RachelEvent
1st May 2006, 08:12 PM
No pictures or videos as I didn't bother bringing a camera or anything along, was a relaxed outing to our local (3 miles away) affiliated BD venue.
In our first class, Novice 38, we scored 67.5 percent, which I was very pleased with - personal best for affiliated dressage. Was the first time we've done this test, really sutied Ferdie. Especially pleased since the judge was a list two judge, and is well known and well respected. I knew the person who was writing for her, and she had some nice comments about the test. Main problem was ferdie hollowing a little in the transition from extended paces to working paces. Judge did say however, that unlike many horses at novice level, it was apparent that he had had thorough and correct basic training. We placed 5th out of 14 riders (winner was on 72 percent I think) and this wasn't too bad as we are in the open section rather than restricted and riding against very very posh warmbloods with their professional riders.
Second class was Elementary 55 - the most difficult test we've tried so far. Although we only scored 55 percent, I was pleased with the test and found the comments useful and very constructive. The test included collected trot and canter, extended walk, medium trot and canter, counter canter, ten metre circles in trot and canter, leg yield, rein back and some tricky transitions (medium canter down the long side, directly back to a collected canter half-ten metre circle at k, returning to the track in counter canter!!) The irony is, for that aforementioned movement, we got 7s because I've been working on it very hard with my instructor. Judging used a good range of marks from 4s to 7s, and whilst I felt the 4s were very harsh, the sevens did reflect when I felt a movement had been good. Most the 4s were for hindquarters swinging, collected trot not being collected enough and a transition that I didn't do directly enough. My aim was for the test to be smooth, calm and balanced - which it was, so i'm very pleased but we've still lots to work on.
Anyway, was a good educational day and we got another 4 BD points with the novice result :D
Hopefully another go at elementary 55 on the 12th of may if I can get a late entry, and then another novice and elementary on the 26th of may. I'm really getting into the dressage lark, eventing is taking a bit of a back burner :eek:
In our first class, Novice 38, we scored 67.5 percent, which I was very pleased with - personal best for affiliated dressage. Was the first time we've done this test, really sutied Ferdie. Especially pleased since the judge was a list two judge, and is well known and well respected. I knew the person who was writing for her, and she had some nice comments about the test. Main problem was ferdie hollowing a little in the transition from extended paces to working paces. Judge did say however, that unlike many horses at novice level, it was apparent that he had had thorough and correct basic training. We placed 5th out of 14 riders (winner was on 72 percent I think) and this wasn't too bad as we are in the open section rather than restricted and riding against very very posh warmbloods with their professional riders.
Second class was Elementary 55 - the most difficult test we've tried so far. Although we only scored 55 percent, I was pleased with the test and found the comments useful and very constructive. The test included collected trot and canter, extended walk, medium trot and canter, counter canter, ten metre circles in trot and canter, leg yield, rein back and some tricky transitions (medium canter down the long side, directly back to a collected canter half-ten metre circle at k, returning to the track in counter canter!!) The irony is, for that aforementioned movement, we got 7s because I've been working on it very hard with my instructor. Judging used a good range of marks from 4s to 7s, and whilst I felt the 4s were very harsh, the sevens did reflect when I felt a movement had been good. Most the 4s were for hindquarters swinging, collected trot not being collected enough and a transition that I didn't do directly enough. My aim was for the test to be smooth, calm and balanced - which it was, so i'm very pleased but we've still lots to work on.
Anyway, was a good educational day and we got another 4 BD points with the novice result :D
Hopefully another go at elementary 55 on the 12th of may if I can get a late entry, and then another novice and elementary on the 26th of may. I'm really getting into the dressage lark, eventing is taking a bit of a back burner :eek: