!!!)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/Caroneno/mollfrystest.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/Caroneno/mollfrys.jpg

This is Harry hes a 12.2hh 7 year old Welsh Section B stallion he competes up to elementary and is hoping to carry on as well as he has been going!!!!
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/Caroneno/harrysheep.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/Caroneno/thharrykeys-1.jpg

This is Jack hes a 17.2hh Shire x TB he also worked upto Elementary but after having almost two years off is now back to a "bad prelim"!!!!!! Hoping to go back quite quickly to his proper level!!!! And carry on!!!
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/Caroneno/jackbrak2.jpg

To finish this is Jives he is 13.1hh Part Bred Welsh and he also worked to elementary but has since been sold!!!!
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e321/Caroneno/jives1.jpg

So these are my ponies!!!! Big and small, I also believe any horse can be trained for dressage with time and patience its amazing how far they can go, dont be put off by the rules I started for a joke with "Jack" and its surprizing how quickly you pick them up!!!!

[Dancinglite]

Pictures removed

[Lovemyappy]

I have a few pics from one of the dressage shows I did in the summer. I normally show hunter but always train dressage at home as well and felt the need to go and test out our hard work. (only one show had a photographer this year) Just going to add the link to their site.

http://thehorseseye.com/photogalleryv2.asp?action=showgallery&gallery=254

[Charlie76]

This is my mare:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w207/sharola76/DPSCamera_0093-1.jpg

She is competing BD elementary.

[GraceT]

Any excuse to post pix of my boy! Moving up to Novice this year fingers crossed
Summer 07
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/gracehollinson/Dressage/Trot4.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/gracehollinson/Dressage/Trotting.jpg

[marsden]

I was very lucky as this time last year i had a Grand Prix dressage schoolmaster on loan! He was amazing, however only kinda down fall is he won't do anything unless you asked him right! Actually i don't mean right i mean 110% correct! He was a gem, sadly never got any riding pictures of him :(

I'm also a firm believer that any horse can do dressage. One of hte horses I had was a ex Grade B showjumper sadly an incident with a wire fence forced him into retirement. I started to school him and took him to his first dressage competition and he was a complete and utter star! We got 8's for our trots, was very proud
:D
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d82/Nikki_and_Rod/Rodney/Shows/nicetrot.jpg
legs chopped off :rolleyes:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d82/Nikki_and_Rod/Rodney/Shows/nicetrot2.jpg

[Kc..]

:p
you have to have a noseband. it looks better if its the same colour as the rest of the bridle but you won't be marked down if its not :) Its up to you which noseband you use, flash or cavesson - you know your horse best :)

Preliminary Standard Test 10 aka Prelim 10 ;) has got 10m circles in. as a general gist;) prelims have medium walk, free walk on a long rein, working trot, working canter. They generally also have a couple of 20m circles (in any of the paces although canters sometimes start half way round the circle to make it easier). Half 10m circle are very common in walk and sometimes trot. Your free walk on a long rein will usually be across a diagonal (eg H to F) or a short diagonal (eg H to B) but are sometimes a half 20m circle. I can't tell you the test straight off as they are copyrighted but if you email the venue they may give you a copy. If they don't you can order the tests from BD for 40p per sheet British Dressage sheets found here (http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/online_shop/category/test-sheets/products)
i have all the tests except the 2008 ones as its good to look through the ones you aren't anywhere near too and horses tend to work better at home so i practise tests that are 1 or 2 levels above what i would compete at :p
you can get test plans (they have diagrams so you can see a birds eye view of the pattern you should be riding) but they are more expensive test plans (http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/online_shop/category/test-plans/products)
i downloaded an order form elsewhere on the site but can't find it now - they might just be doing online orders (?)

Novice Standard Test 32 aka Novice 32, I know very well, i've ridden it loads and i love the test but if you've not ridden a dressage test before don't do this one. Its got a lot in it including, medium walk, free walk on a long rein, working trot, medium trot, working canter, medium canter, give and retake the reins in canter and various different circles... its a lot to remember and you and your horse have to be very tuned in to ride it, as i say, if you've not ridden a test before then it would be very difficult.
I take it you've ridden in a school before?

