Latest from Horse & Hound in Dressage-test

From ‘needs more suppleness’ to ‘could be more uphill’: what dressage judges’ comments really mean (and how to use them when training at home)

Oscar Williams — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:42:02 +0000

Most riders have stood at the side of the arena, test sheet in hand, trying to work out what the dressage judge’s comments actually mean. Sometimes it’s the handwriting that’s the challenge. More often, it’s the comment itself.

Turning a five-word remark into something useful to work on at home isn’t always straightforward, especially if you’re new to the sport. A note such as “needs more engagement” or “lacks balance” can feel frustratingly vague when what you really want is clear direction.

It’s worth remembering that judges aren’t there to coach you. Their job is to assess what they see in that moment and mark it against the directives for each movement. With limited space and time, their comments have to be brief and to the point.

I’ve had the questionable honour of reading hundreds of test sheets over the years. While I can’t help you decipher a hurried scrawl from a fading biro, I can translate some of the most common phrases and explain what they usually mean for your dressage training at home.

Before diving in, keep this in mind: most comments relate to one of three things – the horse’s way of going (rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collectively known as scales of training), test accuracy (hitting your markers and riding the correct shapes), or cooperation (what would’ve previously been described as submission). If you can identify which category the remark falls into, it becomes much easier to know what to work on.

Judges assess what they see in that moment and mark it against the directives for each movement. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Way of going

Needs more suppleness

Suppleness comes from being even on both reins and bending through the body without resistance. If the horse feels stiffer one way, falls out through a shoulder or resists a change of bend, that unevenness will show in the mark.

Losing balance

Often, this means the horse is falling onto the inside shoulder, particularly on circles or in lateral work. You may notice the tempo change or the line drift. Often the horse isn’t carrying enough weight behind to stay organised.

Lacking or losing rhythm

Rhythm is the regularity of the footfall. Walk should stay clearly four-beat, trot two-beat, canter three-beat. If the steps become hurried, uneven or tense, the score will drop.

Irregular

A comment no one wants to see. Judges use “irregular” rather than “lame” if a horse appears momentarily unlevel. Even a brief loss of regularity affects the mark.

Needs more energy or impulsion

Impulsion is controlled pushing power from the hindquarters. It does not mean faster. It means more active, engaged steps that create lift and presence within the correct tempo.

Behind the leg

The horse isn’t reacting promptly to the leg aid. They may feel sluggish, or run onto the forehand instead of stepping through correctly.

Inconsistent to the contact

Contact should be soft, elastic and steady. If the connection changes from stride to stride – behind the bit, above it, fussy in the mouth – the judge will see a lack of acceptance.

Against the hand

The horse is resisting the contact. They may lift their head, snatch at the reins or lean heavily. Often this is linked to tension or imbalance.

Behind the vertical

The nose is carried behind the vertical line from the poll. This can stem from tension, loss of balance or too much hand.

Above the bit or hollow

The horse lifts their head and drops their back away from the contact. The outline looks disconnected rather than through and supple.

Straightness

A horse is straight when the hind feet follow the forefeet on all lines, and the body matches the curve on circles. Comments such as “quarters in”, “crooked” or “on three tracks” all point to a loss of alignment.

Could be more uphill

A classic – too much weight is being carried on the shoulders. The horse may rush or struggle to maintain fluency because he isn’t sitting enough behind.

Needs more ground cover

The strides are too short. In medium paces or free walk, the horse isn’t clearly lengthening and stepping through enough to cover more ground.

Needs to show more difference

The judge wants a clearer contrast between working and medium paces. If the horse simply quickens rather than truly lengthens, this comment appears.

Running

Instead of lengthening the stride, the horse has increased the tempo. More speed, not more reach.

Needs to flow more freely forwards

The movement looks restricted. The horse may be tight through the back, behind the leg or lacking confidence to travel forward.

Understanding common phrases makes it possible to adapt your training at home. (Image credit: Emma Herrod Photography)

Accuracy

Circle not round/loops not even/not centred

The shape or placement of the movement wasn’t correct. Even with a good way of going, inaccurate geometry will cost marks.

Halt not square or immobility not maintained

In halt, the horse should stand balanced and square, then remain still. A resting hindleg or fidgeting lowers the score.

Cooperation

Submission or acceptance of the aids

Often used interchangeably, the submission comment isn’t about dominance. Spooking, resistance, tension or ignoring the leg can all be reflected in this mark.

Still unsure what the comment means?

If you’re still unsure what a comment means, look back at the directive for that movement in the test. Ask yourself: was the judge marking the way of going, accuracy, or cooperation? Do that, and a cryptic five-word remark becomes a clear schooling goal.

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23 of the most embarrassing comments we’ve ever seen on a dressage sheet

Alice Collins — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 07:30:10 +0000

Sometimes, when you’ve been out competing and your dressage test hasn’t gone quite as planned, there are some comments from the judges that you simply have to laugh at.

Here is a selection of our favourites we’ve seen written in the judge’s comments section on dressage sheets over the years.

1. “Talented horse with an opinion!”

2. “Flying changes not required at this level.”

3. “Horse may be better suited to a different sport.”

4. “Lacking activity behind”, shortly followed by a large buck and the comment, “Jolly to canter!”

5. “Head dangerously high.”

6. “Shame he was a bit saucy today!” — when the horse had spent the whole test looking like a giraffe and shouting his head off to his friend…

7. A comment about what a lovely young horse and how she’d be great as she got more experienced. She was 18 – the judge didn‘t realise she was blue roan, not a grey who was going to get lighter…

8. “Your horse looked like he would rather have had a showjump in the arena.”

9. “I’m glad he didn’t repeat what he did in the warm-up” — the rider was first in after a break and just before they went in got bucked off, which the judge had obviously seen.

10. “ *Stargazing* ” written in the comments (about the horse, not the rider) after the mare threw a particularly unelegant strop in the middle of a test and refused to bring her head down.

11. “A lively test, great choice of music however next time we don’t need to see the Moon Walk” — freestyle to a medley of Michael Jackson music. Horse decided to rein back after final halt…

12. “Lovely horse, calm and willing. Could use a little more OOOMPH.”

13. “Nice pony, has great sparkle – even without the bridle” — about a feisty mare that was done up to the nines in bling.

14. “Was spooky tonight – rather you than me!“ – a lovely coloured warmblood who spent the whole novice test in shoulder fore and also executed a stunning half pass (not required) when he caught glimpse of the fire exit sign…

15. “Nice test, but lose the chewing gum!”

16. “Oh you’ve got to love them!”

17. “Nice little horse in a horrible hurry.”

18. “I am sure a good test is just around the corner”

19. “Well rescued!”

20. “A very enthusiastic test, I’m sure he’ll settle with age” — said horse had just turned 21.

21. “The rider should salute; not the horse!”

22. “Nice plaits” — when this is written on your sheet, you can be sure that everything else was horrendous.

And finally…

Heard from the judge’s mouth – but not written down: “That horse sounds like a pig” as he snorted his way around the arena.

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Struggling to learn and remember your dressage test? Here’s the secret to success…

Oscar Williams — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 08:30:15 +0000

Few things in dressage are more frustrating than going wrong in your test – and there’s certainly no blaming the horse. Whether it’s that sinking feeling when your mind goes blank, an unfortunate detour to the wrong letter, or a moment of distraction caused by a spluttering coffee machine ringside or a car backfiring in the distance, mistakes happen.

Whatever the reason, we always kick ourselves – especially knowing that under British Dressage (BD) rules, a first error costs two marks, a second costs four and a third means elimination. So, what’s the best way to make sure it doesn’t happen to you?

How do you learn a dressage test?

When it comes to learning a dressage test, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Just as every rider has their own way of preparing for events, everyone absorbs and retains information differently.

Remember, in regular BD classes you can have someone calling your test for you.

But you can’t at regionals, Area Festivals, or when you get to a championship. That’s why it’s good to be able to remember a test without relying too much on a caller.

Finding the method that works best for you can make all the difference. Some riders can glance at a test sheet once and have the pattern locked into their memory, while others need to rehearse it multiple times before it sticks.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to learn a test – and often, using a combination of methods is the most effective approach.

So, how do you go about learning a test in a way that ensures you ride the right movements at the right time? Let’s break it down by learning style and explore the strategies that can help prevent a dreaded error of course.

