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Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on March 10, 2009 at 12:40pm

Hi, Catherine:

The exercises ARE the test movements. If you are training correctly, and in accordance with the training scale, you will be training all of the movements in the tests you are riding, and you should be training the movements in the tests at the level above that at which you compete. Bear in mind that any new exercise feels stiff, uncomfortable and difficult when you start it - the same holds true for your horse. If you do not ride an exercise like shoulder-in correctly, you will compromise your horse's development in other areas as well as in the expression of the movement itself. As regards your comments with respect to half-pass, as a former judge I would have to say that most people don't shorten their inside rein at all, and produce no bend or flexion.

The tests have been written with progressive development of horse and rider in mind. I think you might find it useful to go back to the directive ideas listed on every test paper to clarify your ideas about test movements and exercises, and therefore your approach.

Good luck!

Jan Jollymour

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Permalink Reply by Catherine Chamberlain on March 12, 2009 at 11:18pm

Thanks so much for this point of view! It was very helpful for me to look at this idea this way. I see what you mean by that having trouble with the movements means your basics aren't correct. It's also great to have a judges perspective on this. Thanks again and I look forward to future discussions.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on March 10, 2009 at 1:58pm

I think your approach is correct, particularly for schooling at home. I do think of it a bit differently for the ring.

When I'm at home I focus on the movements as being exercises to help and improve my horse (and myself!). When I work on Shoulder-in, for example, I use the mirrors to understand the correct bend for the ring and then hopefully I can practice that enough to get the correct feel so that my horse and I know of no other way to do it.

When I do a circle, I try very hard to make the circle ROUND and an actual size. In other words, I try my best not to practice riding 18 metre ovals (Which I sometimes do anyway!).

When I'm in the ring, I do think about accuracy and "showing" the movement correctly, although of course I am looking for fluency throughout the whole test, including into and out of movements. Also, since you are looking to get high marks in the ring, accuracy goes a long way toward helping you. On the other hand, inaccuracy is a really common way to throw marks away.

So the long and short of it as I think about it, is do your homework before you go into the ring, ride accurately and correctly at home, so your muscle memory and that of your horse, "know" what the correct bend (or circle shape, or lengthened walk, etc feel like - and really be prepared so the movements and the test feel easy and fluid. Easier said than done for all of us!! :)

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Permalink Reply by J.Everheart on April 21, 2009 at 11:01am

I think maybe what you're saying is that some people get so focused on showing that they try to hurry the training in order to get into the show ring?
When people do this, it ends up taking longer. If the foundation isn't correct, they can never move into the more advanced work. Taking the time to do it correctly will eventually result in better test scores, even if it takes a little longer.
I am very, very new to dressage, but that's what I've been reading anyway.

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