Getting a reader when you don't have a trainer

[hoopoe]

dont hesitate to ask a stranger. I never turned down a request and read for many people. I would never expect a $ tip for doing so.

Always prepare to ride from memory. I preferred it for myself because it got myself inside myself, if you get my meaning.

draw the tests on paper, multiple arena blocks where each movement group is penciled out

walk the tests in your living room. Vocalize the test out loud so you can hear your own voice inside your head as your proceed. Practice words like “turn right” “circle in the middle” “canter before the corner” “trot after A” A and C are the easiest letters to remember. Verbalize the tests out loud as your ride them.

Look at the tests and recognize their logic. Approach them as you would a hunter course and think of them by their shapes and sections. The figures always have a logical entry and exit point. I love First 1 for its flow and logic. To me it is pretty short and sweet. I love the ice cream cones of the half circle and return. The lower levels is about flow and forward

Remember the bending line in T3 is not a ricochet via X it is about showing the even bend at the 1/4 line with flow over X. That is the number 1 error of geometry and understanding. It is challenging to ride this figure if you dont have a full court. breath and give yourself those few extra steps. If it helps measure out in your small arena where a full court X would be and put down a marker. Practice the first half of the figure getting through the new X. I bet the rest will happen

I remember one of my first schooling shows was in the arena I rode in as a child. All of a sudden, as an adult, it was pretty darn small and technically not a perfect 20 x 60 more like 18 x 56. I wonder how they ever got 8 kids on schoolies going around all at the same time

[anon55755751]

As an ad hoc test reader once upon a time, make sure you are practicing tests at home with a reader so you get a sense of how early you want the reader to give the next movement to you. This can be a very personal thing, and will help you communicate to whoever reads for you at the show what you actually need from them, esp. if they are less experienced.

[Mondo]

@hoopoe

dont hesitate to ask a stranger. I never turned down a request and read for many people. I would never expect a $ tip for doing so.

THIS! ^^ I or one of my students will always be happy to read for a lone wolf rider! You hear talk of snark and railbirds, etc., but generally people are pretty helpful and willing to lend a hand. The very first dressage competition I competed in (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth) was the very first dressage competition I’d ever seen. So there I was putting hunter braids into my dressage horse. One of the trainers at the host barn came up and showed me how to do dressage braids with rubber bands, LOL. She said don’t work so hard. Then she gave me a pair of spurs as I’d forgotten mine and had one of her students read for me. You really will find plenty of folks to assist. (And yes, @hoopoe, this was a “B” show at BHF back in the day!)

Please let us know how you fare. Good luck!

[endlessclimb]

I’ve competed before (did the old Training 1 and 2 last year, didn’t have a chance to do old Training 3) and didn’t have a reader. It’s the third test in one day that’s got me a little nervous on the remembering part. Plus, these shows are generally kind of small, so there won’t be much time between to try and review the next test and forget the old one haha

I’m feeling more confident asking someone to read for me, if I feel like I need it! Thank you all!

[Aussie_2020]

I’ve never had a problem finding a reader. Dressage people are so willing to help. I ask them to read one letter (movement ahead) and it’s worked out great.

I do know my tests but, I’m like you, that fear of forgetting where I am in the middle of a test. Once my reader told me to turn right when I knew I needed to turn left. She quickly realized she was on the wrong test and was spot on the rest of the test.

I hope you have great rides!

[endlessclimb]

@hoopoe

Remember the bending line in T3 is not a ricochet via X it is about showing the even bend at the 1/4 line with flow over X.

That’s kind of my struggle with the serpentine in the small arena. The transition from corner to heading towards X is smooth, but I feel like I’m at X before I had the chance to gently change the bend and start my way back. It helps if I immediately change my diagonal coming out of the corner and think “straight”. In my practice I am “late” getting back to the track because I was “late” for X.

Just needs more work, and a prayer that it’s in the big arena!

