1st attempt at practising my dressage test,..we've had better days!

:D I would certainly look happy singing through a dressage test! lol!;)

I will be taking Penny early to the test, just as I now do at local shows, then it gives her chance to see all the sights and sounds and smells! I'll then try and get on an 1/2 to 1 hour before the test, to get her listening to me!

I have actually tried rescue remidy before, and it didn't make any noticable difference!:( I'll just be there from the crack of dawn! Although I may use it myself as I can imagine that I will be a bag of nerves!

I certainly let you know how I get on!

Thanks, and thanks again, you are a great help!:D
 
I used rescue remedy for the first time last weekend and my little boy still pulled so hard leaving the dressage arena that he actually broke into a stride of canter just as we made our exit at A.

In the cones we ended up cantering most of them as he just had so much energy which came in good for the marathon the next day..
So don't think it worked for him or if it did i'd hate to have seen him without it LOL

ALF
 
I've tried RR too, didnt work for me or my horse either! I find that dressage tests are less exciteable than shows, I think because there arent that many people at them and theres hardly ever anyone watching. People seem to come, warm up, do test then go.

Some people get so focused on riding into the corner that they go to deep and you get a rather jerky tense movement and at the same time the horse collapses and does not look relaxed and supple at all.
Click to expand...

Yep thats me, exactly me.:D Of course me horse must have been thinking 'what? where DO you want me to go??':D
 
I used to wait till I was at the marker or corner then ask my horse to turn, poor boy was so confused, imagine being rode to a wall not knowing which way your gonna go next, make a decision yourself only tobe turned the opposite way...no wonder the poor horses head was all over the place never mind his body.

Now that I have learnt t prepare earlier for movements they have become more fluent and supple.

All that time I used to blame him as well....:( Hang my head in shame and grovel to my little boy....

ALF
 
Dont worry ALF it must be a common mistake because I do it too! I must admit I still dont have it clear in my head sometimes, I am afriad to give the instruction too early and risk him turning too soon. How do you do it? I always get comments about him being stiff as we track left or right at C after entering at A. I'm not surprised he's stiff I've just hit him with a last minute change of ditrection!!!

Any tips?
 
For an entry up the CL turning left at C

As you come up the CL keep focused on a point ahead of you (not at the Letter C) as you start coming up to the G half halt just enough to let your horse know you are preparing for something.
Keep the contact with the outside rein so that you can control the speed and the amount of bend you want to create. Don't give to much with the rein as you will loose your softness and the horse will fall in on the shoulder.
Back this rein up with your outside leg, position it behind the girth to stop the quarters swinging out but not so far back that you interfere with the action.

Your inside rein, you need to ask for inside bend as you approach G, with the help of your inside leg on the girth. This will enable your horse to flex but by using your other rein and leg you contol when the horse actually takes the bend.

You horse should at G be going forwards straight with a slight flexion to the left then as you give slightly more with the outside rein and ask for the impulsion to be maintained your horse should take the bend smoothly and not loose rhythm.

Horses have a tendency to slow down when being asked as they are not sure what they need to do but as long as you use your seat and legs that will help to produce a good bend.

Keep yourself upright don't fold in like a motorbike, instead learn to keep your shoulders parallel to the horses. Look to the direction you are riding and not down at the horse (I always look down, gotta stop that)

Practice on cirlces doing counter flexion go straight (on the circle)then flex in the right direction. This helps your horse to learn the aids, helps you to recognise when to give them and to learn the feel and footfalls of the horse. It strengthens neck muscles and helps the horse to become more supple throught he neck and body.

ALF
 
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Cheers ALF thats really helped me. Sorry MP I appear to have hijacked your thread but I'm sure it'll be of benefit to you too!!
 
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