For visual learners – or those who learn best through visuals, diagrams and test sheets are invaluable. Many riders find that drawing the test themselves helps reinforce the pattern through repetition. Watching video ride-throughs on platforms like YouTube or using interactive apps such as TestPro can also make it easier to visualise the movements before even stepping into the saddle. BD also offers visual diagrams of all their tests, from intro to advanced, providing another useful tool for riders looking to memorise their test.

For auditory learners – hearing the test spoken aloud or repeating it back to themselves is key. Some riders record themselves calling the test and listen to it while driving or doing chores, reinforcing the sequence through repetition. The TestPro app can also play your test to you as it draws it out. Other riders find that having a friend or trainer call the test while they walk or ride through the test makes all the difference.

For kinesthetic learners – or someone who learns by doing, movement is essential. Physically walking the test in an open space, “riding” it on foot while imagining transitions and movements, or even practicing key sections in the arena can help cement the sequence in their memory. Some riders also benefit from using cones or markers in a field or empty arena to mimic the layout and reinforce positioning.

Dyslexia & learning dressage tests

An estimated 10% of the UK population lives with dyslexia, a learning difficulty that primarily affects reading and writing skills. It can also impact memory, as well as the ability to process visual and auditory information.

For dyslexic riders, learning dressage tests can present extra challenges, but many have found ways to succeed at the highest levels. Among them is Josephine Clewlow, who has competed at grand prix.

Josephine started riding at seven and entered the dressage arena by the age of 10. Early on, it became clear that her dyslexia would add an extra layer of difficulty.

“The first challenge I faced was the inability even to read the tests,” she says. “The random layout of the arena letters was also very confusing, and because I struggle with spatial awareness, centre lines and circle sizes take a lot of effort.”

For Josephine, preparation has been the key to overcoming these obstacles.

“When I’m learning a test, repetition is really important,” she explains. “I learn the pattern of the movements rather than the wording on the test sheet. I use a ‘3W’ approach – write, watch, walk. I get someone to read the test and draw the pattern, I watch YouTube videos of the test, and I walk out the test.

“I don’t see my dyslexia as a stumbling block that will prevent me from achieving my goals. It is all about mindset and being prepared. Oh, and using spell check when writing!”

Former H&H blogger Joanna Thurman-Baker is another accomplished rider who was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age. She stresses the importance of finding a trainer who can adapt their teaching methods.

“Look for someone who is going to think of new ways to get the message across,” she advises. “For example, saying ‘the outside rein’ or ‘to the hedge side’ rather than repeating ‘left and right’ because I have no idea which is which!”

How to remember dressage markers

One of the biggest struggles riders face when learning a test is remembering the dressage markers, especially in a standard 20m x 60m arena. Mnemonics—memory devices that turn information into easy-to-recall phrases—can be a game-changer.

For the 20m x 40m arena, many riders use:

➡ “All King Edward’s Horses Can Make Beautiful Friends” (A, K, E, H, C, M, B, F)

For the 20m x 60m arena, a common mnemonic is:

➡ “All King Victor’s Elegant Horses Can Make Really Beautiful People Smile” (A, K, V, E, H, C, M, R, B, P, S)

But there are lots of other alternative mnemonic devices, and you could even create a personal phrase that resonates with you.

Top tips for remembering your dressage test

Have markers correctly set out wherever you normally train to reinforce the visual layout.

Know Your Learning Style

Visual learners → Draw the test or watch videos
Auditory learners → Repeat movements aloud or listen to a caller
Kinesthetic learners → Walk or ride through the test
Learn a few movements at a time, then string them together
Use apps like TestPro or watch YouTube ride-throughs
Visualising the test before riding it strengthens memory
Start with a caller, then ride without to reinforce memory
Have a friend quiz you on “What movement comes next?”
Run through the test before bed—this boosts memory retention!
Simulate a competition – the more realistic the practice, the more automatic your recall

Above all, if you do go wrong, pause, take a breath, and reset – remember, it’s just circles in the sand!

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‘We left the arena and careered around the judge’s car’ and 21 more dressage bloopers

Polly Bryan — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 07:30:30 +0000

Dressage is the picture of harmony and elegance — except for the times when it’s not. Here, 21 Horse & Hound readers recount their hilarious stories of when things didn't quite go to plan between the white boards...

1. “The end of our test went: halt, salute, shake head, keep shaking head, bridle swinging in the breeze (pictured). I had no clue what to do other than gather it up and amble towards A, then jump off with my horse Red Cell, or Sir Red to his friends, looking rather chuffed. One judge even commented on my test sheet how calm he was. I was glad not to be eliminated, and came fifth.” Laura Eaton

2. “I took my home-bred four-year-old to his first dressage competition, and ‘canter at A’ became ‘buck at A’. I lost both stirrups, my hat tipped forward and Dougal belted off. Unable to see where we were going, we left the arena and careered round the judge’s car. Somehow, I managed to find one stirrup, shove my hat back up and re-enter the arena. I scrambled through something that approximated vaguely to the test and when I halted at X, the judge and her scribe were doubled up in laughter — so I dropped my reins, held up my palms and shrugged. It seemed more fitting than a salute.” Catherine Robinson

3. “My pony once trotted down the centre line straight past C and stuck his nose into a plate of sandwiches on the judge’s table.” Alison Job

4. “I decided to enter my four-year-old ex-racehorse Mr Hill (Billy, pictured below), in an intro class. He was so chilled out he didn’t care about the white boards or dressage markers or the scary judge’s box. Smiling away about remembering my test and how well Billy was going right to the end, we halted at G, I saluted the judge, and literally out of nowhere Billy decided to salute too. I was still smiling and the judges loved his salute.” Emma Marshall

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

5. “My horse Olena hated dressage and was looking to get to the ‘good bit’ of the BE90. We were doing the dressage on grass, and it hadn’t occurred to me to use studs (I did learn my lesson), so while doing a rather unbalanced 20m potato, aka circle, in canter she slipped and fell at X. Then she sat there for a while refusing to get up — she was unhurt, just disinclined to do any more dressage. I was mortified, not just to have fallen off, but that my horse was now taking a nap in the middle of the arena with all the competitors after us wondering how on earth there could be a hold on course for dressage! We were actually allowed to finish the test and, following a thorough vet check, to complete the event.” Jo Parkes

6. “I travelled to Bury Farm, Bucks, from Edinburgh for the British Riding Clubs dressage to music championships a few years ago, when my horse was badly spooked entering the main arena. Poor startled Onyx bolted and jumped the white boards and flower pots — and we found ourselves in the arena standing in front of the judge at E. Whoops – it wasn’t quite the dramatic entrance I had been planning.” Sarah Johnsen

7. “As the previous competitor finished their test at my first Area Festival, I was allowed to walk around the outside of the arena. As I did so, my horse Harry’s tail brushed on of the plastic bushes decorating the arena. He leapt into the air, then spooked at the audience, jumped into the arena over the white boards, and finally unseated me, leaving me in a pile on the floor. He then trotted up to the other competitor who had just halted at the end of her test. Luckily, as I hadn’t technically entered the arena, they let me get back on and we finished second!” Hannah Burrage

8. “As a teenager I was halfway through a prelim test on my pony Minstrel and everything was going well. Then he decided to throw in one of his special bucks. I slid straight down his neck, and on the way down, I somehow managed to hook my thumb through his headpiece and remove his whole bridle. I don’t know who was more shocked: me or everyone else watching. But I tacked Minstrel back up, got on and carried on with the rest of the test. I saluted to the judge, gave my pony a big pat and left the arena calmly. I made it all the way to the trailer before bursting into tears!” Sophie Irvine

9. “A couple of weeks ago at the British Dresssage summer music championships, I did a beautiful freestyle test. My transitions were spot on to my music changes, I was grinning from ear to ear, up the centre line, salute, big pat for my amazing pony… Then I heard the bell ring — I was facing the wrong way and the judges were sitting behind me! I’d turned up the centre line the wrong way…” Sarah Hayter-Sharpe

10. “Many years ago I entered my 18hh Shire/Clydesdale/thoroughbred, Maisie, into two prelim tests. There was a short break between the two, so I slackened my girth and went for a walk around the warm-up. Unfortunately I forgot to tighten my girth before the second test… We were going well until the 20m circle when my saddle and I slowly slid around to Maisie’s side and gravity eventually took hold. The judge ran over to check I was alright and help me remount. We then carried on and finished our test.” Alison Dummer

11. “In our music test at the Horse & Hound Festival of Dressage at Sheepgate, my horse took massive exception to the hog roast. He decided he couldn’t possibly go beyond P towards it, and that upwards was the best option! Forced to retire I then faced the acute embarrassment of being unable to get out of the arena (and all of this to the tune of The Lion Sleeps Tonight)!” Lesley Wheatley

