Anyone a member of the Classical Riding Club?

[Bay Mare]

Just wondering if you do the tests and how often/available they are?

Do you find them better/worse/same/different to BD tests?

Any other comments and .... is it worth joining?


Ta

[Bay Mare]

Obviously not :D

[kayjayhorses]

I've ridden a couple of Classical Riding Tests but they are not frequent in my area, therefore I mainly ride BD ones.

[RachelBraz]

We have the Wessex Classical Riding Group near me, I believe they are an affiliated BHS riding club and a CRC club (I think).
I've only been to one of their shows so far, but I thought they were really good as I rode the walk and trot test (pony couldn't canter very well, but was established in walk and trot). My friend loves them as she can't do dressage with her horse as he has to wear boots (went dressaging once only to come back with blood-stained legs where he cut himself), and the CRC tests allow that. Plus WCRG do a talk with the judge after your test, then you can ride it a second time HC to practice.
I love riding them, they do them once a month with the WCRG and I really want to take my new horse to one (she can't canter either...!)
Plus they mark differently, not movement-by-movement but for an overall mark of each pace etc. Which means I almost got placed, not bottom as is usual in BDs!

[BeckyD]

I'm a member, never done one of the tests though as i haven't seen any advertised in my area .

[mu0ljk]

What are they? Whats the difference between them and the other tests if you don't mind me asking? :D

[rosied]

I'm a member, have done a few different tests. Unfortunately there's only competitions about once a year in this part of Scotland. You can read about the club on the website http://www.classicalriding.co.uk/home

As has been pointed out, the marking is different to BD - you get overall marks for each pace, horse qualities (acceptance of contact, straightness etc), rider qualities (correct use of hand, seat etc) and an overall mark for accuracy of test IIRC. Plus you get bonus points for not using a whip, using a cavesson noseband, using a snaffle-type bit, etc - i.e. you just don't get the bonus points if you use a non-BD bit, whip, flash noseband or whatever, which means you can use Myler or pelham or other non-standard bits. The idea is to promote and reward 'harmony in horsemanship'.

The other difference in the marking is supposed to be (depends a lot on whether the judge has come from BD, IMO) that the rider could get 8 (say) for their hands and yet the horse only get 4 (say) for acceptance of the bridle if the rider has good hands and uses them tactfully but for some reason the horse is fussy in its mouth or whatever - you can be rewarded for good riding (or not!) and the judge can use the marks to point out areas for improvement.

Usually in the competitions they don't publish actual marks just places (1st, 2nd etc) to try and avoid embarrasment for those unplaced, and they allow you to speak (quietly) to the horse and will usually play some nice music during all the tests.

so overall quite low-key, not overly competitive and very nice for new horses (or riders!). Plus the walk-trot tests are nice for oldies or youngsters.
HTH.

[Stella2]

It sounds like something I'd love to do, but I haven't seen any advertised anywhere near me! I'll check out the website though, thanks for that. :)

[Bay Mare]

Thanks :) I've joined now and am wading through the newsletters, they're brilliant :D Just need loads of members in my area so that we can get some tests.

[Afellpony]

I'd love to do classical riding. I think there's a place near Tenterden (or there used to be). It looks so good.