Chapter 9 Show Day at Training Level
Pre-Show
Remember the lists of essential items needed for each and every show that you religiously wrote out for both horse and rider. By now you will have used these lists many times and will have added any special requirements unique for you. These lists are truly magic and if one day you ‘reach for the stars’ and achieve nomination to national selection trails for dressage championships you will still rely, despite all the high technical stuff around, on the old-fashioned preparation lists. One day your groom may have to worry about finalizing the lists but for here and now the duty of packing and preparing for competition lies with you!
Make sure that you know your ‘ride time’ well ahead so you can plan your day, certainly you do not want any surprises, get your’ ride times’, your barn buddies ‘ride times’, copies of your entries and coggins, your cell phone and emergency numbers. These preparations help you organize a clean and thorough pack up. Check that the trailer is clean with fresh sawdust or shavings where the horse stands, hay should be hanging in the hay nets or hay bags waiting for the horse, you have filled the five gallon water tank and it now lies secure in the trailer tack room; make sure you have a couple of extra feeds of grain safe in zip lock plastic bags in case of emergency. Check with your trusty map if you are not exactly sure of the route to the show ground. As usual find out before hand the layout of the show ground, Secretary’s office, water outlets, bathrooms, wash bays, shady areas and stables.
Horse grooming and bathing has not yet been discussed in this book, these essentials of show preparation certainly deserve a mention.
Various grooming, bathing and braiding procedures are readily available in many good books on the subject, magazines and verbally from your friends and trainer. As you get more experience you will add your little pieces of wisdom to the procedures and verbally pass it down the line to less experienced riders. The wonderful thing about training and showing is that everyone learns from everyone else. It is a comradeship and a bond between dressage lovers and enthusiasts. Welcome to the Club!
Make sure that you have memorized your dressage tests and you know them backwards, this way you will feel comfortable at this new dressage level. Your trainer will have approved your step up the dressage training ladder to training level after a good, and successful season at introductory level, all this experience will give you extra confidence to start showing at training level. Even while you were showing at introductory level you were already schooling many of the movements from training level. By now you should feel secure at training level, even though this may be your first official recognized show at this level. In addition you will have been schooling some of the movements from the first level tests to help you ride a good training level test and lay the foundation for competition at first level for the future. This philosophy of dressage training follows the age old and wise program from time immemorial, at least since Xenophon in BC; you measure progress slowly and surely in steady well defined increments, “hurry slow” rings in your ears even though you are eagerly climbing the dressage ladder and have now reached the training level rung.
Tips
- · Remember the “to do” and “to pack” lists
- · Learn the various grooming and bathing techniques
- · Know your tests
- · Feel comfortable riding the training level tests
Warm Up
By now you will have established a familiar routine for the warm up on show day, you will have a better understanding of your horse’s personality and to assess just how he is feeling on show day. Every horse is unique (of course) and they all establish typical personality patterns at horse shows, some horses still like to be hand walked around the show ground before you proceed to tack up, after they have had a good ‘snoop’ at the arenas, offices, warm up rings and the bustling stable area, they sigh, relax and look for more hay and treats, this is always a good sign that your horse knows where he is and is comfortable with the show ground atmosphere.. Other horses really could’t care less and are happy to be left to look over the ground from the safely of the trailer or stable. Over time your horse will teach you how to make him happy and comfortable on show days, particularly if all his show appearances have been fun, marred only by small mistakes, then for sure your horse will have a great attitude on show days.
You are now no novice to dressage shows and you are experienced at the show day warm ups, it can be your call as to whether you lunge first and then mount up for the warm up or just mount and start the warm up as usual, whichever warm up you choose you always need to keep the warm up similar to your normal at home warm up. As your horse begins to realize that shows are really not so exciting and are just another rather more interesting normal workday, you can forget the lunging segment. Make sure that your tack is comfortable, that you have on your bridle number; fitted comfortably in any of the appropriate sites and that you are correctly dressed together with hard hunt cap before you mount.
.jpg) If you use polo wraps or boots for schooling make sure that they are secure and then remind yourself to remove them before you enter the competition ring. It’s a good idea to have a friend hold you’re riding coat while you warm up and to remind, or help you, take off the leg wraps before you circle the competition arena. This same friend can also be armed with a towel, brush and fly spray to give you and your horse a quick wipe over before you enter the competition ring. If you are by yourself, and this does happen sometimes, hang up your coat on a low hanging branch of a friendly shade tree or fence, place a towel and some fly spy with the coat and pick them up after your warm up and before the ring steward tells you that you are the next rider. It is not so much fun to be by your self but it does happen, the only good thing about ‘no help’ is that some considerate dressage riders will help you out when they see that you are alone, either with horse holding or helping to take off bandages and boots. You can always reciprocate at some time further down the track when you have loads of help and you see a lone competitor desperately trying to button up a coat with a fractious horse dancing around.