12. “When I took my youngster to his second ever dressage show we entered the arena, went down the centre line and that was that! He didn’t want to dance so plonked his feet and wouldn’t move further than 10m, regardless of what I did. In the end the judge was laughing as I laughed, shrugged and saluted my so-called test. ‘Needs more miles on the clock’ and ‘well tried’ were the comments, with a rather bad mark next to it.” Madeleine Moon

13. “I was once doing a prelim dressage test with my pony, who is a cheeky chap. He spooked just as we had started the test and his foot went through one of the wooden dressage boards. It was stuck — luckily he is a calm pony and after seeing he was not injured, my Dad and the show organiser ended up sawing the wooden board off his hind leg! After checking he was unhurt — and gathering quite an audience — we went on to complete the test and finished third!” Hollie Blakeston

14. “I have myself a little plane spotter; he will watch planes and helicopters! When I first got him just over two years ago I had no idea about his little hobby. We were competing for our local riding club in the area dressage competition, and coming down the centre line to halt. Just as we got to X the British Red Arrows flew over in full formation, and my horse stopped dead and stuck his head in the air to watch them fly over.” Demi Davis

15. “I had no one to look after my children so I took them out to Field House, and told them to stay in the café as I could see them from the indoor arena. As I started the dressage test my daughter came out of the café — I gave a her a stern look and shouted “back in the café!”. The judge’s comment was ‘stressful entry’ — but we still got a seven!” Julie Barber

16. “I had learned the test but it went completely out of my head, even though a kind person called for me. All I wanted to do was get to the end and get out of the arena. Crossing the diagonal, I heard the caller say “and show some medium trot strides” — and realised I was still in canter. The judge rang the bell and got out of the car, but I was so desperate to finish the test that I ignored her and kept going. I don’t know who was more traumatised: the poor caller who read the test perfectly, the judge who had to mark the last two movements standing at the car door, or me.” Elizabeth Rushton

17. “Having successfully completed a dressage test for once without any major dramas, I relaxed as we moved off on a long rein after the salute. At that point the judge stood up and pulled back the sliding glass window in the judge’s box. My pony teleported left. I ended up lying on the ground on my back looking up at the judge, who said ‘oh…sorry…was that my fault?’” Jane Sanders

18. “My horse was a jumper, but I misguidedly did a dressage test on him. Cantering down the long side, I felt him suddenly setting himself right to jump the hedge, which was the boundary on the short side. I couldn’t convince him not to jump it. The judges called me back and suggested I should stick to jumping.” Jackie Bell

19. “Competing at local indoor dressage championship, I was incredibly nervous and there was a big silent crowd of local riders watching. As the bell rang to start, I trotted down the long side and my horse farted very loudly — echoing around the arena. I heard the booming voice of my trainer saying ‘Oh! Poor Rebecca, she suffers so badly with competition nerves!’ The crowd collapsed into laughter — as did I.” Rebecca Jackson

20. “I had almost completed a nice novice test on my cheeky coloured pony, Patch. As I came to halt on the centre line, Patch, totally without warning, decided it was the perfect time to get down for a roll. I managed to get her up mid roll, jumped back on, saluted the judge and left the arena with a very red face! Thankfully the judge had a sense of humour to match Patchy’s, and we got a four for the halt, with the comment simply saying ‘rolled’.” Claire Hazeldine

21. “When I was young I attended a local unaffiliated dressage test on a little grey pony called Dinky. The owner was calling the test for me and at A I commenced a 20m circle in trot with the intention of cantering left before X. As I asked for canter Dinky did a huge buck and sent me flying. The owner swiftly gave me a leg-up and I commenced the movement again from A — the same thing happened again. The third time, the bridle came off with me! By that time there was quite a large audience gathered and the judge then popped out of the box to say that she thought it was time to leave the arena.” Katie Rutter

And a bonus story from H&H’s former dressage editor…

“During a test on my extravagant Anglo-Arab gelding, Toby, one of my contact lenses got dislodged just as we set off across the diagonal in extended trot – his party piece. Unable to see properly, and to judge how far away the intermittent white boards ahead of us were, we sailed straight out of the arena at M and almost made it to the boundary fence. The judge called after us, ‘Oh do come back!’…” Polly Bryan

(Image credit: Real Time Imaging)

17 awkward, embarrassing or hairy moments you might have experienced in the show ring…

(Image credit: Real Time Imaging)

23 of the most embarrassing comments we’ve ever seen on a dressage sheet

(Image credit: Real Time Imaging)

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5 places most riders lose marks in the dressage arena (and how to win them back)

Gemma Redrup — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 15:30:07 +0000

Dressage trainer and author of Master Dressage Peter Dove shares some pearls of wisdom on common mistakes made by riders in dressage tests as well as how to prevent them and earn more marks

1. 20m circles

Peter says: “Riders need to be accurate at all times, both while competing and schooling at home. When riding 20m circles, I see a lot of what I call ‘squircles’ where the shape is completely wrong. Competitors will either go into the corners and then make a flat shape at the apex of the circle where the horse tends to end up on its outside shoulder or they will follow the track too far around the arena and then turn to make the top of the circle which means it ends up square.

“In order to ride a correct 20m circle, imagine the shape you need to ride is a balance beam which has just enough room for your horse to go along the top of it. Then think to yourself about which side of the balance beam your horse would fall off, and make the correction. If it is a left-handed circle, your horse should always be making steps to the left. Imagine a circle inside a square — the circle will only touch four points of the square — as soon as your horse touches each point, it must immediately leave it. For example, if your circle starts at A, your horse should step off the track as soon as it reaches the marker.

“You shouldn’t be anywhere near the corners of the arena — after starting your circle from A, you should be aiming for the next point on the track 10m from the corner (or 4m beyond the corner marker letter). Don’t let your horse continue wandering through its outside shoulder once you reach the apex of the circle. Finally, once you return to the starting point of the circle, straighten your horse up onto the track.”

2. Change the rein across the diagonal

Peter says: “The most common mistake riders make when performing this movement is that they come out of the starting corner too quickly. You need to bear in mind that you have 6m out of the corner to ride before you reach the marker from which the movement actually starts. Therefore, ride into the corner, with your horse’s legs stepping away from the track smoothly at the marker.

“Don’t aim your horse’s nose at the marker at the end of the diagonal — your horse is long, so by the time its body has all got onto the track, you will find yourself already in the corner. So instead, as you ride across the diagonal, aim your horse’s nose half a horse’s length before the marker, so that you help prevent falling through the corner.”

3. Corners

Peter says: “I advise riders not to think about riding into the corners as they think they should. Instead think of corners as ¼ circles. Start the turn 5m from the corner and ride a smooth curve so that you maintain balance and rhythm.”

4. Centre lines

Peter says: “Never turn onto the centre line when you get to the marker — your horse can’t do 90 degree turns! Instead, like corners, think of the turn as being a ¼ circle. Start your turn before the marker — how far this is is dependent on your horse, like his size and experience. Look for the end marker you are heading for so that you are focused and can make any necessary small adjustments to keep your horse on the centre line. Don’t turn your shoulders as you will lose the balance and outside shoulder of your horse — it’s much better if you keep your shoulders square over your hips and just turn your head.”

5. Give and retake the reins

Peter says: “Riders need to stay upright in their bodies when they give the reins away — don’t collapse forward. Horses need to maintain their own self-carriage without the support of the rider, so it is therefore the rider’s job to show a clear loop in the rein, with their hands pushed forwards towards the bit in order to get the best marks. The judge won’t mind if the horse takes its head and neck forwards slightly, as long as they don’t fall onto the forehand.”

Take a spare plaiting kit and other ways to stay calm ahead of a dressage test

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:30:20 +0000

We can all get a case of cold feet when it comes to competing and can let it get in the way of having fun and doing our best. In order to help combat those feelings of dread, Emma Shadbolt asks dressage rider Matt Frost to get his top tips on how to stay cool and calm before a show

Make sure you’re ready for the test

Before you enter the class check the content of the test and make sure you are capable of the exercises you will need to perform. Have a run through at home to see if you feel ready – if you’re not quite ready then wait, there is nothing more stressful than over-facing yourself and more importantly your horse. There is always another day.

