Well no idea if he has ever done a dressage test before but I haven't done one before. Tried one just in a schooling session with him ages ago but we did have issues like corect canter lead back then :giggle:
So in a few weeks hopefully going to bring Mr Cyrus to venue that does regular dressage shows, they do a class called 'welcome to dressage' which is non affiliated and you don't have to be a member of anything and they do it for people sort of starting out in dressage and giving it a go. Class usually really small too :biggrin:
If anyone has any tips or advice they are most welcome and appreciated :biggrin:
So the test I am doing is BD prelim 4 had a look at it last night and like the test seems pretty flowing and seemed to be able to remember it ok.
So today after a warm up in walk, trot and canter decided to give it a little go on spotty boy :bounce:
I do need to work on various things and our arena is bigger than 20x60 so for the 20m circles would just use 2/3rds width of arena and for the 10m half circles they were 15 just for today :yellowcarded:
Spotty boy did fairly good, and I wasn't too bad either :giggle: and remembered the test though not all movements were exactly accurate.
Things need to work on
Making sure have a slightly more active trot from beginning
Keep canter in better rhythmn with a bit more impulsion and don't lean forward at transition which I sometimes do for no apparent reason :redcarded:
When going from trot to medium walk get the walk nice and active as have tendency for it to die a bit.
Get someone to watch to tell me if my circles are looking good
Be more accurate in movements and straighter down centre line
Things that were good
He did listen most of the time
Didn't fall in when on track and circles felt ok and he did keep his rhythmn in trot and in one canter circle did but at other on other rein broke to trot after it.
His free walk on long rein is actually quite nice, it does need to stay a bit more active but we worked on that at end when was just cooling him off and improved.
He really does stretch out and down in his free walk in a nice relaxed way but stays fairly straight from my legs without having to squeeze really much and does seem to move off the leg quite nicely so when change rein at free walk he does go from leg so don't have to 'interfere' with hands.
And when pick up reins after change of rein he stays in medium walk which is good. :happy:
So I am excited and looking forward to hopefully doing our dressage debut soon
Going to work on the various elements and issues and also have him clean and sparkling and looking smart plaited mane and everything :wub:
He had his mane pulled other day by girl who works for eventer who used to be on yard and she did a super job. I had tried doing it myself but even though I know how I am rubbish at it and takes me forever!
Trying to train it a bit to go on right side (as naturally goes on left) so its 'correct' not that it bothers me day to day but will try have it on right for show.
Here is an obligatory pic of himself (he looks a bit worried for some reason :giggle: ) with his mane on right for once (never lasts long) it had been raining a bit too so he prob looks a bit damp and his forelock goes a bit wavy in the rain :giggle:
and just because he is cute and cheeky one from a week or so ago (before he got his mane done which was rather lovely when blew in the wind and stuff)
So in a few weeks hopefully going to bring Mr Cyrus to venue that does regular dressage shows, they do a class called 'welcome to dressage' which is non affiliated and you don't have to be a member of anything and they do it for people sort of starting out in dressage and giving it a go. Class usually really small too :biggrin:
If anyone has any tips or advice they are most welcome and appreciated :biggrin:
So the test I am doing is BD prelim 4 had a look at it last night and like the test seems pretty flowing and seemed to be able to remember it ok.
So today after a warm up in walk, trot and canter decided to give it a little go on spotty boy :bounce:
I do need to work on various things and our arena is bigger than 20x60 so for the 20m circles would just use 2/3rds width of arena and for the 10m half circles they were 15 just for today :yellowcarded:
Spotty boy did fairly good, and I wasn't too bad either :giggle: and remembered the test though not all movements were exactly accurate.
Things need to work on
Making sure have a slightly more active trot from beginning
Keep canter in better rhythmn with a bit more impulsion and don't lean forward at transition which I sometimes do for no apparent reason :redcarded:
When going from trot to medium walk get the walk nice and active as have tendency for it to die a bit.
Get someone to watch to tell me if my circles are looking good
Be more accurate in movements and straighter down centre line
Things that were good
He did listen most of the time
Didn't fall in when on track and circles felt ok and he did keep his rhythmn in trot and in one canter circle did but at other on other rein broke to trot after it.
His free walk on long rein is actually quite nice, it does need to stay a bit more active but we worked on that at end when was just cooling him off and improved.
He really does stretch out and down in his free walk in a nice relaxed way but stays fairly straight from my legs without having to squeeze really much and does seem to move off the leg quite nicely so when change rein at free walk he does go from leg so don't have to 'interfere' with hands.
And when pick up reins after change of rein he stays in medium walk which is good. :happy:
So I am excited and looking forward to hopefully doing our dressage debut soon
Going to work on the various elements and issues and also have him clean and sparkling and looking smart plaited mane and everything :wub:
He had his mane pulled other day by girl who works for eventer who used to be on yard and she did a super job. I had tried doing it myself but even though I know how I am rubbish at it and takes me forever!
Trying to train it a bit to go on right side (as naturally goes on left) so its 'correct' not that it bothers me day to day but will try have it on right for show.
Here is an obligatory pic of himself (he looks a bit worried for some reason :giggle: ) with his mane on right for once (never lasts long) it had been raining a bit too so he prob looks a bit damp and his forelock goes a bit wavy in the rain :giggle:
and just because he is cute and cheeky one from a week or so ago (before he got his mane done which was rather lovely when blew in the wind and stuff)
