13 May 2008
HORSE Website
HORSE Magazine
Improve your dressage scores
Anna Ross Davies helps you to make the most of three ‘easy marks’ on offer, for the centre line, free walk and halt…
Anna Ross Davies is an international Grand Prix dressage rider based in Hertfordshire. She is the Equestrian Manager of Patchetts Equestrian Centre and is currently 5th in the UK small tour rankings (Prix St Georges and Intermediare 1) with the nine y/o gelding Liebling II, or Lenny. Career highlights include representing Great Britain at the World Championships for young horses in 2003; winning the national Elementary freestyle championships in 2004 and being reserve national champion at Intermediare 1 level in 2005. This year Anna and Lenny won their first Grand Prix at Hickstead.
Riding a straight centre line
The centre line presents an opportunity for a ‘cheap mark’ in a dressage test. You can get the same potential mark in a Prelim test as a Prix St Georges, so it is a waste of a mark not to get it right!
Tips for top marks
- Do your homework, as the preparatory work you do prior to the test will help ensure straightness, such as lateral work to develop balance, and school movements such as serpentines to define circles and lines.
- Practise riding straight lines away from the outside track, so you are not relying on the arena wall or fence to keep you straight
- Check your position – are you sitting centrally in the saddle, with your weight evenly distributed?
- Do you have even rein and leg pressure? You may be inadvertently asking the horse to ‘drift’ from the centre line with your aids
- Look past the marker you are heading to. If you are turning left at A, look slightly to the left of A – you will get a smoother turn
- Don’t panic about getting the horse in an outline and ‘waggle’ the reins – the judge is ahead of you, and will notice a crooked centre line more than she will notice a poor outline
- Ride actively forward, as a slower pace offers more opportunities for crookedness
- Look up and ahead, breathe and smile.
The free walk
Free walk is another area where a rider can pick up an easy mark. The rider should retain a light contact with the bit, rather than a loose rein – the definition of free walk is maximum stretch with a contact.
It is easy to spot the horse who does not have a good free walk, as his steps will be affected – if the rider has too much contact and does not allow the horse to stretch down, he may under-track, while too much stretch in the neck results in over-tracking.
Tips for top marks
- Maintain an active pace without rushing
- Keep a long rein, not a loose one
- Aim for maximum neck stretch, while maintaining a contact
A square halt
A good halt is something that everyone should aspire to, at all levels – with the right discipline instilled at home, it is another easy mark in the bag.
The judge is looking for a square halt, with the horse standing quietly and not tossing the head or mouthing the bit. Initially, the horse should be taught to halt quietly without fidgeting – the specifics of standing squarely can come afterwards. It is beneficial to work on the latter with an instructor or friend, so you don’t lean down to check the feet and unbalance the horse.
Tips for top marks
- At the lower levels it is OK to ride a progressive transition from trot to halt – the judge would rather see a few steps of walk than you screeching to halt!
- Ride the horse into the halt so he steps up into it, rather than trails to a stop
- Don’t always practise halting at the same marker, for example, ‘X’, as the horse may anticipate
- If the horse is trailing a hindleg, quietly ask him to step forward with your corresponding leg, maintaining a ‘holding’ contact so he knows he is not being asked to walk on. Only ask for one correction, or you may teach the horse to fidget
- Make sure you are immobile before saluting
- When saluting, take the reins into one hand. The free hand should be lowered to your side, and you should nod the head. There should be no wild hand gestures, or waves – simply drop your arm. Try gently touching the numnah to make sure your fingers aren’t flapping, and that your arm isn’t too wide
- Make sure your horse halts quietly when you mount, as this discipline will help with halts in the arena
Look the part
Although you are not marked for your attire, it is still important to have the right image when competing. This is partly because dressage is an elegant sport and competitors’ clothes should reflect this, and also because the wrong attire can draw attention to a particular area (such as jiggling hands), or cover up an area that the judges would like to see (such as the seat and back). It is also preferable to give the impression that you are serious about your sport, as it will generate respect and give you added confidence.
Top 10 tips for dressage attire
1. Your dark-coloured or tweed jacket should fit you well and be tailored around the middle to flatter your form. If it is baggy around the back, you could look as if you are slouching or moving around in the saddle. (Tailcoats are only worn in advanced tests and above.)
2. White breeches look smart (providing they are clean!) although cream or beige is perfectly acceptable and also more flattering. Choose breeches with front pleats if you are curvy. If your breeches have belt-loops, wear a smart, dark-coloured leather belt – it will improve their fit
3. Match your gloves to your breeches, but remember that white gloves draw attention to jiggling hands
4. Your boots or plain leather gaiters should be as long as possible to visually elongate the leg, especially if they are cut for dressage. A patent leather calf gives extra ‘sparkle’ and means you don’t have to spend hours polishing them.
5. A dressage cap without a three point harness looks smart for competitions – cap manufacturers include Horka and Patey. (While hats are compulsory at affiliated dressage competitions and mounted safety is paramount, BSI standard helmets are not compulsory.)
6. Make sure your white shirt, stock and stock pin are presentable, as, at the discretion of the organiser, competitors may be permitted to ride without a jacket.
7. Your underwear should not be visible; ladies should also wear a well-fitting bra for a neat line and minimum ‘bounce’
8. Ladies’ hair should be secured within a hairnet, or neatly tied back – straggly ends or swishing ponytails look unprofessional
9. Tasteful ‘bling’ is perfectly acceptable – neat stud earrings, for example. Diamante is popular, eg on belts and browbands, but don’t go overboard – it is your riding that will impress the judges
10. Secure your number neatly and come prepared with elastic and scissors – coloured string or twine is not a good look. Bridle number disks can even look unsightly, depending on your horse’s head shape.
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