Make a plan

Start to make your plan as soon as you receive your times. Allow enough time to get your horse ready at home and the lorry packed. We always allow a 15-minute buffer zone before we leave the yard to allow for the unexpected and to double check we have everything. It also stops us rushing around in a mad panic which the horses pick up on. We always work out from a route planner how long it takes to get to the venue and allow an extra 15-30 minutes extra in case of traffic.

We tend to arrive one hour before I’m due to get on to warm up the first horse. This allows time to check the entries board, make sure I’m on the right horse, in the correct class and section, and that I have learnt the right test.

I usually get on a maximum of 45 minutes before my first test. I give the horses a good walk to settle them into their surroundings — even if they are on their toes, 10 minutes’ walking will help to calm them.

With 5-10 minutes to go, we get ready. This involves taking off boots and having a quick glance at the test. The last few minutes before we go in to compete are making sure the horse is focused on me with basic transitions.

I don’t tend to practise the exercises at this stage as it’s too late. Once I have finished my test, no matter how it went, I go back into the arena and cool down by stretching the horse and giving them a good walk off.

Have a ring bag

We always have a bag at the side of the ring. It contains a hoof pick, a leather punch, spare plaiting equipment, a music CD, a towel, some sugar, a water bottle, and test sheets. It also gives you somewhere to put your boots in while you are competing and keeps everything safe and together.

Nerves are good — use them to your advantage

It’s ok to be nervous! Try to turn nervous energy into excitement. You have a responsibility over your horse to give him the best experience possible. Be productive and remember why you are doing it in the first place (for enjoyment, hopefully)!

How to cope when things go wrong in a dressage test – and still impress the judges

Polly Bryan — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 17:32:33 +0000

Everyone makes mistakes in dressage tests. Yes, even Olympic medallists like Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin. Part of the art of good test-riding is being able to cope when things go wrong in the arena.

Maybe your horse can’t wait to get on with the job and refuses to stand still in halt, or perhaps he loses balance in canter so changes legs or breaks. Unfortunately there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to dealing with these situations and, hopefully, salvaging some marks along the way. Every horse is different, and every movement is different, too.

The most important thing to remember is that each movement is marked individually. A mistake in one movement doesn’t have to affect the next. Through practice, you can train yourself to stay in the moment, putting errors behind you and focusing on what’s coming up.

And remember, judges don’t hold grudges. They won’t mark the next movement down because the previous one went wrong – unless the problem persists.

“Judges don’t hold mistakes in their minds,” says top international judge Isobel Wessels. “A judge will give you a low mark for a reason, but then they move on. They won’t hold it against you.”

But Isobel also points out that the way in which a rider handles problems in a test can influence the marks given for the movements in question.

In the event of a horse who won’t halt at the start of a test, “you can’t just sit there and sort it out, and no judge would expect you to”, says Isobel, adding that once the horse has moved twice, pushing on with the rest of the test is often the best course of action, even if it means sacrificing the halt mark.

But in other situations, correcting the mistake will win you favour with the judges.

“If, for example, a prix st georges horse comes out of a half pirouette and makes a flying change [instead of continuing in counter canter], and the rider makes no attempt to correct that, that’s not good,” says Isobel.

“As a judge you wonder if they know what’s going on if they’re not trying to show the movement required. If you can bring the horse back and then execute the change properly, you’re showing you can be effective as a rider.”

“Always do the best for your horse”

So, when it comes to mistakes in dressage tests, when should you try to correct the movement, and when should you accept it’s happened and simply move on with the test?

Isobel says it comes down to the impact your actions will have on your horse. If correcting the error, for example continuing to try to make a tense or overexcited horse halt, will cause or exacerbate tension that will filter into the rest of the test, it’s usually best not to. In these situations, staying calm and riding positively forward into the next movement will impress the judges and benefit your horse, too.

On the other hand, if something’s gone wrong but your horse’s relaxation is unaffected, try to produce at least some of the movement required, to demonstrate your skill and influence as a rider.

“You have to stay completely calm and relaxed – and always do the best for your horse,” Isobel says. “If you try to correct too strongly you can end up with a horse that is more tense at the end. This is when it’s important to know your horse, but also to trust your feeling,”

Maximise your marks: 11 tips for effective dressage test riding at all levels

Pippa Roome — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 12:24:52 +0000

At the recent United States Eventing Association Annual Meeting and Convention, judge Marilyn Payne gave a talk providing advice on riding the new 2020 FEI eventing dressage tests — which she worked with a team of judges to write. Marilyn was president of the ground jury at the Rio Olympics, so she definitely knows her stuff!

Whether you are riding at grassroots level or five-star, Marilyn had some useful tips to pass on to help you squeeze every possible mark out of your test. Here are some of our favourites:

1. In a good free walk on a long rein, the horse stretches down as far as he likes — his nose can be as low as his knees. It’s best for the rider to keep a contact as this will improve the quality of the walk and make it easier to pick the horse back up without him resisting. But the vital factors are the quality of the walk, the length of the horse’s stride and the swing over the back.

2. In extended walk, the horse lengthens his frame and the stride will lengthen, but there should not be a loop in the reins — the rider should maintain contact. The horse’s neck should be longer and his nose lower than in medium walk, but the nose should not be beyond the point of the shoulder.

3. In medium walk, the horse must still be marching and have overtrack. When riders come out of extended walk, the medium walk is often too short and the horse is not tracking up — make sure it’s a medium walk, not collected.

4. If there are separate scores for halt and rein-back, make sure you stand for at least three seconds. If the halt is not held, you will lose marks for the halt but also for the rein-back as it looks like the horse is anticipating.

5. When performing a stretch in trot or canter, keep the contact; don’t throw the reins away. The balance, rhythm, tempo and quality of the gait should not change and the judge should see a stretch over the back. The horse’s nose should be beyond the point of the shoulder, but not come behind the vertical. If a full circle is given for the movement, it’s impressive to get to the stretch quickly, but perfectly acceptable to use the first quarter to develop the stretch, the middle half to maintain it and the last quarter to pick up so the horse is back in a normal frame by the last marker. If the horse resists in the pick-up, it was a “cheater stretch” and the horse wasn’t really seeking the contact.

6. A give and re-take of the reins requires a clear release of the reins for three or four strides. The rider should hold the hands high and push them forward to make it really clear, but nothing should change in the horse’s frame — he should maintain self-carriage, rhythm, tempo, straightness and the quality of the gait. The rider should hold him with the seat and back, saying “stay up here”.

7. A turn on the haunches can be around a circle 1m wide and the horse can take quite a few steps. The difference with a half-pirouette is that the hindlegs should stay nearly in place and the horse should take only three or four steps for a really high score. But it’s better to to a slightly large half-pirouette than get stuck by trying to do one smaller than the horse is ready for, as getting stuck will be heavily penalised.

8. If you are asked for a change of canter lead through trot over X, you should trot before X and canter again after X so the transition is placed centrally over the letter. Don’t make the transition to trot at X.

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9. If the horse breaks in counter canter, you should try to regroup and get the counter canter back so you get some marks for the counter canter and get the mark for the transition out of it. Similarly, if a horse makes a flying change really early, you should try to change back and perform the flying change again at the right place.

10. Most people ride 10m circles too big. Get someone to watch you when you practise and tell you if you are doing them the right size.

11. Don’t forget to ride the end of movements and the bits in between. If you are asked to make a straight line after a half-pass, for example, you could lose the marks gained in a good half-pass if you don’t go straight. Conversely, if the judge is wavering between two marks and you do an impressive straight line, you could nudge them to the higher score.

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‘If the arena’s like a church and someone opens a bag of crisps, it doesn’t always end well!’: 6 top tips for competing indoors

Polly Bryan — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 12:24:15 +0000

The temperatures are dropping and the dark nights are closing in, meaning more and more riders will find themselves with the prospect of competing indoors. While providing a welcome relief from the elements, at least during your test, riding indoors does come with its own set of challenges, especially if you and your horse are not used to riding in one. We ask international grand prix rider and trainer Anna Ross for her top tips to avoid indoor issues at your next winter show.

1. Find out in advance whether the warm-up arena is indoors too

At some venues, you’ll warm up and ride your test indoors, but at many others you’ll be warming up in an outdoor arena and competing indoors.

“If the warm-up is outdoors and the arena indoors most horses tend to back off a bit as they go in,” says Anna. Make sure you’re prepared to give your horse some extra encouragement on your way into the arena, if needed.

