All
King
Victor
Edwards
Short
Horses
Can
Make
Really
Big
Perfect
Fences
Centerling is C G I L D A with an X in the middle.
Ah…pony club DECADES ago.
For remembering the centerline letters -
Don’t
Look,
X
Is
Gone 
I just remember where they are in relation to one another, the same way I memorize my way around a city. The more patterns I ride, the easier it is to remember the spacial relationships. I’ve never used any of those King Edward phrases because they are nonsensical to me. I do have trouble remembering D, L, I and G on the centerline when they’re not marked underneath the other letters on the rail.
Mein Bock Frist Aepfel, Karotten, Erbsen, Hafer und (Richter) - I learned this so long ago 'bout the only German I do remember
[QUOTE=pnalley;4328471]
Look like King Edwards horses were busy:)
All King Edwards Horses Consumed Much Bad Feed[/QUOTE]
Mine goes aptly with this one…
All King Edward’s Horses Can Make Big Farts
All Fat Brown Mares Can Hardly Ever Kick
A F B M C H E K
[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;4328753]
I just remember where they are in relation to one another [/QUOTE]
This is how I was taught to ride too, but I was also expected to know the letters. I am surprised I can still remember them.
When I’m memorizing a new dressage test, I put it on paper, with the letters in a dressage ring - then I memorize the pattern.
My trainer used to try to get me to say the letters (MXF freewalk), but it just never sunk in (free walk across the diagonal). So…dressage test is - down the center line, left, circle in the middle, go around and across the diagonal, canter in corner, around and circle at end, etc…
She just laughs now and shakes her head.
A Fine Bay Mare Can Hardly Ever Kick
then add in your RSVP
[QUOTE=shawneeAcres;4328195]
Honestly I DON’T remeber the letters, not “exactly” I know from years of experience that A is enter and C is judge, E and B are midpoints on long side and I know H-X-F and M-X-K are diagonals but I couldn’t tell you which is where. Reason being I don’t NEED to know. What I need to know when I ride a test is the movements, flow and pattern of the test. The way I remember a test is like this (like a training level test, obviosuly a bit more detailed for higher level):
Trot up centerline
halt, trot and track left (or right), mid way circle left (or right)
A canter, up long side and circle mid way (10, 20m whatever)
trot at corner marker (H,F,M,K doesn’t matter)
Walk at C
free walk across diagonal
trot a A
circle at mid point of long side (E,B whatever)
etc.
It clutters mymind to have to worrk about the letters, you ride enough tests and you know how things flow. Partially too I think this comes from having memorized so many jump courses over the years, you memorize the TRACK of the course (or at least I do) not the actual jumps.[/QUOTE]
Same here. I only refer to the letters when I am learning the test, and then I know the test as a series of lines. I don’t know what letter I do a transition at, only that it’s on the end, after the center of the long side, etc.
I also memorize the pattern when I show not the letters. But I get caught out during lessons when my trainer says ride to S and I have to look frantically around for where S is. Where the heck is S. :lol:
I think in pictures so I just have a picture of the dressage ring in my mind and the pattern. I am lazy.
But here is the problem, if you are helping to set up the rings for a show. You can still set them up counter clockwise, or clockwise, whichever is the wrong way.
Ask me how I know.
I remember by looking wildly around the arena until my poor beleagured instructor sighs and points, “It’s over there.”
Wow!!!
I’m amazed at how many people are just like me!!! I thought I was the only one that didn’t know where the letters were!! YAY!!
However, I also can’t have a caller for a test because of it. I mean, I’m sure I could figure it out assuming I somewhat knew the test, but I feel like it would stress me out since I don’t know the letters, so I just make sure I know my test!
I also do the …“Umm…where’s M again?!” during lessons.
But you know… it works! I’ve ridden three first level tests almost back to back without callers and not gone off course That time anyways… have gone off course a few times
You know what I just finally realized? Mine is backwards:
My Best Friend Ann Knows Every Horse’s Color.
It’s amazing I don’t go off course more often.
I learned another variation on King Edward: All King Edward’s Horses Canter Mighty Big Fences.
I focus on the pattern rather than the letters too - “circle at the middle of the long side”, whether it’s E or B. Hopefully I am at least going in the right direction so I end up at the correct letter!
[QUOTE=shawneeAcres;4328195]
Honestly I DON’T remeber the letters, not “exactly” I know from years of experience that A is enter and C is judge, E and B are midpoints on long side and I know H-X-F and M-X-K are diagonals but I couldn’t tell you which is where. Reason being I don’t NEED to know. What I need to know when I ride a test is the movements, flow and pattern of the test.[/QUOTE]
I do the same thing, but I can see where it might be handy to know, after watching my instructor teach the lesson after mine. She made up a practice intro-style test for her other student to ride on the fly, in an unmarked arena, and none of the three of us knew for sure if her 20m circle was starting at E or B :lol:
I learnt mine from this book called Annie Learns to Ride …or something like that
All Kangaroos Enjoy Hot Coconut Milk Before Freaking
As you learn and ride more and more tests, osmosis will prevail and you will eventually know where the letters are. For example, after you’ve read and/or heard “MXK” enough times, and you know that M and K are in diagonal corners. As monstrpony said, it’s not really important to know the sequence, but more where a letter is in relation to where you are at that moment.
Not backwards, just starts at M instead of A. But then goes in the same direction.
