The contact they want at Intro is merely a steady contact with the reins. I’ve been watching theses tests all summer and they score 60-65 range when the horses are not round etc. Round and through horses are scoring 70-80 which they should at this level.
There’s no reason a some what beginner couldn’t do these on a safe horse and score in the 60s.
Ok, please pay attention. It’s not just “the consensus on the thread.” It’s written plain as day on the test. Every test has a section at the top explaining its purpose. This is the official purpose of Intro A, taken directly from the test:
PURPOSE: To introduce the rider and/or horse to the sport of dressage, confirming that they are beginning to develop an understanding of correct dressage basics. The horse should be ridden freely forward in a steady tempo and clear rhythm, accepting contact with the bit. An understanding of test accuracy and geometry should be demonstrated.
YES!! Thank you!
Education, yes. Teaching horseback riding to beginners, no.
In my area we have a Special Olympics rider, and at the most basic level, the test(s) are conducted at the walk with a guide. Our rider is visually impaired.
I’ll be scribing our club show tomorrow. I fully expect there to be a number of kids on lesson ponies that don’t bend and haven’t established an “elastic contact.” They will take forever and a day to cross the diagonal at a walk. As long as the geometry is accurate, they should receive acceptable scores. Our judges generally love it if they can manage a straight and immobile halt – and if it is (OMG!) square – they may get a ten for that box! These are our club’s expectations for “Intro A” and “Intro B.”
So like a million years ago when I was a teen, I seem to remember having horsemanship classes at schooling shows, where we rode a pattern, and also had our equitation judged to some extent. It seems like it would be easy enough to come up with something like that. It would also be faster to judge. Like, do a W/T rail class, and then have the riders line up, and each one rides a simple pattern, to which you could apply a simple scoring rubric, and give some written feedback. No dressage judge needed, just someone who can give them points for position, whether their circles were round and their transitions were in the right place.
Ok, at this point, I don’t believe we’re going to come to any type of agreement but I should point out that the whole reason I started this thread was because of that very paragraph you quoted: my question being whether the goals listed in the purpose section were adequate for young riders starting out (while the pattern is fairly straightforward, within reach of many, and most participants at schooling shows - not my kids, just from what I am seeing - do not seem to come even close to have correct bent or with a horse accepting the bit…).
Thank you for quoting it though so what I’ve been trying to talk about is clear…
If people have already proven that most kids at schooling shows in Intro A are exactly like your kids, then what is the issue still? Where are you that dressage judges cuss out little kids?
Well from a pedagogical perspective, setting kids out for doing a poor job is not the best in my opinion.
And the feedback that they tend to get (more bend, etc) is typically way beyond their skills at this level (and when we’re talking young kids, they can’t even see what the endline is - they just think they did poorly and might gravitate to something else where they feel they are “winning”).
My own thing not wanting unbalanced riders to ride on contact is I understand uncommon in this world so that’s not relevant probably.
I really don’t understand what your question is. Evidently, your kids aren’t ready to do this. If you want them to ride Intro tests, give them instruction so that they can. If you can’t figure out how to do that, don’t expect USDF to do it for you. Or, as many have suggested, come up with your own tests and let your kids have their own show using those tests.
Yes, I don’t think we are going to be able to understand each other on this but thank you for your continued investment in this thread.
Best of luck in your own - beginner free - riding endeavours!
There’s a reason I show HC at intro level tests and it’s because I’m riding against your kids.
I’m just trying to get judge feedback and get out and do something. I don’t want a ribbon against kids or beginners.
I’m confused by the notion that Intro tests aren’t appropriate for beginners because I’ve seen beginners ride them many many times—including cute kids on ponies who aren’t remotely “on the bit” (which if you read the tests isn’t required until First Level!). OP, it sounds like you may have more of a judge problem than a test problem. Don’t get too hung up on the mentions of contact and bend. If your kids can get through an Intro test in a generally pleasant-looking manner they would not be out of place at any schooling show I’ve attended. If you can teach them good geometry, even better.
I didn’t read all the replies, so not sure if this has been mentioned that instead of a horse show to satisfy your clients’ needs, have level testing days. You could make a flat test, a jumping/pole test, and a theory test, all based on the rider instead of the horse. You could have bonus “Competitions” like “best turn out”, “cleanest tack”, “Sportsmanship”
I don’t love Equestrian Canada’s Rider levels, but that program may give you an idea of testing different levels of riders.
If they “pass” a level, give them a certificate or badge so they can track progress.
Unnecessary snark. Do you think I was born knowing how to ride? I have nothing against beginners. But I’m not crazy about grown-ups who whine and complain about something when many, many people have made solid suggestions for a remedy which are ignored in favor of more whining and complaining. Frankly, it’s tiresome.
Right, and this kind of comment is not unnecessary?
Anyway, as I said, I don’t believe we’ll see eye to eye. You don’t think there is an issue where I seem to see one (how to get more young rider into Olympic disciplines with a strong flatwork foundation). I am probably not explaining myself very well, did not mean to whine and complain and I do very much appreciate the suggestions and helpful comments I’ve received (some more than others but one can’t have everything… 
).
I didn’t have time to read through the comments…but I don’t think they are realistic.
You take a green horse or a green rider you are still cracking 50s for all the wobbles and stuff in a intro test.
What if they were labeled green horse? Novice rider? Maybe a better description for those classes.
I’ve probably lost the plot, but I’m unclear on the problem.
@anon49845990, you seem to be teaching your students to have a fabulous foundation, but perhaps one that is a more adapatable one. When I was a beginner rider (too many years ago to count), we’d have barn shows at the end of every season, where parents (and siblings!) came to watch us “compete”. There were ribbons (I always finished 2nd to last) and we all felt accomplished. Eventually, some of the better riders went off to actual schooling shows.
Why can’t you recreate that atmosphere for your littles? You likely have a friend who could stand in for judge, and you could either use the USDF tests or (better yet) craft your own to emphasize what you’re teaching.
Just a thought.
Tbh, I find it difficult to look at low scores in the intro tests as being a reflection that the test is too hard, rather than a(n accurate) reflection that your riders are beginners. And its OK to be a beginner - we all were once upon a time. (And even experienced riders get bad scores from time to time!)
We have some littles from our barn who show intro/training. Are they on the bit? Nope. Do they make mistakes? Yup! Do we have some judges who are probably a little harsher than we’d like them to be? Sometimes. As long as your students are competent enough to be safe, who cares if they’re getting high scores?
So you got a 50%. Next time you might get a 60, or you might get a 45. IMO, as long as you’re safe, it’s OK if you don’t get the score you hoped for. It’s OK if they’re competing against experienced riders who are scoring higher than them. It’s OK to tell your students, “Hey, you’re still learning. You came out and gave it your best shot, and it’s OK to be disappointed. And now we can see what the judge said, and we can learn from it, and work on doing better next time.”
Whether any of the above is done in a barn, schooling or rated show is irrelevant. It’s OK for people to fail from time to time. Good horsepeople are resilient, patient, and willing to take the highs with the lows. Not to mention that there are SO SO many ways you can reinforce someone at a show who is a beginner besides a single score from a judge.
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