1st level dressage tips wanted

[thara96]

Hello!

I own a dressage horse. Almost six years ago in the summer of 2014, I returned to dressage after a seven year break. I was planning to compete professionally but life got in the way of my plans. Three years ago, I spent a lot of time in the summer honing my skills in dressage lessons at a local stable. Fast forward to today and I am hoping to start lessons in the summer informally with my horse again. I am a first level dressage rider if that helps, I did the bottom two levels after I re entered the dressage world. I passed both the introductory and training level tests four summers back. How do I prepare myself? I could not find much information about the specific tests for each level online however. Which leads to my next question (see below).Tell me about other dressage sites please.

What things do I need to know about as well? Any tips would be great as I’m kind of nervous and excited at the same time. Over the past few months, I have not really done much in terms of preparation however I’m getting back in the saddle next week hopefully. Also any suggestions of what I need to focus on in the lessons would also be appreciated thanks in advance. Advice from any expert dressage horse riders welcome too, I need your perspective and opinions please. Other than to have a bottle of water with me and a notepad both of which I have already and use to evaluate my performance skill and technique after each lesson. I guess what I am really after is some useful tips on how to structure the lessons so that very little time is wasted faffing around for no reason. That would be handy. I plan on making a short list of goals in addition on things to work on and focus on in the lessons too so that I can clearly focus on weaknesses etc.

I have previously looked at the British dressage website and did not find anything helpful on there. Surprisingly there was no information on the different levels of dressage which shocked me. To end this post, does anyone have any other helpful advice and suggestions to make or not?

[Scribbler]

@thara96

Hello!

I own a dressage horse. Almost six years ago in the summer of 2014, I returned to dressage after a seven year break. I was planning to compete professionally but life got in the way of my plans. Three years ago, I spent a lot of time in the summer honing my skills in dressage lessons at a local stable. Fast forward to today and I am hoping to start lessons in the summer informally with my horse again. I am a first level dressage rider if that helps, I did the bottom two levels after I re entered the dressage world. I passed both the introductory and training level tests four summers back. How do I prepare myself? I could not find much information about the specific tests for each level online however. Which leads to my next question (see below).Tell me about other dressage sites please.

What things do I need to know about as well? Any tips would be great as I’m kind of nervous and excited at the same time. Over the past few months, I have not really done much in terms of preparation however I’m getting back in the saddle next week hopefully. Also any suggestions of what I need to focus on in the lessons would also be appreciated thanks in advance. Advice from any expert dressage horse riders welcome too, I need your perspective and opinions please. Other than to have a bottle of water with me and a notepad both of which I have already and use to evaluate my performance skill and technique after each lesson. I guess what I am really after is some useful tips on how to structure the lessons so that very little time is wasted faffing around for no reason. That would be handy. I plan on making a short list of goals in addition on things to work on and focus on in the lessons too so that I can clearly focus on weaknesses etc.

I have previously looked at the British dressage website and did not find anything helpful on there. Surprisingly there was no information on the different levels of dressage which shocked me. To end this post, does anyone have any other helpful advice and suggestions to make or not?

Are you in Britain or NA?

Do you have a trainer? These are really questions for your trainer.

In general people are most successful in dressage if the focus on improving their global riding skills, including balance, position, and tact. Then they need to school the horse in correct contact and impulsion. Only after those are in place you can practice and memorize an actual test as a competition approaches.

A good coach will evaluate you during your first several lessons and will have many suggestions

In Canada and the US you can download the test patterns, and I’m sure in Britain as well. But honestly that is a long way ahead of you for now.

It’s important to realize that the tests are intended to showcase how well you and horse work together overall. So that matters most. Also typically people show a level below what they are schooling or training. When you get closer to showing there are various useful tips for ring craft.

I’m also curious in what way your horse is a dressage horse? Is the horse trained to a higher level than you can ride and if so, how have you been keeping the training tuned up?

I am also wondering what compete professionally means in your context? In NA a pro rider is someone who earns money by coaching or training. Riders who don’t work in horses are amateurs even if they ride at a very high level.
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[thara96]

I mean compete in events in Britain. No I do not have a trainer yet. My horse is being trained as a dressage horse that is what I meant to say. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the explanation. How do you find a dressage instructor?

[RhythmNCruise]

I am a first level dressage rider if that helps, I did the bottom two levels after I re entered the dressage world. I passed both the introductory and training level tests four summers back.

What do you mean you “passed” them? I’ve never heard anyone say that about dressage tests before.

How do you find a dressage instructor?

Did you not have an instructor back when you returned to dressage in 2014? Or three years ago when you spent the summer honing your dressage skills?

I mean compete in events in Britain.

Interesting. You say you’ve “passed” Intro and Training level and are now First level. But a quick Google search shows me that in Britain, the levels are: Intro, Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced Medium, Advanced, Prix St. George, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, and Grand Prix.

So, it’s strange that you used “Training level” to describe the tests you’ve “passed” and “First level” to describe your current riding level. Those are terms used in the U.S.

[Scribbler]

@thara96

I mean compete in events in Britain. No I do not have a trainer yet. My horse is being trained as a dressage horse that is what I meant to say. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the explanation. How do you find a dressage instructor?

Are you in Britain?

