Dressage Showing Courses?? Please help.?

Question

Does anyone know where i can get the course for a dressage show that im going to in two weeks? I'll be doing intro level A. This is my first show, so i'm not aware how it all works. Do i have to ask the stable that i'm at for a copy of each one, or are each intro level A the same exact course in each show in the US. And if so, where do i get/buy them? And does anyone have any additional tips for my first show?

Thank you guys so much!

Answer 1

These routines are designed by the US Dressage Association, and are available in books and brochures through them.  Given the difficulty og dressage I would think that your trainer would have had you practicing the tests before deciding to show them.

Answer 2

Here you go!!

http://www.usdf.org/docs/tests/2008_Dire...

Answer 3

check on the internet and google.

1st level patterns or intro and training level patterns?

You can buy the test booklets at most tack stores for pretty cheap, somewhere you can download them, but I don't know where it is. There are 4 set patterns for each level of dressage if you want to show, and a good way to practice is incorporate the movements.

It is really hard to explain how to do them, and takes a lot of time to do so, and aids depend on how a horse responds, so here is just a list.

intro and training- work on developing suppleness, roundness, and steady working trot and canter, good stretches at the free walk, and also a trot stretch circle (feel the stretch in the back and neck, not rushing)

1st level- leg yields, half circles and serpentines at the trot, lengthenings as well

2nd level- counter canter serpentines, simple changes of lead (through 3-4 trot steps) Extended trot (higher front end and more power than a lengthening).

3rd level- you see a lot more of the higher collection with lead changes, shoulder ins, haunches in, and half passes. Canter-walk transitions as well.

Answer 4

Go to the website of the United States Dressage Federation, or USDF, and download the tests from there- they are available at every level, and are in printable form ( though you may need to have Adobe Reader on your computer to view them online) so you can take them with you. If your trainer is a member of the USDF ( and most dressage trainers generally are, because they have to be in order to compete in sanctioned shows) then you can ask him or her to do this for you and print some copies of the tests you are planning to ride out for you.

You need to memorize the test before you ride it- and get in the habit of doing this with every test you ride, because once you get above 4th Level, you won't be allowed to have a reader any more. It's much easier to learn good habits early than it is to break bad ones farther down the road. Being dependent on a reader is one of those habits. You also need to practice the test on your horse, in an appropriately sized and lettered arena- but not so much that your horse gets bored and sour from too much ring work. Ideally, what you want is to be showing a couple of levels BELOW the level you are TRAINING at, so the tests will be simple and easy on your horse. I do dressage myself- I have a mare which I will be showing at Training Level and First Level ( hopefully !) later in the summer, and I used to work for a well known and highly respected dressage judge, so I am familiar with what's required. Even though I am planning to show at Training Level, that DOESN'T mean I am training her at that level- she actually is working on some Second Level work, including things like the various lateral movements, medium trot, and so forth. This is what you should work towards with your horse- since you are doing the Intro Level, you need to be training at First level if you can.

Other things you need to pay attention to include your ride times, and the rules about starting and ending tests. Most dressage shows are run according to a standardized format, with the the Introductory and lower level classes/tests in the morning, and the upper level and FEI level classes ( which can include Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Special, Prix St. Georges, and Intermediaire I and II, ) in the afternoon. There is a lunch break of at least an hour between the morning and afternoon sessions- and a fifteen minute judges' break at midmorning and midafternoon. ALL of these things are written into and required by the rules of the sport. Dressage shows are also unique in that unlike Hunter/Jumper shows, which can run early or late, these shows operate on a precise time schedule which is strictly adhered to. You will get a postcard from the show secretary after your entry form and fees are received, which will list your time or times. Make SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THESE ARE, and that you PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE, including travel time, accordingly !!! If you are late for a test, or are a no-show, you will forfeit your entry fees- and those can get expensive after a while. You are NOT REQUIRED to start your test before your scheduled time in case of a scratch by another competitor- but you will be asked if you wish to do so. You can say no without penalty if you don't.