2. Consider buying your horse a pair of soundproof ears

“What is often different about being indoors is that noises are amplified, so invest in soundproof ears if your horse is sound sensitive,” advises Anna. “Outside there can be all sorts of things happening and your horse won’t notice, but when you go in to an indoor arena that’s like a church and someone opens a bag of crisps, it doesn’t always end well!”

3. Resist the urge to confront the thing your horse is spooking at

“If your horse is spooking at something, like a sign or banner, give it a bit of space — immediately confronting your horse with all the things he’s afraid of isn’t usually a good idea as horses are flight animals,” says Anna. “Instead, bend him away from the thing he’s spooking at and leg yield slightly towards it.”

4. Do what you can to spook-proof your horse at home

“Horses tend to spook at smaller things — rather than the judges’ table itself, it might be the fact that there’s a cloth over it, or rather than the banner itself scaring your horse, it’ll more likely be the block of dark or bright colour on it,” says Anna. “It’s definitely worth working to desensitize your horse to that sort of thing at home.”

5. Take advantage of an arena walk

If your venue offers an arena walk in advance of your class, it’s worth making the most of that to help your horse acclimatize to the ring. But make sure you’re not wasting the opportunity.

“If an arena walk is available and you opt to do it, don’t wander round chatting to friends,” advises Anna. “You’re better to go round on your own, otherwise your horse will glue itself to its friends and doesn’t take any notice of anything. It might feel anti-social, but it’ll be more beneficial.”

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6. Check if the arena has mirrors

“Usually, if a horse is alright with other horses coming towards him, he will be ok with a mirror,” points out Anna. “But if not they can pose a problem — make sure your horse is flexed to the inside as you ride past them.

“Even if you don’t have mirrors you can practise riding with, ask a friend to ride towards you, to help your horse become used to it.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

‘It’s bizarre’: new dressage test divides opinion at Badminton

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 05 May 2017 17:41:39 +0000

New CCI4* dressage tests were introduced at the start of this season, one of which is being performed at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, and riders have spoken up about some of their concerns with it.

The main bone of contention is that combinations must now perform a 20m canter circle allowing the horse to “stretch forward and down” in the 2017 Four Star (4*) dressage test (A) ridden by Badminton competitors (pictured top being ridden by current Badminton dressage leader, Chris Burton).

Paul Tapner described the canter stretch movement as “bizarre”.

“If your horse can do the movement well, then great. We were having bets in the stables here at Badminton about how many horses were going to run off and leave the arena,” laughed Paul. “I get the idea behind the movement, but I really don’t think it’s necessary.”

Andrew Nicholson said that this new test is “easier than the one before”.

Badminton final scores

“We, as riders, now have more time to rearrange things. For example, once you’ve finished a half-pass, you have the short side of the arena to get things together again before you start the next movement,” explained the New Zealander. “I also think that the removal of all counter canter is a bad idea. Counter canter is a very useful training tool and it should still be included in the four-star test.”

Ingrid Klimke is more of a fan of the new additions.

“I think the new test is interesting and the canter stretch movement is a good thing as it shows true relaxation in the horse,” she explained. “Plus the extended canter to a flying-change movement is a useful way of showing whether the horse is through or not. I think it is a more difficult test which is also positive.”

Belgian rider Karin Donckers said that the test suited her Badminton horse, Fletcha Van’t Verahof.

“The new four-star test we’re riding helped my horse as he enjoys stretching and so is particularly good at the 20m canter circle where the horse has to stretch forward and down.”

All four-stars have been using either the 2009 FEI CCI4* A or B test for the past eight years, with the exception of the Olympics which used a slightly shortened version of the B test.

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The new tests no longer require half walk pirouettes, counter canter and canter serpentines, but do now include flying changes from medium and extended canter.

Don’t miss this week’s H&H (on sale now), including a 16-page Badminton pull-out with full form guide, dressage test, judge’s analysis, course map and more. Plus don’t forget to pick up your copy of H&H next week (11 May), which will have an expert Badminton dressage comment from Peter Storr.

New four-star dressage tests released: goodbye walk pirouettes and counter canter

Lucy Elder — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 13:23:48 +0000

New CCI4* dressage tests will be used in competition next season for the first time in eight years.

All four-stars have been using either the 2009 FEI CCI4* A or B test for the past eight years, with the exception of the Olympics which used a slightly shortened version of the B test.

Among the main changes in these two new 2017 tests is the introduction of flying changes from medium and extended canter.

Counter canter is completely omitted in both new tests, as is the half walk pirouette and the canter serpentines have also gone.

A new addition to the tests is a 20m canter circle allowing the horse to “stretch forward and down”.

Unsurprisingly, the new tests feature many of the same movements but in a slightly different order.

The entry in collected canter followed by halt and proceeding at collected trot remains unchanged. One of the new tests includes changing the rein in medium trot across the full long diagonal, rather than the current broken diagonal.

From there, combinations will again go into the lateral trot work, although the order in which the half-pass and shoulder-in comes is changed in one of the new tests.

Moving on to the canter work, in the new B test, competitors will have to show canter half-pass across three-quarters of the arena, as opposed to half the arena previously, but the angle is unchanged.

The A test features a change the rein from S to F in medium canter, before collected canter and a flying change at F. It also has extended canter across the M-X-K long diagonal before immediately collecting and showing a flying change.

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Meanwhile, the B test asks for flying changes while travelling straight ahead down the quarter lines directly after half-pass.

While these are the only two new international eventing tests for the 2017 season, both 2015 one-star tests have had their wording slightly tweaked.

Don’t miss next week’s issue of Horse & Hound (15 December) for reaction to the new tests.

5 pointers to help you ride the perfect 20m circle

Gemma Redrup — Mon, 30 May 2016 16:25:46 +0000

It sounds obvious, but these are so often badly ridden within a dressage test. So to help, here’s five pointers to help you nail this movement and earn all the marks you can

1. What the judges are looking for

On your dressage test sheet you will see that judges are looking for “quality of pace, regularity and tempo.” These three are all part of the same thing. A quality pace has regularity (rhythm) and tempo. Rhythm is the beat of your horse’s footfall. Riders often think they have a poor rhythm and this is due to it being too quick. It’s the tempo (the speed of your rhythm) you need to get right. If you are nervous you are likely to have a tendancy to speed things up.

2. 20m is a large circle — you don’t need to overdo inside bend

The most common error on a circle is too much bend to the inside. The judge wants to see that your horse’s body fits along the curve of the circle. They don’t want to see his head turned to the inside or looking back towards his tail. The flexion is not a neck bend; you should have enough of a flexion to see the horse’s eye, ear and nostril.

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3. Learn your shape

The shape of a circle is important. A circle is a continuous curve that runs between four tangent points. A/C and X are the easy ones to remember – as are E and B when you circle in the middle. The tangent points on each long side are 10m from E/B and 10m from the short side not at K, F, M or H which are only 6m from the short sides. Practice at home by starting at the C marker so you can learn your shape.

4. Remember to ride for accuracy marks

Showing the difference between corners and circles makes your test look neat and well polished. The judges will award extra marks for accuracy and these can mean the difference between winning and not.

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5. You should never not be turning

The correct shape means you will be nowhere near corners of arena. There should be no trotting on the track in 20m apart from at C where you hit it for a couple of strides and again at each side and over X. There should be no straight lines – touch the track and leave the track.

Two wrong turns could lead to dressage elimination H&H VIP

Alice Collins — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 10:55:59 +0000

Dressage riders who take the wrong course could be suffer much harsher penalties under a potential new rule.

It is one of two new regulations that will be mooted at the FEI’s general assembly in Puerto Rico (10-13 November).

The first concerns the penalty for an error of course, with the proposals recommending a 3% reduction from the final score for the first error, and elimination for the second.

Under current rules, two marks are deducted from each judge for the first error and four for the second, with the third triggering elimination.

The FEI’s Frank Kemperman explained that the proposed rule change “brought dressage more in line with jumping, where a single error of course means elimination”.

American rider Catherine Haddad, Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer and judge Katrina Wüst all voiced their objections, the latter stating that “judges would be put in an extremely difficult position” should the rule be carried.

“What if we remember to ring the bell for one and not the other? The riders will appeal. I am totally against this,” she said. “A grand prix horse who can’t piaffe could therefore be penalised less than a rider who takes a little bit of a wrong line.”

Another trainer stated it would be “catastrophic for children — they’d never want to ride with this additional pressure”.

The rules surrounding ear covers will also be debated. Currently they are only allowed in outdoor competitions and as fly protection. The proposal is for ear covers to be sanctioned in all competitions and to allow a degree of noise reduction — though ear plugs would still remain permitted only in prize-givings.

