starting soon need tips!

[thunderstorm]

could sombody please give me some tips so I know what to expect:(

[Willingbe]

If your competing Under affiliated rules read the rule book! It's amazing how many people get eliminated just by not leaving the arena at A, or the horse wearing boots! Also read the BD test principles they are useful. The principles can be found at the BD website www.britishdressage.co.uk.

The day before the competition make sure you have all your kit assembled. That saves any panic like wondering where your beige jods have got to - usually stuck in the bottom of the wash basket after the last competition:D .

Leave plenty of time to plait up if your horses mane isn't pulled nice and short. The plaits needs to expose the horses neck so use a running plait if you have a highland or arab. This is so the judge can see the neck is developing correctly through training.

Think about how much time you need for working in - if it's a first ever show I'd give it 10-20 minutes for a nice settling walk before you commence trot or canter work. Always ask the organisers permission if you need to longe before getting on. Check that the competition is running to time and plan to start your warm-up accordingly, but don't forget that it is possible fro the judge to make up time if there are withdrawals.

Stick to your warm-up plan as close as possible, just because somebody else is using half-pass to warm-up for a training level doesn't mean you need to!

Timingwise you need to think about how much time you need to
wash, groom, plait, boot/bandage, load, travel, declare, tack-up, dress, warm-up.

Don't bother washing legs if you are going to be on a surface as opposed to grass, if the legs haven't time to dry they'll just attract every bit of surface going.

Some competitions don't bother with declarations (i.e. telling the organiser you have arrived and are going to compete) but check it out anyway until you are sure you know the process at each venue.

Don't warm-up with horse boots on unless you have a helper who can take them off before you go in. You'll be eliminated if you forget them and the horse might think he's finished work if you get off!

A helper by the side of the arena is useful, they can hold jackets, take off boots, hold a bottle of water if it's hot.

Remember the rules of the school when working in - walk off the track, pass left to left, don't let your whip interfere with other horse, practice halts when no one can ram you from behind!

Learn the test - even if you have a commander, they can get it wrong, mumble, read too fast, too slow.

If it starts to go wrong in the test don't panic, if necessary stop take a couple of deep breaths and then continue, the judge won't mind if they can see you're in trouble.

Read the judges comments, they are saying what they see, not trying to hurtful or unkind, and consider what you have to incorporate in your training plan. Competitions are milestones not goals.

Compete against yourself, whether you come first or last there's a score that can be improved or a next level to be reached.

Don't run before you can walk, unless a specialist dressage trainer says go do it, start at training level, try to be in the consistently 60%+ level before you consider moving up a level.

Take it from somebody who has bounced out of the arena, done a full test in the right hand side of the arena only and come last many times, the judge has seen it all before and if you try and understand their comments and modify your training accordingly you will improve.

Smile and enjoy it!:D