Dressage Test

[Maci]

In a dressage test, a simple one to start off (walk/trot/perhaps canter), do the judges focus heavily on the outline of the horse/movement of the horse, or do they focus more on the precision of the transitions/halts? What do they look at in the rider (ie: form/position, if horse/rider working as a team, the whole picture, etc.)

What I basically want to know is what the judges look for/mark you on in a dressage test (keeping in mind a simple one)?

Thanks!
Maci :)

[fionahogg]

Well, here in the UK, at the lower levels of dressage (where just basic movements such as circles in walk/trot/canter are required, some lengthening of strides, perhaps a rein back in the more difficult novice tests) the outline is not especially important, or at least not in unaffiliated dressage. I don't know if you know a lot about the system here…to compete in affiliated dressage you have to be a member of British dressage and you start at the lowest level (preliminary), earn points depending on how your tests go, and work your way through the levels. In unaffiliated dressage, anyone can enter at any level (although usually competitions only offer preliminary and novice tests, and perhaps an elementary one), some classes have restrictions but this is up to the show organisers, as opposed to a governing body. The standard is generally lower in unaffiliated dressage. Anyway… because the standard is lower in unaffil. dressage, you can get away with the horse not working in an outline as long as the test is accurate, and still get a pretty good score (unless the horse is hollow or very tense/stiff/unbalanced). Although your collective marks would be lower (you get separate marks for paces, submission, impulsion, and position of the rider, so if your horse's way of going is not very good then these will be low). In affiliated dressage, because the standard is higher, and the marking is generally less lenient, the horse's way of going is important, especially if you want to progress up the levels.

A lot also depends on what the judge is looking for. Over here, the way in which judges judge varies tremendously, especially in unaffiliated dressage. Personally, if I were a judge, and there were say two horses. One has really powerful athletic movement and is working soft and round. One isn't working as well as the other and doesn't have as much potential. The two horses perform the same movement…the athletic horse makes a teeny mistake but the other one does it fine. I would personally give the athletic horse, say a 8 or 9 out of 10 for his movement, but then deduct one or two points for making the mistake. The lesser horse only starts with a 6 or 7 because his way of going is not as good, but he gets all of these points because he doesn't make any mistakes.

In a simple test the judge should be looking for the horse to be happy and responsive in all three paces, supple and happy and working nicely forwards into a contact. The collective marks are given for the following things:

Paces should show freedom and regularity.

Impulsion - the horse should show a desire to move forwards, the steps should be rhythmic and elastic, the back and body should be supple, the hindquarters engaged.

Submission - the horse should be attentive and confident, and show harmony, lightness, and ease of movement, acceptance of the bridle, lightness of the forehand.

Position of the rider - suppleness, harmony, and feel in applying the aids.

I think that the most important things are rhythm and tempo, and that the horse is happy and attentive. I don't think it should matter if the horse is not properly on the bit when competing at the lower levels so long as he listens and is responsive. But then I'm not a judge :)!

Anyway, go for it! Just a small local show or dressage competition…it will give you something to work towards and who cares what happens so long as you know you did the best you can and you had fun! Go on…be brave!

Hope this helps!

Fiona.

[Maci]

That's a very thorough answer! Thanks so much! I will try one, eventually...I won't make myself wait too long, that's for sure!

He's not very good at working in an outline, but he can get very responsive, and when I do transition work, he can be very precise, which is good!

I don't really care about winning, just the experience and to be able to say, "Yes, I have done a dressage test!"

Thanks Again!
Maci :)

PS- Do you and Monty do dressage tests? How long have you been riding, because I read some of your answers and think, WOW! She really knows her stuff! Sorry to be nosy, but you always give great answers!

[fionahogg]

Hi Maci, yes I do dressage with Monty, I bought him in March '98, but I didn't buy him with the intention to do dressage, yet ironically that’s what he's good at! He's a 14.2hh highland x arab gelding, and when I bought him he did a lot of showjumping. I've ridden since I was two (not seriously, I couldn't canter till I was 8 or 9 and didn't jump till I was about 10!), and have had ponies on loan before him (only small ones, I mean really small - 11.2hh!) so he was very different to what I was used to! When I first got him I wasn't really a very experienced rider and didn't have a clue about dressage, and didn't have any intentions of doing it! I was more into jumping. But because I was so used to riding little ponies, our first year together was a bit of a disaster. He really stretches his head out over jumps and I didn't let him stretch enough, so I gave him a jab in the mouth every time he jumped :(. He understandably lost his confidence and we started on a downward spiral. He ended up extremely tense and hollow whenever I rode him, he obviously didn't trust me and didn't enjoy his work. This got me down and I wasn't enjoying riding him. So we needed help. I started having lessons and joined the Pony Club, and we have never looked back! His paces have turned out to be very athletic although he still does have a tendency to tense up, we're working through that. After a lot of work Monty has taught me, basically, how to ride again. After a lot of work to improve his confidence under saddle, he is working at consistently elementary level (that’s the third level out of 6) dressage (unaffiliated at the moment, I plan to affiliate him this year), and is happy jumping 3'3" - 3'6". I changed instructors about a year ago, I now have monthly dressage lessons with Vicky Thompson, she rode in the '96 Olympics and is one of our National Champions. Since having Vicky for lessons he has come on in leaps and bounds. Monty has just had some physiotherapy, and is so much happier and relaxed, we are having so much fun together! We've not done much competing at all this year, because of the foot and mouth disease, most of the competitions were cancelled (plus, we didn't have a towbar on our car to pull the trailer!), but we've got a few competitions coming up, mainly the Pony Club area dressage competition. I did this comp for the first time last year, and came sixth, which is good considering the standard is high! This year I would really like to qualify for the national champs as next year may be my last year with Monty because I won't have much time due to college :(. To qualify for the nationals would be amazing! He hasn't jumped away from home for about 8 months now, but he's not the type of horse that will jump really well at home and then get all nervous at a comp, he jumps as well away from home as he does at home! I'm doing my Pony Club 'B' test this year too (horse care at the end of August, riding in October) so that's something else to work towards.

I think that Monty has taught me more about horses and riding than anyone else has. He's not an easy horse, he will tell you when something's wrong immediately and if you don't ask nicely and say 'Please', you don't get! I've had a lot of trouble with him, he's really taught me to listen to what he's saying. He won't let you push him around, but when you co-operate with him he gives his best. Or at least most of the time he does :)!

My posts do get a bit long sometimes, I suppose it’s a good thing I write them offline, or the phone bill would be huge! My parents say it's not healthy I that spend such a long time on the computer!

Anyway, glad to be of help!

Fiona.

[Maci]

That story was so nice! I'm happy that you found happiness with Monty, and it's too bad that you might have to give him up due to college! :( I think I'll have to slow down my riding a bit when I get to University (slow down=no Mac :( ), but we'll see how everything goes....

You sound like a pro-equestrian, for your age! Good luck with everything in the future, and I hope you get what you seek! Yes, before NR, I never spent any time on the Internet, but now it's like 2 hours max. on NR everyday (yes, I'm obsessed!)! But at least we're learning and doing something, rather than net surfing for 2 hours!

Thanks Again!
Maci :)