Equestrian Life May 2018 Issue

How many times have
we all missed a marker
or ridden an eggshaped
circle? These
are very expensive
mistakes that give the
judges an excuse
not to go over a 6!
marker or ridden an egg-shaped circle?
These are very expensive mistakes that
give the judges an excuse not to go over
a 6! Set up markers in your school to help
with the size of your circles (especially the
dreaded 15m ones). We have a dressage
arena set up with white boards on grass all
summer so the horses get used to working
in that environment. It’s a big ask to come
out of a large all weather arena into a grass
20m x 40m and be accurate. First tests of
the season often feel more like survival
than equitation! A big thing is to use your
corners well. This buys you a few more
strides to set up or turn. When the ground
is boggy, if you slow down and steer well
you can often pick the best going and go
around where everyone else has cut the
corners. This also shows the judge the
difference between you riding a circle and
going through a corner. Practise your test
at home to know how it flows and to train
preparation into your riding as well as
making sure you know where you are going.
TRY TO LOOK LIKE YOU ARE
4 ENJOYING IT!
This is using a bit of ring-craft. Even if you
would rather pull your own toenails out
and you are sat on a fire breathing dragon,
a smile at the judge goes a long way! If the
windows are open, a cheerful ‘morning /
afternoon’ is also a good tactic! Throughout
the test try to keep your head up and your
body language positive. Remember, if a
movement goes wrong - it’s only one mark!
You can make it up on the next element. It
is totally possible to go from a 4 to a 9! No
matter how your test goes, always pat your
horse and leave on a long rein. Home work
is to be done at home - not in public. Never
show the judge that you are not happy
with your test - remember they still have
the collectives to do - so try to get all the
marks that you can! I have lost count of the
‘tactfully ridden’ comments I have had in
my career!
Hopefully with these few training tips
you can look to set yourself some realistic
goals in terms of your dressage marks and
continue to make progress in your test
riding so it becomes more enjoyable.
Feel like you are setting goals and making
progress in your test riding so it becomes
more enjoyable.
See you in the warm up!!
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