British Dressage’s Paul Graham said that no immediate changes would be made to national rules, regardless of the outcome of the general assembly.

“Our rules will stand for 2016, but we’d let any new rules of this nature bed down in international competition for a year and look to adopt them in December 2016,” he said.

The relaxation of the ear cover rules comes on the back of the threat to equestrian disciplines of being dropped from the Olympic roster. Measures such as this are being considered to make dressage more exciting and accessible for spectators, particularly those unfamiliar with the sport. If horses wear noise-reducing ear covers, spectators could be encouraged to be more vocal during tests and prize-givings without frightening them.

Ref: H&H 5/11/15

Watch Farouche’s winning test at the BD nationals

Polly Bryan — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:39:02 +0000

Michael Eilberg wowed the crowds yet again with the outstanding Woodlander Farouche to win the Saracen Horse Feeds inter I championship at the 2015 Lemieux National Dressage Championships.

The British-bred mare produced some stunning work, bar a couple of expensive mistakes in the changes and the first pirouette, to score 74.11%, knocking Michael’s sister Maria into second on Royal Concert.

“Farouche got a bit nervous today; it’s gutting to have mistakes when the rest of the work is so good,” said Michael of the Fürst Heinrich x Dimaggio nine-year-old. “We’ve been focusing a lot on the grand prix work at home and sometimes there’s a bit of confusion. But there were so many highlights – with a mistake-free test she could be close to 80%.”

The TopSpec medium restricted title went to Jayne Turney riding Charlotte Dujardin’s six-year-old pony Cruz III, who is by the prolific pony stallion Caesar 171. The pair posted 72.22%, achieving three aims in one for Jayne.

“My ambitions were to qualify for the nationals, get a score over 70% and to win. And I’ve done all three; I can’t believe it,” she said.

Jess Dunn claimed a very hot Dodson & Horrell novice open championship with the five-year-old Fyona. The black mare by Sorento x Ferro produced a powerful, consistent performance to achieve the highest score of the day, 76.24%.

“For a while I wasn’t sure if I would even make it here,” said Jess, who also filled third place with MFS French Noir in the class. “ I got trampled in the truck and was in hospital for two days.

“Fyona is super sensitive but I was thrilled with her work today. If we get the first halt right, I feel as though we can do anything.”

Another young horse took the honours in the novice restricted, Lucinda Elliott and the five-year-old Mount St John Best Of All scoring 74.14% to top the leaderboard.

“I’ve really worked on my test riding with Emile Faurie in the run up to today as I haven’t ridden that many dressage tests,” said Lucinda, who was riding at the nationals for the first time.

Winner of the KBIS para title was Natasha Adkinson and the Scottish-bred Sweet Caledonia, a seven-year-old by San Remo. The grade Ib rider scored 73.68% for a personal best.

“I’ve had Sweet Caledonia since she was six weeks old so we have a tremendous bond. We’ve learnt everything together,” said Natasha.

Carl Hester: Some marks in eventing need correcting [H&H VIP]

Carl Hester — Sat, 16 May 2015 07:55:59 +0000

There were no 10s this year and few nines, after more “wow dressage” and top marks over the past few years at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials. The four-star test used [A 2009] requires more collection than the other one and so many top riders dropped from the top ranks because of the flying changes.

The first change, after the extended canter, sets the scene — riders who can’t collect and have a wild change here take a while to recover.

There’s almost a need for a judges’ supervisory panel — as we have in pure dressage — because some marks needed correcting. A late change should get a poor mark, a clean but boring one an average mark and an expressive change a high mark. Some late changes garnered a seven or eight, while clean ones got 6.5, which is ridiculous.

Nicholson’s risks

Among the top players Andrew Nicholson had the rideability factor — he took risks, as he does across country, and it paid off. William Fox-Pitt’s Chilli Morning has more lightness and he could have led without the mistakes in the changes. And it was great to see Oliver Townend’s ride Armada finally become submissive without losing his sparkle.

Ingrid Klimke was impressive as Horseware Hale Bob is not the best mover. Young riders should aspire to emulate her softness and good position. I felt Jock Paget was slightly undermarked on Clifton Lush, but to be fifth and sixth was quite something.

Titan was the best mover

I would take Bill Levett’s Shannondale Titan (pictured) as a horse for the future. He was the best mover and his springy trot, with a clear moment of suspension, deserved better marks. If he could be mistake-free and show better self-carriage he could score in the 20s, something we’ve not seen for a while.

The young German Niklas Bschorer is a lovely rider and it was nice to see Louisa Milne Home hit the 40s with King Eider after steady improvement each year. Paul Tapner is a top rider — both his horses were between leg and hand and Indian Mill showed lots of potential. Let’s hope Laura Collett’s Grand Manoeuvre can fulfill his promise and also Flora Harris’ Amazing VIII, who showed the best outline in extended trot.

The take-home message? Flying changes have returned as a weakness in eventing dressage, having improved since they were first introduced. The placing of them is difficult in this test and I’m not sure if it’s the best arrangement for fit horses, who have to deal with quite a difference between the warm-up and competition atmosphere.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 14 May 2015

Alice Collins’ Badminton blog: There’s no such thing as ‘eventing dressage’

Alice Collins — Fri, 08 May 2015 18:57:13 +0000

H&H's dressage editor pays a visit to Badminton and finds dressage controversy, Carl Hester's unique pronunciation and a gem of a horse

“What are you doing here?” three separate people I saw exclaimed today at Badminton. Why for a dressage fix of course, I explained.

That wasn’t strictly true; I was visiting in my capacity as products editor, rather than dressage. The vast array of kit, bits, boots, huts (and mutts) plus all manner of inventive stuff never ceases to amaze me, even though I’ve been to this show – sorry event (there’s the dressage ed creeping in) every year for nearly a decade.

Floating champagne cooler holder for your hot tub anyone?

I do spare a thought for all the people living in the houses in the vicinity of the Badminton site. The show is an absolute monster and I wonder whether the local residents are horsey and love this time of year, or whether they dread it – or are they savvy and put their houses on Airbnb and make a mint??

Having stayed up almost all night addictively watching the momentous election, sleep was evidently very much on my mind.

Badminton final scores

It’ll be fascinating to see how the Conservative majority result will impact the equestrian community – particularly the hunting world. Could we dare hope for repeal?

Back to the dressage. People were surprised I was at Badminton because of this absurd divide between “pure dressage” and “eventing dressage”; absurd because all dressage is – in all its guises – is just training horses, which is what both eventers and dressage riders do.

Those same shared scales of training mean that H&H’s long-time “pure” dressage columnists Pammy Hutton and Carl Hester take so brilliantly to the Radio Badminton airwaves to amuse and educate listeners, from those around the arena to a global online audience.

Badminton seems to be magnetic for our columnists. Anna Ross was firmly planted in the press office commentating on the H&H live text service. She’s done this for a few years and there’s been a long-standing rule that whenever a rider scores a 10, Anna’s allowed a cheeky swig of wine. Alas for Anna, 10s were not forthcoming this year and midway through Friday’s afternoon session she was making an impassioned attempt to renegotiate terms down to a nine with Carol, our web editor.

Between rushing around, I only managed to watch three tests live: Paul Tapner (Indian Mill), Andrew Nicholson (Calico Joe) and William Fox-Pitt on Chilli Morning. But what fantastic tests they were. It’s a treat to watch three such talented combinations, all of whom now sit in the top dozen overnight with plus-71% scores (or sub-44, in eventing speak).

I was particularly taken with Paul’s four-star debutante Indian Mill (pictured), a beautiful 10-year-old pure thoroughbred by Millkom x Indian Ridge. Both he and Calico Joe were bred by the Buller family. What a superb achievement for these relatively low profile breeders.

With no disrespect the the versatile, talented thoroughbred, Indian Mill moves better and more elastically than many warmbloods I know. I fully agreed with Carl that some of Paul’s marks were stingy, and positive riding and such wonderful expression (though Carl pronounces it ‘etspression’) should have been more generously rewarded.

There was much chatter about marking discrepancies between the judges. Calico Joe was rewarded with a four and a 7.5 for a fluffed flying change, while Chilli Morning garnered two fours and an eight for a markedly late behind change. A judges’ supervisory panel would have readjusted the high mark, but no such panel exists in eventing – all to the good for William today.

Chilli changed late behind twice and almost jogged in the walk; if he hadn’t, I think he’d be leading going into the cross-country. As it is, he’s lying second.

