Help with my dressage test?

Question

this is my first dressage test- it is only for a fun show at the stables, but i want to do well. http://www.fairwindsstables.com/documents/2006BeginnerNoviceTestA.pdf For the canter, my instructoor said to sit down (just for dressage, not for jumping). any advice on doing that? the horse im riding has a big stride. also, the turn from m to e is really tight, any advice there? i have to trot it, but like i said, my horse has a bigger stride. any tips on what to remember/ look out for while doing the test is appreciated! thanks soooo much =)

Answer 1

for the sitting canter just relax don't tense up just go with  the flow of the horses stride. for the sitting trot slow the horses trot down a little and relax.

good luck

Answer 2

For the sitting canter: Remember, DONT PUMP. Dont Pump with your legs, your back or your seat. Just relax and flow steadily with your horse. it is ok to rock your hips. (how else would u sit the canter? lol)

For the turn from m to e: try to collect your horse a bit. let him take it easy. another good thing to do is start preparing for the turn a little early. if u r scared the turn is 2 tight 4 ur horse, start moving his shoulders in about 3 trot strides away, but do not turn! just move his shoulders in and then he should be able to take the turn a bit easier.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

practice the test and have someone critique you

Answer 4

the canter: drop all of your weight in your heels (so your heels are down), dont pinch the saddle with your knees, sit up straight, slightly allow your hands to follow with your horses mouth (don't pump your arms though), let your lower body go with the movement, dont tense up and try to sit hard and deep in the saddle, then you will wind up slouching and looking hunched. look up and just go with his movements, most of the time a big stride is VERY nice and comfortable to ride, just a little different and you have to slow it down when moving with him or then you'll get caught up in the air. Just go with what ya feel, look up and sit up.

For the turn: As long as you sit up straight, dont lean to any direction (your horse could slip and fall), look around your turn, keep him bending around your leg, dont let him drift out or fall to the inside. Half halt him to collect his gait slightly, and give him leg to keep his impulsion. Regulate it.

Anything else: Keep him moving off your leg (with impulsion and forwardness). Keep him felxing down and working on the bit, with a bend in his neck. Do this by slightly moving the bit around in his mouth, not see-sawing on the reins, like massaging the bit around in his mouth. Inside rein: gets him to bend to the inside  Outside rein: flexing down and their neck in. You have too much bend to the inside if you can see your horse's eye, you just want to see the cheekpiece on your bridle. Just sit up and relax.

Good luck! and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!

Answer 5

For the canter just sit, stay relaxed and flow with your horse don't push your horse though when you sit.  For the trot try to steady the horse and do a sitting trot unless it says other wise.  A test will say if it wants a rising trot, if it just says trot then a sitting trot is what is expected.  If you keep the horse controlled and it does what you want it to then there should be no problems.  Good Luck!