Start the warm up just as you would at home. Walking long and low with some bending and flexing and a few steps of leg yield for at least 10 minutes and then pick up the reins and develop a medium walk. Continue with the usual suppling exercises at the walk, establishing the half-halt and full halt from correct ‘shoulder control’ and ‘body language’ which allows you execute the transitions from inside leg and outside rein. Once your horse is paying attention to the aids it is time to proceed in rising trot and ride straight lines and circles, ride the trot a little forward and then with the half-halt bring the trot back to working trot again, these exercises will gradually get your horse in front of the leg., he needs to be keen but attentive, listening to you and not looking around at all the interesting scenes going on around the show ground. Once you have reached this stage you can gradually release the reins and allow the horse to stretch round, forward and down with the head and neck, partly to stretch and relax your horse and as an additional bonus it is good practice for the stretchy/chewy movement in two of the training level tests.
 Remember, the USEF directive guidelines for this movement state, “quality of stretch over back, forward and downward into a light contact while maintaining balance and quality of trot.”This is also what the judge will be looking for when you execute the stretchy/chewy exercise. After using this exercise as a “thank you” to your horse during schooling sessions over the past year you both know the nice feeling of a rounded back, willing stretch to the bridle while still maintaining your line and your speed on the circle. Follow with lots of walk and trot transitions with relaxing breaks at the free walk,where you can again allow the horse to stretch forward and down to the bridle, you want your horse’s nose to remain ahead of the vertical in this movement, and you do not want him to curl up in front and get behind the leg. Remember to keep your hands in their correct position above the withers and use the wrists to allow and follow the head and neck movements. A common riding faults when the rider, in an effort to allow the horse to stretch down, lowers the hands below the withers and onto the shoulders, this can result in the horse being restricted in front and forcing him behind the vertical. It may appear a nice stretching walk, covering ground while not reaching forward into the connection which results in your horse actually sucking back behind the bridle. To obtain good marks in the free walk the horse should cover the ground through a swinging back, in a relaxed forward and clear four beat walk rhythm. The horse may be on a long or loose rein in the free walk but should maintain the nose ahead of the vertical at all times it is your choice which type of free walk you wish to show but remember that on a loose rein with a green horse it may be more difficult to maintain a straight line in the free walk. The USEF and USDF offer directives for the free walk which not only includes the quality of the walk but also the straightness of the walk across the diagonal and the transition both into and out of the free walk.
 Remember to take the time to visualize the test either before the warm up or in a pause in the warm up. Today you are riding training level test 4 and your visualization over the past week should have been concentrated on this particular test.
Tips
- · By now you have a good idea of your horse’s personality on show days
- · Show days can be fun for both you and your horse
- · Make sure your warm up in the show is just like your at home warm up
- · Remember to have your coat, towel and fly spray handy
- · Practice the test movements or partial movements to establish both your focus and your horse’s concentration
- · Remember lots of free walk and stretching
The bell rings
Now you are more relaxed with the show experience you get less of the usual adrenalin surge at the sound of the bell and consequently your horse is more relaxed as well. Lean down to pat your horse, your co-pilot, and pause to mentally recall the logistics of training level 4. The test pattern for training 4 is as follows: Enter at working trot at ‘A’ and at’ X’ halt and salute. Proceed at working trot and at “C” turn right and perform a single loop “M” to “X” to “F”.
 Now your visualization efforts’ can help you focus on the training 4 test patterns. You circle outside the arena and then enter the arena at ‘A’ in a forward working trot, remember to look upwards so that you are sure to ride straight on the center line, half-halt and maybe half-halt again (and again) to prepare for the halt at ‘X’. Once you have halted at ‘X’, hopefully fairly straight and square due to your good preparation.. To complete a good halt place the reins and whip in one hand and drop the other hand free by your side and you salute the judge with a nod of your head and a goofy smile. After the salute pick up your reins and trot on down the remainder of the center line. Make sure that your body language tells your horse that there is a right turn coming up at “C” (inside leg to outside hand after the halt and your hips turning right 6 meters before the turn), remember no surprises for your horse!
 Ride the loop freely forward with correct bending, that way the movement appears seamless. Mentally you must ‘keep in mind’ that after the loop concludes at “F” your next move is to canter on the right lead between “A” and “K”. This transition is easy if you have maintained the correct feel on inside leg to outside rein, just half-halt and prepare for canter right from the working trot forward into the canter- bingo! The canter transition is perfect and you are propelled forwards down the long side in a free, forward working canter.
 Now remember that at “E” you have to execute a 20 meter circle, prepare at least 6 meters before “E” so that your horse’s shoulder leaves “E” right at the marker. This preparation is a great start towards a good circle, the circle is centered at “E” which means that you start at “E” and finish at “E”. Next you concentrate on riding a round circle with four tangents ending back at “E” still nicely forward and energetic, with correct flex ion and steady rhythm.
 From this point you are thinking towards the transition to trot at “C”, most important is not to rely on your reins for the transition to trot, simply produce a half-halt two strides before “C” and be patient and wait for the transition to happen. Remember that as riders we cannot make a horse perform movements, rather we can set the horse up so that it is easy for him to ‘do the job’, this way neither you or your horse will feel hurried as you set the horse up for each movement well in advance. Your horse will produce the trot either “on aid” a stride before the marker or a stride after which is just at the marker. When we force a transition with the hand the result is always forced, rough and abrupt, not a pretty picture! Once the transition has occurred “on aid” and the horse is relaxed and through the back, you are now focused on the transition to walk at “M”. Preparation begins after the turn and a series of subtle half-halts brings your horse back to the walk by “M”, at medium walk and you can feel your horse sigh and relax.
