PVDA Ride4Life: thoughts from a dressage neophyte

[axl]

I headed up to MD last weekend to braid and groom for my BFF. My background is backyard ponies and professional H/J groom, so I thought I’d share a few thoughts.

Everyone was so friendly!
Ride times are so f#$%ing awesome - but no leniency if you are late (we were not, but I observed a DQ)
Love, love, love the comments! Scores are just useless if you don’t know why you were marked down
Practice those circles! Don’t leave points on the table because you were oval!
Braiding was hit or miss, but why braid on the ‘incorrect side’?

I was able to watch the entire division that my friend entered.
Scores (on my limited judgement) seemed incredibly fair. Lovely (to my eye, ‘real dressage gaits’) but with baby dumb stuff and failure to maintain contact etc. ended up with fairly similar scores to steady-eddies that never put a foot wrong. Which seems really super and how it should work!
Super nice volunteers, lovely ribbons, great program. (Advertised exhibitor party did not happen, so that was a bummer!)
Anyway, just wanted to mention my thoughts!

[Texarkana]

Glad to hear it! I really hope to enter one year. I enjoy the PVDA schooling shows, but have not taken a stab at a recognized dressage show (with the exception of my dressage sport horse breeding days many years ago).

[axl]

They had the opportunity classes, which I thought was such a great idea! Get the experience of the recognized show feel and atmosphere without all the fees! If you are just sticking your toes in the water, those can be excessive for one or two classes, but the next year you might be prepared to hit some more shows.

[theresak]

@axl

Braiding was hit or miss, but why braid on the ‘incorrect side’?

There is no incorrect side for braiding for dressage anymore, and it’s best to braid on the side the main naturally lies. Wait until you see a horse with a double mane and they’ve braided both sides to get a tidy look rather than huge braids all on one side.

[Texarkana]

I was all ready to go a few years ago, then got pregnant. It’s been a long road trying to get back in the swing of things.

[axl]

I do get that, having trained foals’ manes over from birth. And my super star POA had a mane about 3 hairs thick, so it was always roached. It was just odd to my eye!

I have immense respect for anyone braiding the really thick long manes! It can’t be easy, and it is very beautiful when done well.

[Knubbsy]

@Texarkana

I really hope to enter one year

This was the last year for Ride for Life. PVDA plans to have a normal show next summer but not the full-on to-do of Ride for Life.

[Texarkana]

@Knubbsy

@Texarkana

I really hope to enter one year

This was the last year for Ride for Life. PVDA plans to have a normal show next summer but not the full-on to-do of Ride for Life.

Aw bummer!

[JenEM]

Glad you enjoyed your day! I was there showing Saturday and volunteering Sunday. It’s always been one of my favorite dressage shows–mainly for the super pretty ribbons that I’ll miss very much!

I hope you got a chance to go watch the exhibition rides Saturday afternoon/evening–those are always a lot of fun

[axl]

I did! I particularly enjoyed the quadrille, although I think one of the horses had a problem and couldn’t complete the intended choreography. They still were very good, and cool that they were full siblings.