First go at dressage tests!!

[cwb]

Lovely sunny afternoon - Ziggy & I have a go at a couple of dressage tests - I think the first one was a preliminary and the second a novice one.

The first one was mainly circles and straight lines but with changes of pace.

Watch the rather shaky video - I gave the little camera to the RI and asked her just to point it at us - but you can hear her commentary much better than I could at the far end of the school!

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The second one was more complicated - Novice 21 - and had three loop serpentines and demi voltes in it too.

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Ziggy started off quite well but got a little over excited at times and did his "own thing". At times I couldn't get him to canter when I wanted, other times he was just perfect!

He was definitely in a let's have fun mood today - we had lots of energy and at one point he put his head down and tugged on the reins as if to say - here, this is the amount of contact I want, quite a bit more than I usually ride with, so I obliged him and he went well.

I am still having real problems with keeping my arms/hands still - at times I look like a chicken trying to take off! But we did quite nicely in attempting shoulder in on the 3/4 line -

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Poor Ziggy ended up in quite a lather - when we took his saddle off he looked like a damp teddy bear!

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg48/chrisbetson/Riding%20videos/AVI_0001259_0003.jpg

[emm]

Well done. Looked like your instructor wore you out that lesson!!

[Dancinglite]

Good start but have a ways to go yet.

[Skyhuntress]

Good start but have a ways to go yet.
:rolleyes:




cwb- well done, you!
ziggy and you look to be a lovely pair and good for you for trying something fairly new for the both of you!

[KateWooten]

Well, ummmmm ... We ALL have 'a ways to go' don't we ?

How RUDE !

I can't watch the vids here on my slow connection, will have to wait for a work day :D Dressaging is fun isn't it ? Really makes you think. Have fun with it - and of course, if we do it right it's Good for the horse, and for me that's the whole point, regardless of any competitive aspirations.

[Kittycat]

Well done! :D

DL - when someone says it is the first time they have done a dressage test how can you post a comment like that? In fact unless the poster was saying 'Look at me, I'm brilliant and you are all rubbish' I don't think a comment like that is ever called for.

[amylou_84]

Looking good. I havnt had the chance to do a dressage test yet, let alone practice for one! When i get my own horse its something i really want to do. I love being in the school and much prefer it to jumping. Keep at it :D

[mu0ljk]

Good start but have a ways to go yet.

As StormArion said - :rolleyes:

Well done!

[cwb]

Thanks guys - I would be the first to say I had a long way to go!

The RI thought it was a good first attempt at it and a Danish friend who competes seriously with her 2 horses said it was good - the changes happened at the right time. (here's a link to one of her tests - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FkMnf0T3B0g )

I know my position needs a lot of work but it is coming along bit by bit, I need to lean back more, bring my legs forward and steady my hands - Ziggy doesn't help here because he is a very bouncy trotter and in canter I have just mastered the seat.

Next Wednesday I will be doing the tests again on Marmite - we will see how well I manage on him!

[KateWooten]

I would be the first to say I had a long way to go!

No, no actually, you would be the second to say that :p