Dressage Tests

[graciemoo]

I am going to enter a dressage competition on 7th September. When I enter, do they supply me with the test or do I have to buy the whole BD book and get it out of there? Or does it vary?
Anyone know?

[Soot]

You can buy individual test sheets from BD.

The whole book is fair chep though, and at least you don't need to worry about buying tests for the rest of the season + gives you more to practise with!

[Ace87]

Which test is it? I have many! Also you can buy individual test sheets from BD for about 80p and you can get the diagrams from dressagediagrams.co.uk for same sort of price!

I've never entered a test where they supply you with it!

[coss]

some places will give you a copy either via a spare sheet or by an unused crit sheet. the easiest thing to do (IMO) is to by the sheets, you can get individual sheets from bd for 40p a sheet if not with diagrams and not buy the whole book.

[graciemoo]

Gosh that was a lot of answers in a short time!! Well done!
Ok, so i'm not going to affiliate to BD (comp is unaffiliated) and I will probably only do 4 or 5 over the winter to keep competition standard up, should I still buy the book? Will it not change in Jan? Do the test numbers change, or do they just add more?
Also, will they tell me if it's BD reference or BE, as I have access to the BR book?
Ace- it says on the entry form I can either do:
Prelim 14 - 2006 (short) <<< this includes Northern Dressage Qualifier though so I imagine standard will be higher than other test.
Prelim 19 - 2002 (long)
So if what you guys are saying is right, and to buy a book, how do I buy one from a previous year? - especially 2002!?!?!

[Sticky's GF]

When a test says 2002 thats when it was last revised, so if you go to your local tack shop they will have the most recent prelims (i.e. 2002 for a lot of them). They are something like 50p each. I just prefer to buy the tests as I need them then keep them in case I do that test again. :)

[graciemoo]

OK, now I've got how it works!!
Thank you very much! Will look in tack shop!

[graciemoo]

OOOOOH quick, also are BD tests the same as BE tests?

[coss]

Gosh that was a lot of answers in a short time!! Well done!
Ok, so i'm not going to affiliate to BD (comp is unaffiliated) and I will probably only do 4 or 5 over the winter to keep competition standard up, should I still buy the book? Will it not change in Jan? Do the test numbers change, or do they just add more?
Also, will they tell me if it's BD reference or BE, as I have access to the BR book?
Ace- it says on the entry form I can either do:
Prelim 14 - 2006 (short) <<< this includes Northern Dressage Qualifier though so I imagine standard will be higher than other test.
Prelim 19 - 2002 (long)
So if what you guys are saying is right, and to buy a book, how do I buy one from a previous year? - especially 2002!?!?!

ok... if you went and bought the book it would come with all the current tests that are in use which includes tests from the 2002 series :p i DON'T have p19 and i have the 2002 tests :confused: that may be a discontinued test and you'd have to ask the venue for a copy (the same happened with elementary 47). the 2009 tests usually come out november/december and BD usually add a few tests and/or make modifications to a few tests and therefore re number (eg elementary 41 from 2002 is now elementary 42 for 2008 :rolleyes: the only difference is the numbering of the movements so judges are marking slightly differently). i bought my book of tests in 2005 and then bought single sheets (the added ones) in 2006 and 2007... you now have to do it by card from bd and i don't need enough tests to warrant it... i'll either by 08/09 when 09 tests are out or get my RI's ones when she gets the laminated ones :p

it is good fun looking through the other tests to practise and to give you schooling exercises and to look at the movements at higher levels :p

ETA: BD tests are different to the BE tests

[Sticky's GF]

Nooooo!!! All different, I've got a collection of BE, BD and pony club!! BD is prelim/novice/elimentary etc. BE is intro 100, intro 101, pre novice etc. etc.

Also, when a test (like prelim 19) says 'long' it means in a long arena with the extra markers, which if you are like me is a bit too confusing. :)

[graciemoo]

So how do I find out where p19 (2002) has gone to, like its new number? This is so confusing...!!!!!

[graciemoo]

on BD site there is a p19 (2008) will this be the p19 (2002) but updated?

[coss]

on BD site there is a p19 (2008) will this be the p19 (2002) but updated?

the venue has probably got the year wrong... there wasn't a prelim 19 by the looks of it - it will just be p19 for 2008. only one i think it could (But not definate) be is prelim 17 from 2002 as that was in a long arena.. don't know any other prelims that are in the long arena

[Ace87]

I have Prelim 14 if you want me to scan it?

BE and BD tests aren't the same!!

[graciemoo]

whats markers are in the long arena? - just as I think ive done this one before, but not sure...
should I just call venue about the p19 year?

[coss]

whats markers are in the long arena? - just as I think ive done this one before, but not sure...
should I just call venue about the p19 year?

AKVESHCMRBPF - round the outside in that order
DLXIG - down the centre line.
i'd ring the venue :)

[graciemoo]

will and check anyway but when i do buy the 09 book when it is released, how can i tell which of the new/updated tests are the named old ones? i presume not all venues will have THE most up to date book necessarily?

[coss]

will and check anyway but when i do buy the 09 book when it is released, how can i tell which of the new/updated tests are the named old ones? i presume not all venues will have THE most up to date book necessarily?

you don't know - just ask others... my RI is a BD member and judge so i can always ask her for you ;) if the venue does affiliated dressage as well as unaffiliated they will have the most up to date tests:)

[graciemoo]

OK, think I will just call up the centre.
But I am unsure that they will know (unless typo on 2002 instead of 08) as otherwise they would surely have put the most recent?
Thanks for all your help.
Do you compete in BD?

[coss]

OK, think I will just call up the centre.
But I am unsure that they will know (unless typo on 2002 instead of 08) as otherwise they would surely have put the most recent?
Thanks for all your help.
Do you compete in BD?

it could be a typo.
i don't compete in BD (lack of transport and money ;)) but my RI does and i'm her dressage caller :p she's also just become a judge and she keeps me fairly up to date on new things :)

[graciemoo]

oooh very good! ask her about this would you?
Im so nervous its my first proper dressage comp if i get there! - is BD a lot hard than BE dressage? like are there more movements to carry out?

[coss]

oooh very good! ask her about this would you?
Im so nervous its my first proper dressage comp if i get there! - is BD a lot hard than BE dressage? like are there more movements to carry out?

i'll ask her at the weekend when i see her :)
there are BE tests that are harder than BD tests- it all depends on the level ;) i think BD tests have more movements in them that come up quicker.

[graciemoo]

where do i buy the book from? Ive tried britishdressage.co.uk but they only have loose sheets and A4 folder style sheets. http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/online_shop/category/test-sheets/set-of-tests/products
Do they not come in a book like BE?
Do you know an online saddlery where i can buy it?

[Ginger Thing]

There is no 'book', just the test sheets, but you can buy the whole lot together. The BD online shop lists all the current tests for this year, I just check what I've got against that list and buy any new ones I need for 40p each.

[coss]

where do i buy the book from? Ive tried britishdressage.co.uk but they only have loose sheets and A4 folder style sheets. http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/online_shop/category/test-sheets/set-of-tests/products
Do they not come in a book like BE?
Do you know an online saddlery where i can buy it?

robinsons do a folder full of tests but they dont' have diagrams

[graciemoo]

do they have diagrams if I get them from BD?

[coss]

do they have diagrams if I get them from BD?

depends which ones your order - i think you can get ones with diagrams