Watching the horse close-up from the journalists’ mix zone (where riders come for their post-test grilling) after William dismounted, I mused that the stallion might benefit from some fake plaits on the bottom quarter of his missing – presumed rubbed – mane to help with the overall picture of throughness in front of the saddle. I was rounded on by the eventing journos: “Don’t be ridiculous,” the ‘eventos’ said in unison, “this isn’t pure dressage you know!”

Perhaps the pure/eventing dressage divide is alive and kicking after all…

Much to my amusement, former H&H eventing editor editor Catherine Austen popped up just then, wanting to known what we were squabbling about. She’d missed some of William’s test as she got stuck in the queue for fudge. Priorities Catherine, priorities!

Shaun Mandy’s dressage blog: Moving home and tips for riding half-pass

Shaun Mandy — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 09:52:52 +0000

Dear gorgeous readers,

I am home! It is great to be back, but at the same time feels a little strange that I have left Denmark for good and said goodbye to Hoffmann Towers — it is the end of an amazing chapter. I will, of course,

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

stay in touch and I still have lots of Hasse Hoffmann’s Dressage with heart and mind books for sale.

My last couple of weeks in Denmark were really building up to the move home, sorting transport, vets, selling things, buying things and, of course, a mini leaving party!

Poppy, Pringle and I were picked up by the fantastic Transporter, Ejlif of Odense International Horse Transport, on Thursday at 7am. We made our way down through Denmark, Germany and then Holland arriving at the ferry terminal by 9pm. I did not realise at the time, but the crossing from Hook of Holland to Harwich, England is 8 hours. I have a small phobia of open waters and large ships so finding out that I would be sleeping on the ship for a full night crossing rattled me a little!

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

After ensuring that horses and dog were settled in for the night on the lorry, Ejlif and I went up to the restaurant for dinner and a small Pinot to settle my nerves! It was a very smooth crossing and I slept soundly in my little cabin.

We got off safely the other side the next morning and made our way to Forest View, Malmesbury via

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Essex and Oldencraig in Surrey for a couple of deliveries.

The weekend was spent unpacking and settling in. Jeanette and Casey Stickland, who own Forest View, have made me, Pringle and Poppy feel right at home. My family also came up from Bournemouth on the Saturday and so all-in-all it was a full weekend. Now I must start working and entering some competitions for Poppy.

I am planning my next clinic for 14 March, which will be here at Forest View, now that I have my own lovely indoor school to coach from!

Going sideways

Recently I have been working more on Poppy’s half-passes. Remember, your position and use of body weight is very important when executing the half-pass. When your horse is established in shoulder-in you can progress to travers and half-pass. These are more collecting exercises and so must only be started when your horse is strong enough and the basics are well established to move on, not just because he has reached a certain age.

My new yard (Image credit: creditUnknown)

In the shoulder-in, it is only your horse’s inside hind leg that steps further underneath him, therefore, becoming more supple in the outside shoulder. With travers and half-pass both hind legs are stepping more underneath him and so both shoulders become more supple. For this reason it is more of a collecting exercise and so more difficult for your horse.

When riding a trot half-pass to the left, for example, (remember it is easier to start a half-pass from the centre line to the track than out of a corner), the left rein is the flexing rein and can also guide.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

It is a common mistake for riders to hang on to the inside rein, which blocks the movement and flow of energy through the horse’s body. You should be able to see the left eye and nostril when your horse is flexed in this direction. Your inside leg is the forward driving leg and stays in normal position. Your outside rein is restraining and supporting and is the rein that stops your horse from flexing or bending too much in the neck. Your outside leg must move a little further back and is asking for sideways. Be careful not to grip with your knee or swing your lower leg too far back. Move your whole leg from hip to heel back a little.

As you start the half-pass, step a little more onto your left stirrup as this is the direction you are moving towards. Your right seatbone will come a bit more to the middle of the saddle as you bring your right leg back and your outside shoulder position back too. The trot rhythm should not change when you ride into a half-pass. If you lose forward tendency, abort the exercise and ride straight! Once you have the forwardness again you can carry on.

When starting your horse with half-pass, do not ask for too much bend and allow the hindquarters to trail a little, this will make it easier as is less collecting and will, therefore, be easier to keep forwardness.

Well the sun is setting and animals need feeding!

Until soon,

Shaun xx

When archers shoot for enjoyment, they have all their skill; when they shoot for a brass buckle, they get nervous; when they shoot for a prize of gold, they begin to see two targets — Chuang Tzu

Dressage half marks introduced for FEI and British eventing

Sophia Heath — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 07:25:35 +0000

Event riders will now be able to receive half marks in dressage at national and international competitions.

British Dressage (BD) implemented half marks in January 2014 and the FEI and British Eventing (BE) are now doing the same.

“Following the successful implementation in 2014 of half marks by BD and also due to the fact that the FEI are to introduce half marks for the eventing dressage phase in 2015, it was agreed by the BE sport committee that half marks should be introduced at all levels,” said a BE spokesman.

“The committee felt that it is important for BE, where possible, to mirror the FEI rules for simplification purposes. It was also agreed that, as all tests are judged by BD judges, introducing half marks would also make sense to align with its rule on this matter.”

International dressage judge and trainer Isobel Wessels thinks that half marks are a positive move for the sport.

“I was one of those doubters when it first came in for pure dressage,” she told H&H.

“But I have to say, having used them for the past couple of years, I don’t know how we ever managed without them. I don’t think things are as black and white as whole marks can make them seem.

“I also believe the event riders will enjoy being able to up their game little by little. Before, it might have taken two years to up a mark from a six to a seven, but now riders have something in between they can aim for.”

Isobel, who works with the New Zealand eventing team, said that half marks could improve the sport at international level.

“When I see their [NZ team riders] sheets, quite often there are huge differences in the marks from different judges.

“Now there shouldn’t be any excuses and marking should be more exact.”

Ref: Horse & Hound; 5 February 2015

Dressage judging? There’s an app for that

Sophia Heath — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 12:00:54 +0000

Would you have given that piaffe an 8 rather than a 9?

Did Valegro’s extended trot deserve 10s from all five judges?

Spectators at Aachen CHIO this weekend (17-20 July) will be able to have their say thanks to an app which allows live judging.

The audience can choose between using the app in “expert mode” — which allows the user to mark each individual movement — or a simpler “standard mode.”

During the competition, fans can compare their marks with other “audience judges” in the stadium and, at the end, the overall rankings from the crowd will be shown.

“I can’t wait to see the audience judgment,” said German dressage coach Monica Theodorescu.

“The fans at Aachen are well known for their expertise, so this is really going to be exciting.

“I’m curious if the audience ranking will be the same as that of the judges.”

For more information visit www.chioaachen.de

Isobel Wessels’ tips on how to nail your dressage score

Horse & Hound — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:42:32 +0000

We asked international dressage judge, rider and trainer Isobel Wessels to highlight the moments in a test where she believes many classes are won or lost.

Here she shares her valuable tips to help you get the most out of your entry and halt.

The entry and halt

The entry and halt sets the scene, so nailing this movement will make a good initial impression.

When you don’t have the luxury of warming up outside the arena, you can often trace a bad halt back to the horse not being turned correctly at A.

The rider either overshoots the centre line with too much neck bend and lets the horse’s quarters fall in or out, or doesn’t complete the turn, meaning the quarters are not following the shoulders.

Both these faults mean the entry cannot be straight, which leads to a low mark early on and the almost certainty of a ragged halt.

The key to making a good turn at A is to think about riding the horse straight into both reins with only a small amount of flexion at the poll to control the bend.

Don’t push the horse sideways, as you will cause his legs to cross. Instead, think about turning just a little bit with every stride, lifting your ribcage and looking ahead to C.

It is easy for the horse to drop behind the leg and start anticipating the halt, so at home practise plenty of turns, but do not halt every time.

Instead, use half-halts so he learns to accept the preparation, but keeps moving forwards.

If you have to chase your horse down the centre line to prevent him jamming on the brakes, you are advertising the fact that he is behind your leg.

Try this at home: with a fidgety horse that is reluctant to stand, avoid riding abruptly to halt — instead ask for trot to walk to trot on the centreline. This will give the horse confidence and help develop softness in his back and neck.

The halt at the end of the test comes just before the judge fills in the collective marks, which are usually worth double. Two bad halts in a test will affect the submission marks.

Once halted, the horse has to stay still and balanced. If no immobility is shown, you’re likely to get a very low mark.

