Dressage in the USA (for adult beginner)

[KarinUS]

Hi,

my instructor has mentioned "Dressage Tests".
I've only been riding for a little over a year. I didn't want to seem too rushy so I didn't dare to ask more about it, but it sounds interesting.
What's the scoop on these Dressage Tests? What do have have to know for the very first ones? Any kind of dress requirements yet?

Any input would be appreciated!

[heland]

I'm not quite sure about the USA:rolleyes:

The dress in England is Black show jacket, black hat, white shirt, stock, cream jodpurs, black long boots and white gloves. The horse normally wears a white dressage pad under the saddle.

Not sure if I've missed anything out!!

Go on have a go, you will enjoy it. The novice tests are walk trot and canter.:D

[floppy]

a dressage tests at novice levels is where someone dictacts a test out to you while you are riding. usually at a show or something.
Of course before the test you will learn the test.
What you have to do at lower levels is do basic halt walk trot canter transitions- the usually ask for a working trot and sitting trot ..and the walk has to be somewhat energetic.
I believe if i remember correctly you always had to allow the horse to walk around breifly on a loose rein and then gather the horse up again to trot or something.

changing rein, doing circles, and..i think that is all for the very basic..might be a few more things like half circles and serpentines.

and then at the end of the test you half and left the horse walk out on a loose rein.
dont forget both you and the horse get marked on your performance :) so not only do you have to make sur eyoua re doing a grand job but you have to make sur eyour horse is doing good too.
but that is what they do here in germany.

as for clothing you can also wear white jodphurs/breeches.
white clothes.
black jacket but you can also wear dark blue. same goes for the riding hat. and black boots.
but you may find at lower levels you can get away with wearing jodphur boots with elather gaitors..but i believe if you got the money for leather gaitors you may aswell get some nice boots :)

[snailspace]

Hi Karin, its me again! My instructor has run me thru a mock level 1 dressage test (to entice me to show, I think), and it was pretty basic stuff (20 meter circles, upward and downward transitions, that kind of thing). I wasn't graceful at it, but it wasn't anything I didn't think I could handle if I just practiced with my aids a bit. And I'm just now getting decent at the canter! I'm sure your instructor would be more than happy to take you and your horse thru one if you asked. It was kinda fun, really (she didn't tell me what she was doing until I was done - I was just following instructions and then, at the end, she said "oh, by the way, that was a level 1 dressage test." Talk about an emotional boost!), and it was a good addition to my lesson routine, too. Blackjack obviously had fun - he's really way too talented to just keep going in circles too long without getting cranky. Happy riding!

[KarinUS]

Snailspace, my instructor seems to be as sneaky as yours! :)
I learned some more about these tests on this website:
Basic Dressage (http://www.camelotequestrian.com/dressage.htm)
That's exactly what we've been practicing. Now I am much less intimitated. I'll have to find out where one is so I can go and watch some time... :)

[floppy]

karin, dressage tests take place at local shows :)

[KarinUS]

Floppy, I know... finding a local show that's not just about cutting, reining or jumping is what's the problem! :(
I did find one though. It's 2 1/2 hours away at the golf coast, but I'll tell me husband it's our weekend-getaway and drag him down there... ;)

I found another link!
How to Dress English (http://www.greenwaysaddlery.com/inventory.html#dress)

Thanks for all your help. I am all ready to go...

[snailspace]

Hey, try finding dressage ANYTHING in Indiana (we're all a bunch of hicks, you know)!! Around here, some people will tell you they ride dressage, but it's really just hunt seat (which, in my opinion, is western riding with english tack and a posting trot). They don't know anything about keeping the horse round, on the bit, etc. But I didn't know the difference 'til I started taking lessons, so it's easy to get confused, I think. I'm glad you found some info, Karin. If your instructor shows, she's probably the best source you have as far as knowing when/where all the local stuff is.

Just in case anyone's out there in my area (Indiana) or is interested, every April the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington has a big expo/show thing called Equitana. Dressage, jumping, eventing, and a lot of Olympic caliber riders are there. I guess it's a really big to-do, and I'm thinking of going this year (depending on finances) I don't know the exact dates, but i'm sure I could find it on a site somewhere - just haven't looked yet. Just thought someone else might be interested!

[KarinUS]

Yeah!!! I just checked for used tall boots on eBay. I have long calves so it is a challenge even in the tack store...
The ones that fit always seem to be between $400 and $600.

But guess what: I just won some semi-custom slightly used Cavallo Dressage Boots with zipper for less than $100 (including shipping!). These run over $400 new. I am excited! :D I hope it won't turn out to be a dissapointment, but the measurements fit mine exactly, I just had to take a chance...

Boy, ich freue mich schon so auf meine neuen Stiefel!!!

[snailspace]

congrats on yoour boots! I can never find anything in my size on e-bay (I'm tall w/long legs). I've been looking for half-chaps for ages! tall boot prices remind me of my first trip to an english tack store (in Indianapolis). While I was there figuring out how to fit my very first pair of paddock boots into my budget, this middle aged blonde just whisked into the store and bought THE most expensive pair of tall boots they had. The saleslady asked the blonde if she was planning to show and she said, "oh, no, I've just seen everyone at the barn wearing them and I wanted a pair" !!!:mad: :eek: Ugh! I hate that! Anyway, I'm pysched for you!:)

[KarinUS]

No matter what you are shopping for around here it's much easier for short or overweight people (petite and plus sizes) to find good clothing. I think the average women's height must be higher in Germany. Here I almost feel like a giant (I'm 5'10"), but back home I seemed "almost normal". Maybe that's why I had an easier time finding the extra length on the German eBay?!?!

[snailspace]

O.K. but my german's not too good (well, non-existent, really), so what's a girl to do. I'm actually a smidge to short for the tall sizes but way too tall for regular sizes (I'm 5'8'). no wonder I don't like to shop for clothes!:)

[floppy]

well me being 5'7 or more the length was the real problem..last pair of riding trousers i bought i went into 4 different shops (avoiding the expsnive shop) and in the end i have to go to the expensive shop and after about 50pairs of joddies later i found a pair that were long enough...but i had to undo the seam around the ankles becuase there was a full 5 cms hidden up there.

here you either have to be short and tubby or short and sickly skinny...i dont think even the skinnies person woudl fit in them.