first showjumping course/dressage test memories tips advice....

[Spud]

first showjumping course/dressage test memories tips advice....
this thread will help others to learn from your mistakes!! and share tips anbd give views etc!!:D

[larri]

Ha! first showjumping course - two refusals at the first fence ( I think my nerve had gone:rolleyes: )
followed swiftly by taking a dive off at the second and sitting in a heap crying!!
I got back on and went to do some practise jumps in the collecting ring fell off again and the pony landed on my leg :eek:
Nice hoof shaped bruise!
It was my 11th birthday present - to hire a pony from my riding school and enter the gymkhana......hmmm had better birthdays (and shows) since:D

Larri

Ps My handy tip would be practise ...a lot, first!

[InbaL]

my first showjumping course..
it was in the winter, after it was raining and the manege was muddy. i came with jeans and a green sweatshirt (almost gave my instructor a heart attack. lol..), i didn't have jods then..
the course was about 2' high.
i was nervous, my face was completely pale :D
all i wanted was to remember the course and not get confused, and i did it!
i dropped only one fence and finished with 4 points
didn't get to the jump off, but i was more then satisfied :)
during the course i had no idea what's going on, and didn't know what i was doing.. :D luckily, i had a horse i loved and she was great!

[judyl]

My first couple of jumping courses I quit while I was ahead! I did a clear first round and then was so overcome, I didn't want to do the jump off!

My first dressage tests were spent on the bedroom carpet! I walked, trotted and cantered round doing my test with the sheet in front of me until I memorised it. Then I did it without the test sheet. Mind you, I think I'm really lucky as I seem to just read through the test once or twice and I know it.

At the end of my lessons, my trainer tells me to do a short test and I sit there and listen and then ride it!

Good luck!

Judy

[heland]

I wish I had a memory like that judyl

My memory is useless!!

My first show jumping course was a couple of months ago. I was a bit late so I didn't walk the course. My name was called and when I walked in the man said there is 1,2,3,etc etc......... Well when I jumped no. 4 I shouted whilst cantering "where's 5" (how Embarassing) Actually I got a clear round and when I finished one of the judges said You can breathe now....
:D :D


My first dressage test was a couple of weeks ago. I spent hours and hours going over the sheet. Then I got pieces of paper with the letters on & put them on the lounge floor and yes I walked trotted and cantered the course for ages Ha Ha

It was worth it though cause I didn't forget it

My second dressage test is soon so I'll have to start all over again.
My memory is terrible........ I think its age:) :)

[kedwards]

I posted about my first course (Hunter course), here in the Mature riders forum about a month ago. I had more fun than I've had in years! The horse refused a couple in the warm-up, but I got her over them and she was a peach during the actually rounds. Just jumping the course took all of my attention, so I had no energy left to worry. I think I'd be a complete mess if I did dressage, though. I'm sure I'd get in the ring and draw a blank.

So Spud, you started the thread. Do you have an experience you'd like to share too?

[muzzy]

Hi, I am hopefully doing my first ever dressage test in two weeks time just before Christmas, I'm nervous already!!
I have been given the Test to look at and learn, but I was wondering if anyone could help me with where the letters go in the arena. I know this when riding, but whilst trying to learn it in my bedroom have gone completely blank!! Please Help!!:D
Isn't there a rhym or something about King Edwards horses??!! Oh, I don't know!
:(
Thanks, lol,
muzzy;)

[heland]

All King Edwards Horses Can Manage Big Fences:D

There is a ryme for it anti-clockwise but I can't remember!!!!!!

Good Luck in your test:) Whick one are you doing??:D

[muzzy]

Thank you sooooo much heland!!:D
I'm doing Preliminary No. 9! They are not that hard individual movements, but my problem is putting them all together!:)
We did a bit of the test in our lesson today, and it was the first dressage we'd ever done! We'll be working on it next week, and then it is the actual test...AAAAHHHH!!:eek:
Thanks again, lol,
muzzy;)

[Elfin]

YEY! I am excited about it though! I have been learning it all evening!!

[muzzy]

mmm, what if it goes wrong though Elfin?! AAAAHHHH..... :p how embarrassing though!!Especially in front of Debbie and Paul and all the other judges! :D

[Elfin]

AHHHH NO!! I don't mind in front of Debs, cause she's nice, but Paul, hmmmmm!

[muzzy]

Thank God, Sarah (the instructor not Grant) will hopefully not be watching!!:D I'd be wetting myself!!

[Elfin]

I bet she will be!:D

[Macha's Ember]

I had showed in flat classes long before I hit my first jumping class. My instructor told me that even though it was a cantering course I was only to trot all the fences, I wasn't allowed to canter them my first time. It wasn't that I couldn't, she wanted me to concentrate on jumping and not being in a show. I did not place, obviously, but thetn when I was allowed to canter I felt I was comfortable and ready.

My first Dressage show was much the same. My instructor told me it was a learning expirence. I was much more concerned with pleasing her than the judge didn't have time to realise it was a show. Afterward we looked over my scores, a 55 and a 57, and she told me how pleased she was, but next time I should remember to breathe! Luckily I was also on a horse that would have given me a 60 percent even if i was fallin off one side of her, but that's another story...

[Mazpup]

I'm thinking of entering my stable's Horse of the Yard competition. Luckily we get our chance for two of us to ride the same horse so we can share advice! I'm currently wondering which horse to ride...hmmmmmmmmm....

[Lucy J]

I remember my first show, I had been riding for years, but this day I was asked to ride a horse I'd never ridden before, a pure bred arab called Copper. We didn't place in the turn out class and after that class I had a practise ride on her where she threw her head back and nearly broke my nose! Needless to say I missed the fancy dress class and wanted to go home. However I was persuaded to ride in the mini novice class. I'd jumped much bigger courses on other horses, this was only about 1ft high, but I was so nervous that after the first 2 fences I forgot to turn left and got eliminated for leaving the arena!!!

