I got my 60% score!!!

[DITZ]

At last!!

I did 2 tests yesterday, prelim 10 and 18. 10 I have done 3 times now and it was my first attempt at 18. Started to warm him up and he was really good and was in a great mood. Did 10 first and recognised a few faults as I was making them but overall I was pleased and then went straight in and did 18 which again was good. Felt like it had gone well but didnt want to get too carried away as I have felt like its gone well before and had poor results. Anyway we got 59.09 in the 10 and 60.43 in the 18 so I am really pleased!!

We came 19/30 in the 10 and 16/24 in the 18.

I know now that my canter really needs sorting, I got all 6/7's apart from that which was mostly 5 with one 7. That and the free walk. So guess what I am going to be working on!!! I am consistently being told to get him between hand/leg and I think I am but obviously not so I'm going to get my instructor to sort that out for me tomorrow night.

I feel really proud of him. He's gone from being a nutter who would only walk sideways to being capable of giving a respectable dressage score.

[Lgd]

Well done!

Two of your targets achieved in one season and still 5 months of the year to go! :D

Onwards and upwards :D

[Miss MoneyPenny]

Well done the two of you! You have been working hard to get that ellusive 60% target. Maybe a new test brought fresh legs for neddy!

Keep up the good work!

[DITZ]

Thats exactly what I was thinking! I was going to try and find that original thread!

[RachelEvent]

Well done :D And you're climbing up the placings too!!

Rachel xx

[DITZ]

hee hee indeed rachel! Frankly, I can ever see us getting a place because we are up against 'proper' horses but I dont care really. I get more of a kick out of knowing that its all as a direct result of my efforts than I would if I just bought a 'ready made' horse. I know that even the 'ready made' horses still need proper riding I'm not saying they dont but you know what I mean!

[katieB]

Excellent Ditz, im really pleased for you :) So close to the 60% in 10 aswell, great results!

[Alibi]

Yeah - Well done to the both of you!!

So what are you aiming for now?? 65%, 70%?? the sky's the limit!

[KarinUS]

Well done! You are my idol... :D

I was going to tell you you are ready now for teh next level but it sounds like you already gone there too!

[Ginger Thing]

Well done!
You're doing really well - keep it up and you will get placed, you've come a long way in a very short time.

[Torie]

Congratulations!! 60% is an amazing achievement, even more so when you've brought the horse on yourself! Well done!

Torie xx

[IrisSilverMoon]

That's awsome!

Cngrats! :D

[kedwards]

Woo hoo!!!! Way to go Ditz!

[DITZ]

Ahh thank you all, I am welling up!!!

My next target is to either get an 8 in something or to get a 7 in any one of my collective marks. Fairy steps!!

It has happened quicker than I thought it would. From 47% to 60% in just 6 competitions, I think the lessons are really paying off. As for the canter I know I can nail that too. My instructor has been working on slowing him down and getting him rounder by really making me sit into him and 'push his bum down with my bum' which I discovered really worked in my last lesson. Unfortunately I didnt bother to use the technique in either test because he was quite calm (but obviously not round) and I thought that would be enough. But at least I know now!

BTW what are everyones opinions on turnout for dressage? Mine is a bay tb and *cringe* the most I do is get the mud off and brush his mane/tail. I dont even clean my tack especially *double cringe* but then I figure I wont be getting close enough for an inspection.;) :o

[Tor&Warrior]

Sorry a bit late to this DITZ, just found it! But yay well done!!!! Just think what you'll be getting in another 6 competitions!!!:D

As for turnout, Flytes bay. He's gets brushed and mane and tail brushed and conditioned and hoof oil and thats it. He's never muddy (he's very wierd never ever roles in the field!!) and my plaiting is pretty bad at the best of times and he's an absolute arse to plait so I don't have the patience to plait him. I clean my tack but only because I love cleaning my tack & it gets cleaned after every single time I ride but I don't think it really matters as long as its presentable. The judge don't get close enough!