To earn an eight or above at the higher levels, the horse’s hindlegs have to be underneath him and “closed” — together and closer to his front legs.

From this closed position, the horse will find it easier to move into a clear

trot rather than making a progressive transition through walk.

Exercise

There are many ingredients needed to achieve consistently square halts, but one of the most important is to have control over the horse’s steps.

From trot, ride a downward transition to halt, but then ask the horse to creep forward with tiny walk steps, controlling each one with your seat and leg.

The horse mustn’t feel trapped, so keep your hands soft and forward.

Once you can influence the horse’s steps with your seat and leg aids, you can keep asking for subtle adjustments until his hindlegs come under him and he is square in the “closed” position.

Repetition is the key, so be fussy about the way your horse stands at all times. If you always insist that he stops square with his hindlegs underneath him, this will become the norm.

Tip

It helps to think of the centre line as a railway track — if the horse isn’t in front of the leg and level in both reins, you risk derailing the train.

To read the full feature about nailing your dressage marks, including advice on getting transitions within the pace right and getting into and out of half-pass, see the current issue of H&H (22 November 2012)

Read all the latest dressage news

New service for dressage test sheets being offered

Amy Mathieson — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:26:35 +0000

In an attempt to battle ever rising postage costs, the College Equestrian Centre in Keysoe, Beds, is trialling a new idea.

The College is now offering a new “scan and send” service for dressage tests sheets. If you leave an email address after you compete, the sheets will be emailed to you free.

“As far as we know we’re the only centre offering this,” Simon Bates from Keysoe told H&H. ” It was just an idea we had, sparked by the comical costs of postage, which just keep increasing.

“It’s so much cheaper, easier and quicker to email – and people will [like to] know instantly as there’s no waiting.”

Simon added that, after only a couple of weeks, it was a “bit early to tell” what the response would be, but that he expected the service to catch up from reactions so far.

Rider and H&H dressage reporter Sarah Jenkins said: “This is a brilliant idea, I hope it catches on – no more hanging around in the cold for hours waiting for your sheet because you forgot to provide an SAE with your entry, or because the same judge is deliberating over the next class so the sheets won’t be released.

“That said, I hope they have a good scanner and provide the judges with highly legible black ink pens – handwriting can be hard enough to decipher on originals.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (13 September 2012)

New dressage app to help event riders remember their test

Horse & Hound — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:30:00 +0000

A new app to help riders learn their dressage tests will be launched this December by Leeds-based brand Equinox-Apps.

‘BE Dressage Tests’ will give the entire set of British Eventing (BE) tests in an easy-to-read format for small screens.

The app, which doesn’t need an internet connection to work, will also allow riders to listen to their test whilst riding, either on their iPhone or iPod.

Yorkshire mums Barbara Gibbs and Jan Birley came up with the idea after getting fed up with their daughters losing paper tests at the last minute before a competition.

Ms Gibbs told H&H: “It’s about the availability of it -now you can learn your dressage test anytime, anywhere.”

It is the only app approved by BE and includes three new tests for the 2012 season.

For more information visit www.equinox-apps.com

New tests for British Dressage for 2009

Horse & Hound — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:44:15 +0000

British Dressage (BD) is adopting the new 2009 International Equestrian Federation (FEI) tests at all relevant competitions in Britain from 1 January.

BD’s Joanna Bowns explained: “The tests have been implemented early to give riders time to get used to riding them on home soil.”

Visit: www.fei.org/disciplines/dressage/organisers/pages/dressage_tests.aspx

Ask H&H: dressage letter markers

Horse & Hound — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:23:00 +0000

Q: Can you tell me why the standard A, K, E, H, C, M, B, and F markers are used in a dressage arena?

NB, Essex

While dressage is thought to have been practised for hundreds of years, arena markers were not introduced formally into competition until the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, using a 60x20m arena.

Although there are several theories regarding the origins of the arena letters, including that they represent the initials of horses in the stable yard of the 17th century’s first Duke of Newcastle, William Cavendish, the most common theory is that the letters date back to the 18th-century kingdom of Prussia.

At this time, stable grooms at the Imperial Palace are said to have waited for their masters with their equine charges next to the letter that related to their master’s position or role, in German; for example, K for kaiser or king, R for ritter or knight, F for fürst or prince, and so on.

Various information sources are able to suggest sufficient German dignitary titles for the letters K, E, H, M, B, F, although it appears that the centre line letters, A, X and C, are absent.

There is no definitive answer as to why these centre line letters were introduced, other than to fill the gaps!

For standard-sized arenas, four further letters are used around the outside of the arena; V, S, R and P; and D, L, X, I and G are used down the centre line.

Again, there is no concrete answer as to why these letters were selected, although one theory is that they were introduced by 20th-century German cavalry officers.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (4 Dec, ’08)

Latest from Horse & Hound in Dressage-test

From ‘needs more suppleness’ to ‘could be more uphill’: what dressage judges’ comments really mean (and how to use them when training at home)

Way of going

Needs more suppleness

Losing balance

Lacking or losing rhythm

Irregular

Needs more energy or impulsion

Behind the leg

Inconsistent to the contact

Against the hand

Behind the vertical

Above the bit or hollow

Straightness

Could be more uphill

Needs more ground cover

Needs to show more difference

Running

Needs to flow more freely forwards

Accuracy

Circle not round/loops not even/not centred

Halt not square or immobility not maintained

Cooperation

Submission or acceptance of the aids

Still unsure what the comment means?

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23 of the most embarrassing comments we’ve ever seen on a dressage sheet

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Struggling to learn and remember your dressage test? Here’s the secret to success…

How do you learn a dressage test?

Dyslexia & learning dressage tests

How to remember dressage markers

Top tips for remembering your dressage test

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‘We left the arena and careered around the judge’s car’ and 21 more dressage bloopers

3. “My pony once trotted down the centre line straight past C and stuck his nose into a plate of sandwiches on the judge’s table.” Alison Job

And a bonus story from H&H’s former dressage editor…

5 places most riders lose marks in the dressage arena (and how to win them back)

1. 20m circles

2. Change the rein across the diagonal

3. Corners

4. Centre lines

5. Give and retake the reins

You may also be interested in…

Take a spare plaiting kit and other ways to stay calm ahead of a dressage test

Make sure you’re ready for the test

Make a plan

Have a ring bag

Nerves are good — use them to your advantage

It’s ok to be nervous! Try to turn nervous energy into excitement. You have a responsibility over your horse to give him the best experience possible. Be productive and remember why you are doing it in the first place (for enjoyment, hopefully)!

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How to cope when things go wrong in a dressage test – and still impress the judges

“Always do the best for your horse”

So, when it comes to mistakes in dressage tests, when should you try to correct the movement, and when should you accept it’s happened and simply move on with the test?

On the other hand, if something’s gone wrong but your horse’s relaxation is unaffected, try to produce at least some of the movement required, to demonstrate your skill and influence as a rider.

“You have to stay completely calm and relaxed – and always do the best for your horse,” Isobel says. “If you try to correct too strongly you can end up with a horse that is more tense at the end. This is when it’s important to know your horse, but also to trust your feeling,”

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Maximise your marks: 11 tips for effective dressage test riding at all levels

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‘If the arena’s like a church and someone opens a bag of crisps, it doesn’t always end well!’: 6 top tips for competing indoors

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‘It’s bizarre’: new dressage test divides opinion at Badminton

Badminton final scores

Ingrid Klimke is more of a fan of the new additions.

Belgian rider Karin Donckers said that the test suited her Badminton horse, Fletcha Van’t Verahof.

“The new four-star test we’re riding helped my horse as he enjoys stretching and so is particularly good at the 20m canter circle where the horse has to stretch forward and down.”

All four-stars have been using either the 2009 FEI CCI4* A or B test for the past eight years, with the exception of the Olympics which used a slightly shortened version of the B test.

Continued below…

New four-star dressage tests released: goodbye walk pirouettes and counter canter

5 pointers to help you ride the perfect 20m circle

1. What the judges are looking for

2. 20m is a large circle — you don’t need to overdo inside bend

3. Learn your shape

4. Remember to ride for accuracy marks

5. You should never not be turning

Two wrong turns could lead to dressage elimination *H&H VIP*

Watch Farouche’s winning test at the BD nationals

Carl Hester: Some marks in eventing need correcting [H&H VIP]

Nicholson’s risks

Titan was the best mover

Two wrong turns could lead to dressage elimination H&H VIP