[hunters4ever]

My first jumping class was just beginner over fences at a small schooling show. I was only four, and I was riding my little QH pony Buttercup. The fences were only two feet, but there was a wall and a small liver pool, a swedish oxer, and all kinds of fun jumps. I actually placed second out of eighteen people. It was so cool. I got an apple for my pony to go with my ribbon.

[muzzy]

Ok, my first dressage test ever is next weekend and I was just wondering what happens if I like ask for canter and don't get it.... do I try again or what?? and what happens if i do the wrong movement?? Will I get eliminated?? I hope I avoid the above but at the moment I'm not sooo sure!!:D
Thanks, lol muzzy;)

[horseychicnz]

A rhyme for the anti-clockwise way to help you remember your dressage letters is:

A Fat Black Mother Cat Had Eight Kittens:D

Hope this helps!

[Anja]

My first show was really a games day :) I got 13 ribbons and i did the perfect unity test ( It was my fi9rst unity test too) and a few weeks ago i did my first show jumping corse at was at a riding school I jumped it perfectly i got told im a nateral I was riding a aged skewbald named hoppy hes awesome todad he is being retired at the end of this year:( :( Im gonna miss him he was the pony that brought all my confadence back after my accident ill just hev to give him a big hug next time i see him gotta go bye

[muzzy]

ok, this might sound a bit thick so I'm sorry:D buuuuutttt what is the perfect unity test???
lol, muzzy

[Anja]

the percut unity test is when u win something:D ok in unity you jhave to get on get off walk,trot,canter lead inhand

[Elfin]

Errrrrr ok!;) Sounds hard!:) Hmmmmmm mmmmmmm yes!

[Anja]

Not really................ the getting on part is the hardest

[Elfin]

ok!:o

[fizz21]

I jumped the first jump then Mydas stop at the 2nd Jump

[tasha]

You won't get eliminated if you do the wrong movement.

1st time-lose 2 marks
2nd-4
3rd-6
4th-elimination

Just try again oif you don't get the canter or somethig. But be positive-you WILL get the canter!!

You are not supposed to speak but I have found that judges don't seem to notice when I speak quietly to Kally without moving my lips!

And-SMILE!! Makes a happy picture.

Tasha

[Elfin]

I couldn't smile in my dressage test :( I sat there and felt very nervous eeeeeeek!:eek:

[lamprellsarah]

Good luck muzzy!! for your test

My first in showjumping, was a clear round on a 17HH stallion called CG i adore him and he was fantastic and got me a rosette.
and i did a few more on different horses!

Dressage don't talk to me about that, my first time on my first pony how was only 4, only bolted, reared up 3 times in front of the judge, bucked 2 times and spooked and wouldn't walk or stand!!

After that my first proper course was on chancer and we got into the second round the jumps were about 3ft and i rushed the last biggest jump and hit a plank brought it down and got 6th place in the end

now cross country i love that and have done it 6 times my first time was very slow and missed out some jumps, on chancer we fly around it as she loves it and never refuses, she gets me placed fairly high up!!!

[muzzy]

I couldn't smile either!! I was just sat talking to Jacob going, "go on trot now, move your arse....come on PPPPLLLLEEEAAAASSSSEE" It didn't work!!;)
I can't wait to do another test! It was such good fun only very stressful!!!:rolleyes:
Thank you Tasha for your scoring help, luckily I went the right way.....but the canter deffinately needed some determination!!;)
lol, muzzy:)

[Anja]

I have some tips
1) try to stay one
2) dont yell at your mother if she makes you late (( mmm I should remember this tip))
3) make sure you know the test:D
4) I dont have anymore tips Oh yes I do HAVE FUN!!!!!!!

[Elfin]

Originally posted by Anja
I have some tips
2) dont yell at your mother if she makes you late (( mmm I should remember this tip))


hehe! thats funny!

[Anja]

yea at the last pony club rally i yelled at ,my mum for making me Late:eek: :o It was her fult luckly I has like 2 minnits once I was there to be there:D

[tasha]

I always seem to be late for pony club rallies-even when we are running early something happens like we get lost, or a horse escapes.

I'm really peed off-Kally is going really well + I was looking forward to my lesson today. But its snowed!!! Oh for an indoor school...

Tasha

[muzzy]

It snowed at our stables too! We were trying to muck out and all the snow was getting in the sawdust!:rolleyes: Luckily we do have an indoor school, which was opened about 2 weeks ago so the horses aren't completely used to it and spook lots.....not good! Hope you can ride tomorrow tasha!!:D
lol, muzzy ;)

[Anja]

lucky i dont get to ride in a indoor arena but it doesnt snow here:D

[Elfin]

No, you are lucky! Our instructor got snowed in last year, poor her and horses!:)

[muzzy]

-Elfin, imagine getting snowed in with Paul!! AAAAHHHH!!:eek:
I really hope it doesn't snow very hard this year.....I don't want to miss any riding lessons and it is so cold and horrible when it snows!!:(

[tasha]

Yeah I managed to ride today, although the ground was so hard! I really wanted to do some canter work because Kally is going so well, but I could only mange a couple of 20m circles on each rein in canter due to the rock solidness of the ground!

Pony Club rally on Wed-I can't wait! Kally is going really well, plus the fact I have my new leather girth and stock to show off!!

Tasha

[Elfin]

Originally posted by muzzy
-Elfin, imagine getting snowed in with Paul!! AAAAHHHH!!:eek:


Don't let me think about that pleassssssse!:D

[muzzy]

He he!! Good luck with your pony club rally Tasha!!:D