Torx

[Torie]

I have to admit that I do plait, but only because I actually quite enjoy it and can do a mane and tail in about 40 minutes, so it doesn't take too long. In the summer if they are particurly grubby then I do chuck some water and shampoo over them, otherwise they just get a decent groom and a lick of hoof oil. I always clean my tack thoroughly (and my boots!) before a competition but like Tor I don't mind tack cleaning and I get Mum to help! As long as you look reasonably well turned out (both horse and rider!) presentation isn't really a big issue and down to personal prefernces :)

Torie xx

[Tor&Warrior]

I wish I could do a mane & tail in 40 minutes! Flytes tail is pulled as I cannot do a tail to save my life and the one time I attempted his mane I spend 2 hours and got half way down his mane and gave in!!!

Torx

[DITZ]

it would put me off competing i think if i had to plait it just takes too long and I am of the possibly incorrect opinion that judges are looking at the way the horse moves and is being ridden than whether its quarters have been brushed in a fancy way (yep seen it at a prelim competition!) but like I said maybe I am assuming wrongly, maybe some judges take exception to the fact that someone turns up with an unplaited tail. A bit like going for an interview in trainers I dunno!!!

[star]

well done!!

[Showjumper]

Well done! :D

[DITZ]

well i had my lesson last night and asked the instructor specifically about this hand/leg business and she said that apart from the canter i do ride him from leg to hand. Also asked her to help me on my pretty rubbish free walk but after seeing it she came to the conclusion that it just wasnt within him. It seems to help having him on a shorter rein in the med walk before as he does take the rein forward but by the time we are halfway across the diagonal he's peaked and then he just walks normal. She suggested lunging him with a pessoa to help but frankly I'm not going to bother. I really cant justify spending £60 odd quid to gain an extra couple of points. I'm going to start to do so ground work to get his head down and see if that helps but other than that I'm just going to work with what I've got. At the end of the day he's 16 with a bad back.

[galadriel]

You made it! Congratulations :) You must be SO proud.

Something you could try instead of a pessoa; a friend of mine says she's gotten some good results by using a balancing rein, from the girth between the legs, through the bit, and then back to the side at the girth or the ring on a surcingle. She says that *very* loosely adjusted, it doesn't force the horse into anything, but can encourage them to stretch forward and down. It sounds like reaching forward and down is what will help Savannah.

I think "gadgets" designed for use on the lunge can have their place, if they're not forcefully holding the horse.

Also, carrot stretches would probably help loosen his back. Around to the side, of course, but especially the one reaching down between the legs. If you have him do those regularly it will probably help. I also stretch the horse's legs, to loosen up shoulders and hindquarters. Most people have seen the one where you take the horse's foreleg, straighten it, and lift it up. I do the same with the hindleg: keeping it as straight as possible, lift it up and forward.

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by galadriel
Most people have seen the one where you take the horse's foreleg, straighten it, and lift it up. I do the same with the hindleg: keeping it as straight as possible, lift it up and forward.

hehe...I do that with George, I lthink it helps him get a little more extension, he is also a little more supple when I get on, it loosens those tendons up...:)

one thing you can do to encourage the horse to stretch downward is to comb the reins, drag them upward through your fingers and this should encourage the horse to pull downward on them. His reward for doing so is that you let him put his nose on the ground. you eventually want it to get to the point where if you give with the reins the horse will follow with them down. You can do this on the lunge to (when you are lunging the horse and want stretch down) I forget how to do it though...:( but combing is something to work on that won't cost extra money! :p

[Bay Mare]

http://www.art-man.freeserve.co.uk/pictures/congratulations-bluedrinks.gif

Well done, that's great :D


x

[DITZ]

Gal could you explain the concept of carrot stretches I dont quite know what you mean.

Iris - tried combing had absolutely no effect at all!

LynneAc - whats with the new name then??

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by DITZ
Iris - tried combing had absolutely no effect at all!




don't expect results right away, this may take awhile, be patient and steady, makes sure you don't give before the horse puts his head down, reward every small drop...:)

[galadriel]

There are some pics of carrot stretches here:
http://www.kbrhorse.net/hea/spine02.html

Over time, regular stretching will help a horse develop greater flexibility and extension; it won't happen right away, but you will eventually see a difference in the ease with which he stretches, and the amount of stretching that he can do.

Carrot stretches work on the muscles in the neck and back. Front leg stretches stretch the shoulder and leg muscles (and the long tendons coming from the leg muscles); hind leg stretches also stretch the leg muscles/tendons, as well as the hamstring and the hindquarters overall.