My understanding is Britain is even more DIY than the USA. In NA the training of dressage horse and rider are typically done together. Once the horse is beginner safe going walk trot canter then the horse progresses through a mix of lessons with owner and training rides as needed. If the horse is trained first a beginner rider wont be able to ride it.

So I doubt OP has a horse in an English speaking country. The OP may have a horse in a different culture where riders don’t participate in horse care and training.

OP your trainer is the place to start. They should be giving you lessons. Or guiding you to lessons.

[thara96]

Although I live in Britain I still tend to use American English a lot. Sorry for the confusion. And thanks again.

[nu5ha]

@thara96

Although I live in Britain I still tend to use American English a lot. Sorry for the confusion. And thanks again.

Ummm I lived in the U.K. and I’ve not once heard passing any dressage tests. You get scores marked in %. If you don’t mind me asking where are you located? Maybe someone here can help you out with a trainer. I’m no good for that, as I was a jumper. And kept my horses in a place where there really is no pure dressage but I’m 100% sure there is no passing of any type of tests only % scoring (from what I remember of doing a couple of dressage tests with my pony on the British system and I mainly did elementary and once a medium)
So if I’m totally wrong someone please correct me.

[Scribbler]

The details in this thread do not match the details in this previous thread by the same poster who says she is totally new to dressage.

https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/dressage/10535154-dressage-lessons

[Scribbler]

They also do not match up other posts the OP has made saying she is currently in lessons.

https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/f…-purpose/page5

OP we are very happy to give real advice to children without horses and newbies with no experience. But we get cranky very fast when it’s obvious a poster is bullshitting us and can’t even be bothered to maintain one coherent identity or story line between posts.
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We are not on here playing Horse Sims. We are happy to give advice on real situations but you need to be honest with us about who you are and what you do.

[Ambitious_Kate]

You should probably show this spring in intro and training again, since you have been away from it for so long. Your horse must be in very good condition, and working easily off of the forehand and using his hind end well, and be very responsive and react quickly to his cues. You must know the basics and have them under your belt to handle a first level test. “Passing” the first two levels is not a good criteria for showing first level, and if you feel you’ve “passed” those levels, you clearly do not have those basics. The trainer who is training your horse should be giving you lessons on that horse. You can’t learn separately from your horse. Good luck.

[Ambitious_Kate]

Out of interest, what were your scores in the tests that you passed?

[Ambitious_Kate]

@thara96

I tend to mix up my dressage exercises. One day last week in a dressage lesson I accidentally confused trot and walk. I frequently do this.
I also mix things up in the lessons. Today I decided to try to do something new with my horse. Instead of the flatwork lesson I originally planned to do, I had him do a hour of hard work jumping over some poles instead. He is new to pole jumping and I wanted to see if he would understand what to do or not as well.

This was posted in March, Above. OP, if you mix up your walk and trot gaits, you are no where near ready for first level, and, you would not do well in an intro or training test. An hour of jumping is excessive for a well trained jumper, and a horse who has never jumped would be injured by jumping for an hour. When I competed in jumpers, I walked or trotted jumps for 10 to 20 minutes about 3 times a week. Its clear you aren’t riding the way you claim, nor are safe on a horse.

Below she posted 4/26

@thara96

Thanks. Sorry for not updating sooner. I emailed my local riding school Wildwoods in mid December a week before Christmas Day to find out if they were willing to teach a adult rider. Since then I went in during early January to take a look at the horses there and see over the place too. I even spoke to the owner as well about the lessons last month. I mentioned that I have done dressage in the past.
We then discussed lesson prices and dates.
I made some brief notes on the horses which I saw during my second visit last month for future reference in case and also asked them some questions about the lesson cancellation policy. Unfortunately earlier this month I got the dreaded yet expected closure email from the owner of the stables in my virtual mailbox. But they said that I was on the waiting list. So that is good. I will try to find out more information next week if possible.
Thanks for all of your helpful advice and tips as they certainly were useful. Yes I am in Britain.

Its clear she isn’t a rider, nor is she in lessons. If she has a horse in training, she won’t be able to ride it. OP, you need to take lessons on your horse from the trainer who is training your horse. If you don’t have a horse, and will be taking lessons on school horses, your trainer will be structuring your lessons based on your progress.

Good luck.

[Jealoushe]

Is this legit?

[Ambitious_Kate]

I think so. She’s posted on other threads.

[Scribbler]

@Jealoushe

Is this legit?

No it’s not.

OP is presumably a bored horseless tween on homeschool lockdown wanting to play Horse Sims with actual adult riders. This despite claiming somewhere she took 3 years off riding after the birth of her twins!

Up to now OP has flown under the radar making single modest replies to other threads, nothing to make us go back and check her posting record.

This thread had enough anomalies that I checked the posting record and saw that the OP’s situation was different in each thread.

OP, we are friendly and helpful to beginners who have real legitimate questions and are honest about who they are. But we don’t like being lied to by people who waste our time.

[BWP]

@Jealoushe

Is this legit?

Well the riding school she mentioned is legit, it’s in Surrey UK.

[SillyHorse]

One day last week in a dressage lesson I accidentally confused trot and walk. I frequently do this.

If this is for real, this person should be researching therapeutic riding centers. I can understand a four-year-old confusing trot and walk, but not an adult.

[Moderator_1]

We’re not sure of the situation here, but we can provide the information that the OP’s IP address does appear to match up with the information she provided.