Generally, what happens when you start a dressage test is that the judge will ring a handbell to let you know it's your time. Once the bell is rung, you have 60 seconds ( at some schooling shows it is 90) to enter at the prescribed speed, halt at X, and make your salute. Use all of your time- and don't be afraid to make a small courtesy circle outside the arena at A before you enter. Male riders need to remove their helmet or hat when they salute, and women can use a hand salute. Practice entering and saluting before the show, and get a helper to tell you if your horse is straight and halted squarely. When you offer the salute, look the judge in the eye, and SMILE in a nice way !! Also, don't forget to BREATHE during your test as you ride it- and this can sometimes be hard to do, because of nerves and the tensions associated with competition. At the end of the test, you will go down the centerline again, and halt at X again- and salute once more. After you do this, you should be holding your reins at the buckle, to show that your horse has manners and is controllable without you having to keep him tightly collected. Leave the arena at this free walk- by going out at A, the way you came in.

Schooling your horse is something which is NOT permitted in a competition ring- most facilities where dressage shows are held normally have at least one warm up ring which can be used for this. Also, side reins are normally only permitted when a horse is being lunged, WITHOUT a rider- you can be disqualified for riding your horse with side reins at most shows, even if you are not in the competition arena when you do it. Whips may be carried at the lower levels- but once you get above 4th level, they are no longer allowed. Spurs are acceptable at all levels. Pay attention to your attire as well- you need to wear white breeches, tall boots ( black is the only acceptable color, and they need to be DRESS, NOT FIELD, boots) a white shirt with a stock tie and pin, and a short dressage coat in either navy blue or black. If you are a woman with long hair, it needs to be braided and contained in a hairnet. Keep makeup simple and conservative, and do the same with jewelry- no dangling earrings, for example. Helmets are permitted at the lower levels of dressage, up to 4th level, when they must be replaced by either a Derby hat or a silk top hat, depending on the level the rider is competing at. Gloves need to be worn at ALL levels, and they should either match or compliment the rider's coat.

Your horse needs to be really clean, clipped up, and ideally, you want his or her mane to be braided, even at a schooling show. He or she needs to wear clean, conservative, well maintained tack- and the saddle should be black, not brown or tan. Saddle pads need to be clean and free of wrinkles. For the lower levels, the horse needs to wear a snaffle bridle, and again, ideally you want him or her to have a flash or figure eight nose band on the bridle. Bandages are not permitted during tests, though they are acceptable in the warmup area. Also, the use of things like martingales, breastplates, cruppers on the saddle, etc. is prohibited in dressage. Foregirths, which keep a saddle from slipping too far forward, ARE allowed in some cases. Tails should be left unbraided, but they need to be "banged" at the end- and the top of the tail needs to be neatly trimmed. Lastly, it's a good idea to save the hoof polish for AFTER the test, because the footing in most arenas will often cling to freshly painted hooves and can make them look ugly. If your horse has white socks or stockings, you need to use cornstarch to get any stains or mud out of them. Just dampen the leg, and brush in the starch. Let it dry, then brush it back out- and as it comes out, it will carry the dirt and manure stains with it.

I am going to end by offering a few last little tidbits which are based on my experiences with dressage shows. First, make sure that when you plan your schedule for the day, that you leave enough time for travel, for loading and unloading, and for grooming and tacking your horse up before you ride. Make your own lunch and take it in a cooler, and bring plenty of non-carbonated beverages along, such as water and gatorade. Food is usually available on the grounds of most shows, yes, but it's expensive- and there are some items you really have to be careful about, such as hamburgers, for example. The last thing you want is to give yourself a case of food poisoning- and bringing your own lunch and food will help you avoid this. Make sure you bring water for your horse, and enough hay to keep him or her busy between rides. Take your first aid kit, and make sure as well that you have a working, charged cell phone with you in your tow vehicle. Go to bed early the night before the show, and get plenty of sleep- because chances are good that you are going to be up at the crack of dawn anyway, simply because the Introductory Level classes are normally held first at most shows- and that means they typically start at 8 am, if not earlier.  Lastly, don't leave the house for the barn without eating breakfast on show day- even if you think you can't do this. You need the energy, and the food may actually help calm your nerves somewhat. One other thing- leave your dog at HOME when you show. Most show managers and organizers usually reserve the right to confiscate and impound loose dogs, because the animals present a danger to the horses and their riders. So be smart, and leave Fido at home.

Good luck to you, and I hope all these tips help you out. The USDF's address is www.usdf.org.