Because some of us love showing. It’s fun, and it’s a great way to spend a weekend with a bunch of like-minded friends. I love getting my show gear on and getting my horse spiffied up, and I also love the challenge of seeing if I can keep my bad habits at bay while under pressure.
I don’t feel that same pressure at a clinic, where anything done badly can simply be done again.
The tests currently ask for sitting medium and extended. This judge is asking for that to change. I would hope that if you are an actual USDF judge, that you would provide your input against it, and if the test changes that you would then judge according to the new standards without bias.
If the tests going forward specify sitting or posting, it’s perfectly fine for the rider to do either. It would be unethical to differentiate unless permitted by the rules.
Do you? My many plates and screws are titanium and don’t set off the machines. Global Entry for the win, though!
I was going to put something in my post about needed corresponding changes to the judging criteria if tests are changed to allow posting trot but decided to just focus on the current tests. BTW, correct posting is preferred to incorrect sitting when allowed.
Not a judge, just an L grad and yes, I am providing my input as a general member.
Regarding ethics of judging, I was scribing at a regional championship last year and the judge marked a horse that did a much bigger circle than the volte called for in the test pretty high. At a break, I asked about it and she indicated that the horse was pretty big so she felt the test requirement was too small for that horse so she gave it a break. Was that fair in your opinion?
If it says an 8m circle, it should be an 8m circle. If the test says sitting or rising, it should not affect the score which you do. If it says sitting, then I sit. If I am permitted to rise, I do so I don’t have horrid nerve pain after for days. Currently, I sit and have nerve pain for days. I’m tough and will deal, but it isn’t easy.
I do think judges have a degree of flexibility in scoring, in that a really balanced uphill circle that is a bit big can be better scored than a wonky downhill smaller circle. In the same way that sometimes it is better to ride a canter pirouette bigger but active than small but less engaged. Etc etc. I can’t say with respect to the ride you saw because I didn’t see it.
You really ought to try. They DO give dispensations to eligible riders. Please try.
Here is info:
https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/g-jyRnfCr8I/dispensation-certificate-application
Whether it’s is a dispensation to post at trot, or use a gel seat saver, or whatever, there are options that can and should be allowed. Don’t not try.
A few weeks ago, on the USEF website (possibly it was USDF but I think USEF since they issue them), I came across a list of all riders who currently hold dispensation certificates. I can’t find it right now but maybe someone else will. It was interesting reading.
THIS.
Also, why do we need to make the upper levels more accessible? Dressage is hard. It just is. Nothing we do makes it easier, other than time and proper training. And I say this as a middling AA, pushing 50 with a BAD back, who has trained her own horses up to PSG and is now working on a second horse where we’re currently swimming through the challenges of 4th level. Sitting the extension on my big-moving warmblood isn’t the problem.
And I don’t think this helps more people compete and fill horse shows. I just got home from what used to be a BIG show in my area (Dressage at Lexington) and it was criminally small. Why? I’m not sure, but it wasn’t the fact that people can’t post at 4th level. (And I don’t think its because showing is too expensive…I went back and looked at my old entries and the cost of the show this year was only about $75 more expensive for me than it was 6 and 7 years ago.)
Our group was also commenting on how small this years show was. The PSG classes use to run for hours and they would run the MFS in the evening because there were so many rides scheduled. Most rings this year were finished at 4. If only I’d been ready for PSG, would have had a chance at a ribbon (maybe 
)
No. Not fair. What does the judge think the horse is going to do when it is asked to do a pirouette?
I guarantee that regardless the size of the horse, if the horse engages its inside hind at the canter, the horse can canter smaller and smaller circles until it performs a pirouette.
The judge was wrong, but I’m sure the rider did not mind the gift.
Our theory was people were freaked out about the EHV-1 outbreak the other month. Other shows this year seem to have been well attended - not dramatically smaller like DAL - making us think it was something beyond cost. But I did get a good (if wet) parking spot every day since there were less people.
It “used to be”…(back in the dark ages…when horses were actually used for work) that the working gaits were walk and canter. Thus why Doma Vaquera tests are done at walk and canter.
The trot was reserved for coaching horses…and thus why the postillions invented posting, to get off the horse’s backs.
In the 1936 Olympics the dressage tests allowed posting during the extension on the diagonal (see 1:50)
From archival footage of the US Olympic team (cavalry riders) training in 1948 put together by Littauer. See 4:05 - The captions state that riders practiced sitting but posted during competition.
I find this riding much more harmonious and pleasant to watch that today’s current dressage competition horses.
I don’t see anything pleasant or harmonious in this shot, I hope it was just a bad moment in time.
ETA I’ll try to watch the video later when I have more time.
Ears back and tail twitching for most of the video. But no overflexing.
And riding off the curb too. Does the poor horse eventually stop showing it’s teeth?
I admit that the riding is "different’ than what we are used to seeing today. I don’t want to derail the thread into bashing riding done by professional soldiers almost 90 years ago.
I posted the videos to show that shortly (20-30 years) after the equestrian competitions started in the Olympics, the lengthenings/extensions were done to rising trot, so I don’t see what is the big angst about allowing posting today.
Sorry for the sidetrack! I agree with you on that, but since I don’t ride dressage, I doubt my opinion will matter to some.
Hadn’t thought about the EHV-1 outbreak as a possible cause. And yes, it was easier to get a good parking spot and yes they were wet!!!
Again, my OTTB has a super short back. I love short backs, but in my experience they tend to be harder to sit compared to similar movement from a more moderate length back even when moving correctly. It wasn’t until he was super uphill with huge amounts of cadence that he became easy to sit. My experience is I’ve worked with around 40 horses in my lifetime but between school horses a lesson programs, friends’ horses, and showing IHSA in college, I’ve ridden probably around 150 horses. SO many fewer than many riders, but enough to have a pretty strong impression. Certainly my other three horses, including my big moving warmblood, are far easier to sit than my gelding. Even when he is swinging, the hind leg coming under moved ribs in a way which simply made it difficult. He had to lift his withers and fold behind so much that didn’t happen for his trot to become rideable.
Long background for those who like to question, feel free to skip this paragraph: I didn’t show him so it didn’t really matter for me, but in the end he had an extended trot with about 2’ overstep between hooves - in part because of how short his back was, but also because of his power and throughness - and it was easy to sit. But he at that point was incredibly uphill and balanced, way beyond 2nd level - my trainer used to put students on him to feel collection and how to ride pirouettes, he had GP half passes, etc. We rarely schooled half steps or passage but they were easy when asked for. My trainer used my guy to learn I-1 before showing it on his stallion, and said the irony was my horse was better at it - but his stallion easily got the needed scores for him.
Right? I remember showing at DAL and having the freestyles at night, along with fun things like the two-tempi challenge and all of that ran until 9 or 10pm, like it does at GAIGs.
I have just read Natalie Lamping’s justification for her idea about posting medium/extended trots in competition. I would like to say that her explanation has changed my mind. It really is harmless and in the end, the horses benefit, therefore we all benefit. I’m glad COTH posted that.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
