This summer I began doing dressage seat equitation classes at shows, and turnout for the classes has been really small among adult amateurs, so I wanted to put in a quick plug for it here for those who aren’t familiar–I didn’t know about it until I watched one class last summer at my first recognized show.
I love this class, because it’s basically a ten-minute mini-clinic. All the riders are together; you demonstrate training/first level movements, like a hunter flat class, and potentially do some short individual tests. What I really like about it is the feedback; at the end the judge speaks to each rider individually and gives specific feedback on their riding. So this past weekend I got to ride with Axel Steiner and Lilo Fore, in more detail and with more helpful explanation, than would normally be found in written comments on a test (and usually more humor). Seriously, it’s great–so relaxed and friendly but also super informative.
You can also get fancy lapel pins from USDF for getting 5 scores above 65, above 70, and above 75 or 80 or something like that that I didn’t even register because it seems super high, but I earned my elementary level lapel pin this weekend so I am going to wear the hell out of that thing. I believe USDF is trying to promote DSE more with amateurs, so apparently they’re going to be offering championship classes for AAs as well as juniors next year–not sure on all the details. (Actually, maybe I shouldn’t have been plugging this here… I’d probably have a better chance of qualifying if nobody else ever signs up for it. Disregard everything I said earlier about it being fun and helpful, please.)
But for realz though, it’s a really neat class to try as an amateur, and I was kind of surprised to see how few people signed up for it and how few people knew what it was about, so definitely consider giving it a try sometime.
(This post has not been in any way sponsored by USDF, but if USDF sees it and wants to waive the fee for me to get my fancy lapel pin, I will not object.)