[piaffequeen2]

You can usually find someone to read for you. Just don’t do what I did and volunteered my trainer to read some tests. Apparently I have this horrible habit of my mouth taking over before my brain engages. Let’s just say my next lesson was uhh interesting.

[anon55755751]

@endlessclimb

the next test and forget the old one

I once flashed back to a test from like 10 years prior and added an extra transition. I corrected it right away so i got a “miscommunication” written on my sheet and no error, thank goodness! I have a lot of dumb problems like that showing… don’t really know how to fix them!

[atr]

I used to have a Canadian trainer. Lovely lady. Good trainer. I’d never noticed until I asked her to read for me at a show that I couldn’t tell the difference between her pronunciation of “P” and “B.”

It was a trainwreck. I knew the test reasonably well, but having the “voice of authority” apparently telling me to do totally illogical things was more than my brain could handle.

[endlessclimb]

Oh god, that would be me. I’d look up, confident in where I was going, and then see the letter isn’t what I thought I heard, and my brain would immediately exit my skull.

[Manni01]

I never have a Reader .

My strategy is to find YouTube videos of people riding the tests. Somehow I memorize the tests better if I see them.
Then I read the tests several times and during my walk warm ups every day I ride the tests (the lines)

Although I admit I still have my moments when I forget a little movement like a 10m circle…. But really it doesn’t make a huge difference for the final result….

Good luck for your show!!!

[Jealoushe]

When you start your turn almost leg yield from your inside leg while you head to x, then start almost leg yielding away from the new inside leg as you head towards the second turn.

[endlessclimb]

I’ve been doing the walk warm up thing! It’s such a great idea!

Though, when I forget what to do next, I imagine myself as this (as I pull out my phone to figure it out):

Bugs Life Going Around the Leaf

[endlessclimb]

I think I do that, though I didn’t think of it quite like that. Thanks!

[endlessclimb]

My late mare would have HHAATTEEDD that serpentine. She hated the K-X-G line in one of the old eventing tests. You could feel her saying “Where the F are we going? Make up your mind!” Of all movements, I had to practice that one constantly with her to avoid a spicy-mare tantrum.

[netg]

@endlessclimb

Training 2 and 3, and First 1.

They are all pretty different, so I’m hoping that helps me remember. At least they each have distinct movements (training 2 is pretty plain, training 3 has the serpentines, and first has the lengthenings and 10m halfs).

I also do not have a large arena to practice in, so I unfortunately will have to memorize by more general geometry/location. I’m such a stickler for not losing geometry points that it’s killing me a little, but it’s what I’ve got.

Make sure you are using the correct tests! They’re back to loops instead of serpentines in the 2023 versions, and I think 1-1 only has trot and not canter lengthenings - though I am not sure as i haven’t studied the new tests well and didn’t scribe that one this past weekend, whereas I scribed T-3 about 15 times.

[endlessclimb]

Yes loops! I’m using the wrong word, because I’m a dressage idiot lol. They’re all the 2023 tests!

[hoopoe]

The show management should be able to tell you what arena they are using.

Measure the 30 m mark to establish your large court X from either end. Start your figure track right. Finish that figure with leg yield right from your new X. Track left and repeat in the other direction if you can. Otherwise continue down the wall and repeat on the new track left track.

I think if you get that flowing feel of thy first half of the figure the rest will follow well when put together in a large court

[Jo]

@Alpha_Mare

The odd #s (1 and 3) track left after the halt. test #2 tracks right. My trainer and I have several funny stories about turning the wrong way (WITH a caller!) at the start…

Hey! Yeah, I’ve done that, then said the reader (my bestie) read it wrong but alas, we were videoed and I was proven wrong. LOL!

At the schooling shows I’ve gone to, there are usually people hanging out who are happy to read. If you see someone reading, grab them after the test and ask if they’d be willing to read for you too.

[sheltona01]

I would make friends with the people stabled next to you. Also don’t be afraid to ask random people standing around. I have been approached at shows before to read for someone