Dressage can be one of the most challenging yet rewarding disciplines for a horse and rider to train and compete in. Horse and rider partnerships strive to be in complete harmony with each other however, as with any equestrian sport, perfection doesn’t come naturally to most of us but comes instead as a result of hard work, many hours of training and a complete passion for horses!
Petplan Equine have teamed up with Charlie Hutton from the renowned Talland School of Equitation to produce a series of videos to help dressage riders achieve those extra marks during a dressage test.
When aiming for suppleness you want not only to be able to achieve a nice, round outline with the horse moving forwards in a balance, but also keeping this soft balance through a change in pace or movement. Here Charlie talks us through using variation of pace to develop your horse’s natural athleticism, balance and stability.
The first impression the judge gets is your first centre line which can really make or break a test, and the difference in achieving an 8 or 9 could make a real difference to your overall score. Here Charlie talks us through using transitions to improve your horse’s squareness and stability on the final centre line and halt.
The judge will be thinking of the overall picture of your test when marking your horse’s way of going and it’s important that you can achieve good quality, active paces. Here Charlie talks us through how to achieve an active canter, creating more energy and bounce.
Perfect your circles using cones. Place two cones on the centre line and two cones on the 10 metre line in a diamond shape: these will give you a reference point towards a correct circle.
Corners are very important. In training, ride right into every corner, slowing down and bringing your horse back to walk, if necessary. This will help you and your horse’s balance.
It’s very important to ride a correct centre line. Practice this from the left and the right to avoid one-sidedness during training and slow the trot down at X to ensure straightness.
Use stretching exercises including transitions within and between the gaits to help your horse relax.
Keep the horse switched on in the cool down phase working in trot and canter, but work him in a looser frame allowing him to stretch.
After your cool down, walk your horse for ten minutes - if possible outside of the school or exercise area, such as a short hack, so that he can relax.
Remember when warming up and cooling down you are working on the horse’s whole body.
When you first get on your older horse, during his warm-up ask yourself “what does he feel like today?”. Knowing your horse will help you know what to work on that day and spot if he’s not feeling 100% straight away.
During your warm-up ride lots of transitions both from pace to pace, and within each pace, as this encourages the horse to engage and listen to you. Make sure while doing this you encourage him to be supple through his back.
Cantering an older horse fairly early in the warm-up can reduce the amount of concussion and be more comfortable for his joints.
Leg yielding is a great exercise to use in the warm-up as it will help your horse loosen through his body and will make him more responsive to your aids.
Petplan Equine understands that, thanks to advancing veterinary care, horses are living active lives for longer, and provides owners with insurance for illness as well as injury for horses right up to the age of 25 if insured before their 20th birthday.
Regularly check your horse’s legs for lumps, heat, swelling or sensitivity.
Common injuries include:
Tendon and ligament strains and tears. The tendons and ligaments mostly run down the back of a horse’s leg.
Over reach injuries where the horse kicks his front heal with his back hoof.
Splints, a hard bony swelling to the splint bone which is located on each side of the cannon bone.
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With bandages ensure there is an evenness of pressure, visually there should be the same amount of bandage at the top and bottom. The bandage should start just below the knee and and continue down to just above the fetlock.
When fitting brushing boots, you should be able to insert a finger between the boot and the horse’s leg to check that they are not too tight but snug enough to stay in place. Like bandages they should cover the area just below the knee and down to just above the fetlock.
In 2014, Petplan Equine paid out an average of £1,500 for each tendon injury related claim. Early identification of an injury and therefore veterinary intervention is more likely to result in a favorable outcome so Petplan Equine encourages all horse owners to check their horses twice daily and call the vet at the first sign of trouble.
Know what is ‘normal’ for your horse including his pulse, respiratory rate and temperature.
Check your horse at least twice a day whether he lives in or out.
Have a checklist for the yard that includes pointers such as swelling, heat, pulse, splints and discharge. This will help you to notice if something is wrong.
Ride a perfect circle by visualising four points to make a diamond shape on the circle and by making a clear turn to each point.
This technique can be applied to riding a 20m, 15m and 10m circle.
For your half 10m circle left and half 10m circle right; ride deep and turn and look for your centre line. Ride two strides straight and then turn away again as it is important to demonstrate that your horse is straight in the change over.
For balance you are aiming for more self carriage and you want more suppleness through your horse’s top line and way of going from his poll and through his back around to his hind quarters.
To achieve this you need your horse more in front of your leg and lighter in your rein.
If your horse is getting tense, you can soften him to the inside with flexion, support through the inside leg and balance with the outside leg.
For collection from a working trot, you need to ensure that you keep your upper body back and lower leg back and underneath you to shorten the trot while rising to help with the rhythm.
If needed, create more activity from behind as you shorten your horse by stimulating through using your leg.
Be bold when asking for lengthened strides from your horse by keeping your leg on while keeping the suppleness.
Practise your test so you are aware of the movements and thinking about how you are going to ride it.
If possible, visit the venue and get in a practise run before the show to familiarise your horse with the environment and show atmosphere.
Concentrate on you and your own horse, not the other competitors, so you can prove to the judge that you have done the best you can and show off the communication you have with your horse.
Preparation is not just about the riding, injuries or illnesses can happen at any time so make sure your horse insurance is up to date, giving you peace of mind that help is at hand to cover any unexpected veterinary bills that arise. Click here to get a quote today.
Preliminary 19 Area Festival Championship dressage test
Preliminary 19 Area Festival Championship dressage test
Picture the test you are riding to stay well prepared and ensure you maintain a clear rhythm throughout the test in all paces.
For your circles, visualise four points on your shape to divide it into a diamond so you can make sure your circle is even on both sides.
Make sure you keep your horse straight between leg and hand and look for the markers. For your changes of rein, if you can see the markers between your horse’s ears, you are heading in the right direction.
The judges are looking for quality, regularity and tempo in all paces throughout your test.
Novice 23 Area Festival Championship dressage test
Maintain a steady rhythm and outline throughout the novice dressage test.
Know your horse, are you going to take risks and ride for those 8 or 9s or will you play it safe for the 6 or 6.5 marks? For example are you able to let your horse go in the bold medium canter?
The novice test moves on from quality, regularity and tempo. The judges are now looking for straightness, balance, freedom and coming and going within the pace. This means they are looking for a longer step and a longer frame so you cover the ground a little more.
A well-trained, calm horse taking the contact and moving in and out of the pace and doing the transitions accurately and presented well in the arena, can easily match the marks of a big moving warmblood.
Elementary 53 Area Festival Championship dressage test
The elementary test moves up several gears so the judges are not just looking for quality of paces and fluency anymore. They are looking for engagement and quality of transitions and the movements to be more accurate as this test includes 10m and half 10m circles to ride and more transitions throughout.
Your horse is a triangular shape with the head being the narrowest point. On the centre line keep your horse straight between the reins and on the long side maintain a slight shoulder fore so you keep the inside lines straight, parallel to the long side.
A better connection between your leg and hand so your transitions are smooth ensures your horse stays in balance and therefore a better connection means better collection which is all about engagement and activity.
Remember the judge sitting at C can easily see if circle is not 10m and instead 9m or 11m, so make sure your circle sizes are accurate.