From “M” you ride the free walk to “B” and at this marker you proceed across the diagonal line “B” to “K” in the free walk (either on a long or loose rein). You have practiced this exercise daily for over a year now and as you release the reins your co-pilot stretches forward and down to a relaxed free walk. Aim to arrive on the long side just before “K” to allow for rein pick-up and positioning for the turn after “K”.
At “A” you trot on and immediately execute another loop “F” to “X” to “M” on the long side. This is just a mirror image of the first half of the test, remember to change the bend at “X” and again at “M” before the corner to prepare for the canter depart between “C” and “H”. At “E” you need to show another 20-meter circle, this time on the right rein. Again prepare for the circle some 6 meters prior to “E” on the long side. And make sure that you leave the long side at “E” and execute an accurate circle, arriving back safely and accurately at “E”.
After the circle you proceed down the long side and prepare for a transition to trot at “A”, again do not try to make the horse trot, but use the half halt to set him up to produce a working trot at “A” and proceed to the next movement, “FXH” change rein across the diagonal, keep the trot forward, straight and at the same rhythm as you’ change the rein’, next proceed to “C” where you have the “stretchy-chewy circle, you gradually release the reins to allow your horse to stretch down, forward and round in a relaxed 20-meter circle in trot, your horse keeps the rhythm and stretches nicely on approaching “C” take up the reins and continue down the long side in working trot –good job.
You are approaching the final stretch, ride freely forward in working trot, turn left at “E” and ride a 10 meter half circle to “X”. Note: do not ride a turn at “B” as the movement requires a half circle to “X”, then proceed up the centerline to “G” where you halt and salute at the completion of the training level 4 dressage test.
Tips
- · A familiar schooling plan at the show
- · Visualization techniques can improve your ride
- · Preparation for the movements makes for ‘seamless transitions’
- · Body language can help your horse anticipate your aids
- · Remember you are the pilot and your horse is the co-pilot
- · Praise your horse for he is always trying for you
Postmortem
The ‘collective’ marks at the bottom of the USDF dressage tests gives marks for gaits, impulsion, submission and rider’s position and effect of the aids. These are very important part of the dressage test assessment and the individual marks are weighted with a co-efficient to indicate the importance the USEF and the USDF places on the correct progress up the ‘dressage training scale’.
Gaits: The judge is looking for regularity and freedom of the gaits and this mark has a co-efficient of 2.
Impulsion: The judge is looking for the desire to move freely forward, elasticity of the steps and the suppleness through the back, engagement of the hindquarters which are all essential ingredients on the ‘dressage training scale’. The impulsion mark has a co-efficient of 2.
Submission: The judge is looking for an attentive and willing horse, showing lightness and ease of movements, acceptance of the bridle and lightness of the forehand. The submission score has a co-efficient of 2.
Rider: The judge is looking for the rider’s position and seat and the correctness and effect of the ‘aids’. In 2009 the ‘rider’s’ score has been awarded a co-efficient of 3 to indicate the importance of correct riding and training at all dressage levels. Remember the ‘rider training pyramid back in Chapter 2, this philosophy holds true right up to the FEI levels.
Let’s suppose you have ridden the test of your dreams and certainly just like your recent visualizations. You need to consider all aspects of the ride in retrospect, using comments from friends, trainer and the safe eye of the video camera that never lies!
There are co-efficient for movements which are considered by the USEF to be important for your progress up the training scale. The free walk and the ‘stretchy-chewy’ circle both have a co-efficient of 2 and these particular movements plus the transitions will have a significant influence on the total marks of your dressage test.
Make this dressage test a positive learning experience for future rides, write down the segments of the test that need to be improved: is it the gaits, the relaxation, the suppleness, the straightness and the intention of forward thrust and desire? Perhaps the judge commented that you need a more consistent connection with the bridle, reflect on this information and review the video again. Now armed this new input and information you can work to rectify the problems both in your training and in your next dressage competition. The judge may have commented on a lack of straightness to the right and a head tilting at times during the test. Now you are armed with a helpful comment and a means to improve your ride. Keep training and enjoy the journey up the dressage “training ladder”, now you can remain secure and confident within the confines of the ladder. The dressage training ladder is structured so that you progress one step at a time. Each step is rewarding and self-fulfilling and leads you painlessly onto the next step of the ladder. Now after two or three years of tramping down the road you have reached a peaceful plateau, you are confident and relaxed at the demands of training level and you are excited about the demands of the next level.
 Tips
- · Take time to evaluate the ‘Collective’ marks
- · Note the importance placed on the ‘rider’ co-efficient
- · Play back you video of the training test and review carefully
- · Talk over your test results and the judge’s comments with your trainer and barn buddies.
- · Plan a program to improve your ride in future dressage shows
- · Enjoy the journey
- · Always praise and pet your faithful co-pilot.
·
|