Thanks that's really interesting, yes i have done alot of schooling in a school etc i had lessons every saturday with Nim a few years ago, i am just moving yards to somewhere that has a sand school aswel which will make it much easier. Nimby is very well schooled and will do everything except get on the bit. This is basically because when i got him i was 9, he hadn't been asked to do this or ages and at 9 with my first horse i didn't either. It's only now when i could do with him getting on the bit i wish i had!

[Kc..]

I'm also a firm believer that any horse can learn dressage, so don't worry if you don't think your guy is up to snuff yet, it will take some time to get him there. DO you have an instructor that can help you along?

Great pics everyone! :D There all really great.
Nimby has done dressage but not for atleast 10years (he is now 23) he moves really nicely etc and schoold really really well, it's just the fact he will not get on the bit. :rolleyes:

I will do some more schooling with him once we have moved yards and see if i can get him anywhere near. Although i have never had him bend his kneck at all. :rolleyes:

[coss]

Thanks that's really interesting, yes i have done alot of schooling in a school etc i had lessons every saturday with Nim a few years ago, i am just moving yards to somewhere that has a sand school aswel which will make it much easier. Nimby is very well schooled and will do everything except get on the bit. This is basically because when i got him i was 9, he hadn't been asked to do this or ages and at 9 with my first horse i didn't either. It's only now when i could do with him getting on the bit i wish i had!

i know the feeling (i got dawn when she was 20 and i was probably 9ish)dawn was previously an endurance horse (who had done some western too) so i could canter/gallop round the field for ages and thats all i wanted to do. Now it a struggle to get her to slow down and work correctly. I must have started to try (at first it was me that was the real problem as i didn't spend enough time trying) and get her to work more correctly when she was about 28 but with no arena the work was patchy (would get her just about working nicely but then have a week off and all would be forgotten) and it has taken a lot of work to get her to work so that i can't see her muzzle when i look straight ahead between her ears :p
all i can recommend is lots of lateral work and circles at a really slow/steady trot and try and encourage him to stretch down a bit (i see he carries himself up quite a lot and he needs to relax down before coming back up) and hopefully it'll come back :p

[Kc..]

Thanks i will give it ago and get some pics see if i can get him working nicely.
It will be alot esier with a floodlit menage as i can just ride when i want without worrying about light and the size of the field incase he gets excited.
See what we can do anyway!
:D

[ponylover88]

...

[jo@cedressage]

Photo by Equinational

[Lgd]

Holiday - Do I spy Northern regionals @ Frys on those pics of the big mare?

[Fruiitloop]

i have done a bit of dressage not really my kinda thing :p but i have done a few novices i got 69% my mare has very good paces to do dressage but i perfer showing my mum does dressage she has hanoverians and competes at medium :) but it bores me :p i like watching all the fancy people when i go to shows with her like when i go and watch her at hickstead and see them doing grand prix's its amazing to watch

[beckiWB]

this is a PSG horse i had given to compete. lucky me
http://i28.tinypic.com/2a4o7du.jpg

and this is my elementary mare, that is now sold
http://i26.tinypic.com/6fo2h5.jpg

hope you like. i do

[ClaireBear_nz]

My gelding, who is very much a jumper but is forced into dressage because he adores cross-country. He's an Anglo-Arab but he's a bit of a mutant because he only just made 15hh.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/ClaireBear_nz/cap114.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/ClaireBear_nz/flat22-1-2008016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v665/ClaireBear_nz/V220071115_5387.jpg

In his last eventing test, he got 83.75%, it was Junior Riding Test O though, there wasn't even a free walk :D

[josiex]

I dont have any of me at a compatition but i have some of training at home :)

http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?PageNbr=1&MemberId=2835356574&PhotoAlbumId=3488705258&PhotoId=5084807087

http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?PageNbr=1&MemberId=2835356574&PhotoAlbumId=3488705258&PhotoId=5730072171

I use the beach as my school haha! my sis is riding him in those pics

http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.jsp?MemberId=2835356574&PhotoAlbumId=4475887453&PhotoId=5163413318

Thats one of me riding my section C :)

xxxx

My Instructor lived in germany and she was competing at grande prix :D