Down the Centre Line!

[mu0ljk]

Quick question! If you miss the centre line and come down either too early or too late should you just stay where you are and go straight yet not on the centre line or should you try to get back to the centre line and risk wandering down it?

Just curious as I did a test on Monday (I really don't want to talk about it - it was dire!! :o :rolleyes: ) and I turned too early down the centre line, tried to get back and got a 5 or a 6 with the comment of 'wandered down centre line!'

So whats best do you think? Aside from making sure that you turn at the right place!! hehe!! :p

[DITZ]

I dont think wandering is the same as overshooting. Wandering is worse than overshooting as its a failure to keep straight at all whereas overshooting just means you missed the turn but then were able to remain straight. If you do turn too early/late its better to get back on the CL as soon as poss - but stay there without wandering.

[raingodz]

I'd probably leg yeald to the center line.

[emlybob]

I certainly would not advise you leg yeild to the centre line. What u must show the judge is that you have realised you made a mistake and get to the centre line then ride straight. Try practice them at home and you will then know exactly where to turn for next time

[MeMe]

I leg yeild to the centre line if I overshoot, or slightly undershoot, then ride straight, only ever get the comment of wobbly centre line.

[Jaimee]

If you turn too early its easy to mask as your turning and realise its too soon leg yeild through your corner then ride straight. if you overshoot its going to be harder to hide but I would probably leg yeild just slightly then ride straight.

[mu0ljk]

Thanks for your replies! From what you have all said I gather that it is better to try to get back! That's what I tried to do but on Monday night it just didn't work!! ;)

I guess really I need to perfect turning at the right place. When I was riding the test Sid decided to rush and not bend so we kind of motorbiked the bend anyway and because he was being stiff I wasn't concentrating so hard on where we were going - more on trying to get him to relax and listen so I asked for the turn too early.

Still I guess thats how it goes sometimes! You either do it well or not!

Thanks for the replies! :)

[tobylove]

A little advise from a judges point of view, I much prefer to see an over/under shot line ridden purposefully and straight. This is far more pleasing to the eye than a horse drifting or swinging down the centre line!!! Then you can say "Hey! I turned in the wrong place, but look how straight I can ride my horse" rather than " I turned in the wrong place, But look how well I let my horse wander about" !!! CAUTION !! Leg yielding can promote loss of shoulder on turns !!

[MeMe]

What if I can leg yeild back really quickly after knowing Im wrong and all is in place after about 4-5 strides and then the rest of the C/L is straight and in the correct place?

Just wondering, as I normally get 6-7 for doing C/L's if they are like that, 7-8 for an average non over/undershot one that I yeild back to, so I dont really get any different marks, we do average a 7 though.

[mu0ljk]

A little advise from a judges point of view, I much prefer to see an over/under shot line ridden purposefully and straight. This is far more pleasing to the eye than a horse drifting or swinging down the centre line!!! Then you can say "Hey! I turned in the wrong place, but look how straight I can ride my horse" rather than " I turned in the wrong place, But look how well I let my horse wander about" !!! CAUTION !! Leg yielding can promote loss of shoulder on turns !!

Well from the comments I had from the judge I think she personally owuld have preferred a straight but off center line. You weren't my judge were you - just noticed you are in Cheshire too!? :D

[tobylove]

Could well have been your judge!! Good luck in the future with dressage! I will always try to offer sound advice, but remember opinions differ!!

[MeMe]

Tobylove- I quite agree and hope you dident think I meant to be argumentative, Im just trying to get differing opinions on it from judges prespectives, always handy to know the general cencous of things, especially as I'll be doing my judge training next year, and will of course ask Mal his take on this on Sat when Im writing for him.

I just like to know what different judges like/look for and see if I cant find a happy medium :)

[Skyhuntress]

If we overshoot the turn, you just keep on going and pretend that was your intention to begin with ;) Be straight as you can and ride with purpose. No wishywashy, because the whole point of down center line is to be straight-you can't be straight if you're trying to get BACK to centerline

NO leg yielding to center line. If you're overshooting the center line, chances are your leg yields aren't good, either.

I have GOT to get judged by your judges. If we overshoot the centerline, even in Training Level, you cannot possibly get above a 4.

[mu0ljk]

NO leg yielding to center line. If you're overshooting the center line, chances are your leg yields aren't good, either.

Yup!


I have GOT to get judged by your judges. If we overshoot the centerline, even in Training Level, you cannot possibly get above a 4.

I think it was a 5 - she was probably being kind - I got a couple of 4's elsewhere that day! :o

[MeMe]

Just thought I would update with Mal's reply, he emailed me and gave me permission to post this, so I have copied and pasted his reply for you all :)

Missed the centre line?

I would prefer the rider to make a bold and clear manoeuver back to the line.

If she's miles away, by executing two quarters of a 6m circle, just
like two corners in succession to the left then the right for example, rejoining
the centre line.

If near but not on the centre line, bend her horse towards it, then straight
down it, aiming directly at the judge.

Penalties?

For the 'missed by miles' case, 2 marks off for missing it that badly. For the nearly but not quite, probably 1 mark off, with the penalty mark possibly restored for recognising the error and correcting it, if the subsequent turn at C is a good one.