Preparing for a dressage test
Submitted by: Hilary Moore, Dressage Trainer
Phone: 413-246-7494
Email Address: info(at)barbarastrawson.com
Date Added: 12/17/2008
Long-term preparations….
Break your daily ride down into three parts, whether you are showing or not: Warm up, Training and Stretch/Cool Down.
The warm-up and cool down are an important transition between training and rest, so each day allow enough time to be effective, but leave room for the actual training.
The training part of the ride is used for advancing and teaching new things or for honing current skills. Plan the session around your horse’s level of fitness and current skills, as all exercise needs to be gradually increased.
Alternate between trot and canter work during the training portion of your ride. Depending on your horse’s level of training, fitness level as well as personality, you may decide to focus on all trot work, all canter work, or a mixture of the two during the training portion. Focus on schooling a new movement each time (or confirming movements you did the day before).
As you confirm all the movements you will need for your dressage test and your horse gains fitness and confidence in what he is doing, you can use your training time to run through multiple movements.
__Confirm show dates, gather entry forms and take note of closing dates.
4-6 weeks before the show…
__Ride through the entire test.
Do this during one of your training times, remembering to warm-up and cool-down as usual. Since the test only takes few minutes, use the initial part of your training time to pre-ride harder movements before your test ride, just as you would at the actual show.
It is important to ride through the whole test without stops to see what needs work and to feel the big picture. This will confirm that you can do the test, so make sure to do this before you send in your entry form!
__Send in your entry form.
Spend training times to work movements as sections of the test dictate. Now is the time to focus on problems you had during the trial run of the test. Do not run through the whole test each ride, but try to focus on different movements throughout the week so you have eventually covered the whole thing.
__Check medicines and confirm they don’t come up on blood work.
__Are you riding the test correctly?
Ride your test in front of a professional and/or watch an entire class.
2-3 weeks before the show…
Ride through the test a few times and take note of how your horse responds: Do I have the best ride after a day off? After four days of work? Or when I rode the test yesterday? Awareness of how your horse responds will help you to plan your schedule in the week before the show.
__Plan the final week’s schedule for riding/running through test.
Base this on your horse’s performance in practice tests, energy/fitness level, typical day off and nerves. You may need to alter your horse’s day off depending on the timing you need to prepare the week before the show.
__Learn your test.
Walk through the ring, visualize, and write it on paper… whatever works for you. Just know your test like the back of your hand! Try to avoid readers—preparation for the next movement might require more time than they allow.
Consider the test in relation to you and your horse. What problems might come up? How will you deal with them? Visualize your self riding the test, and fixing any problems that come up. Also, visualize your self having a beautiful test!
1 week before the show…
__Ride according to your predetermined schedule.
Make sure you are sticking to the plan you made in the past few weeks.
__Confirm ride times.
__Gather all paperwork.
Maps, membership cards, hotel reservations, Coggins, etc.
__Show clothing.
Clean and organize. Does it all still fit?
__Check and prepare the trailer.
__Check the rules for whips, attire, and additional paperwork.
__ANYTHING else you can do early!
The day of the show…
__Leave enough time.
Being late shouldn’t be what is stressing you out.
__Go to the ring and visualize your test.
Do NOT watch others ride your test on the day of the show—you might remember their mistakes or get psyched out by a great ride.
__Pick a goal per test.
What is your issue for this month? How are you going to focus/fix it?
“My horse gets nervous and runs through my aides, so I will half-halt in all corners and prepare for each movement with a half-halt!” or “I am nervous because it is my first show, so I will remember to smile and breath during the whole test.”
Remember: When you ride the whole test, it is just a combination of the pieces you have been perfecting for months.
__Video your ride.
When possible, a video will help you review your own ride and prepare for the next show. It is a good idea to have a video of your self riding a test at home before the show – this will help you to prepare for the show.
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