Why have the FEI tests gotten so much easier?

[akor]

I must say, I’m with class on this one. I’m an old fogey though, don’t believe she is, and “grew up” with the notion that the halt and walk at any level were some of the truer tests of the horse’s “core” training and development. But, even more important at the upper levels. It’s always easier to have holes in your training than the whole package.

I don’t see tests above first level much anymore, so I can’t really comment on old vs. new. You brought back a lot of memories though! Thanks!

Dressage has changed, oh oh so much.

[akor]

Oh, just had a flashback. The halt/reinback used to be VERY critically judged (late 1970s here…). I remember so many times a horse I was following “lost” a class becuase they did not pause sufficiently or the xth step back was only a half one. Or, they had a trot stop after the halt, etc…It was taken very seriously and not performing it did not get you an 8 like not halting does these days. (for some special few, of course)

[Valentina_32926]

I remember taking clinics with Col. Lindgren. He told us about the Olympics where you had to jump at the end of the dressage test. :eek:

I’d love to see some of the dressage BNTs now even attempt to jump! On the other hand I wouldn’t like to jump very high (I’ve gotten chicken in my old age). :winkgrin:

[Tasker]

[QUOTE=pintopiaffe;2865865]
The horses have changed. Size, movement, type of movement.

The tests have changed to suit the horses.

Now, whether that’s a change for the better or not is a hotly contested issue on the SHB. ;)[/QUOTE]

Interesting…especially when I look back at some of the ‘old fashioned’ types that were prevalent in the 80’s, etc - all these highly technical bits would have much more difficult to ‘motivate’ a heavier horse through than the more responsive/modern horse. JMHO, there though. In theory, the ‘modern’ horse is more of a ladies type that does not require the strength of a linebacker to get through a test.

[Tasker]

akor & class - I’m truly with you guys on the halt & walks. (now how old does this make me sound???) When I did YR’s, you would get nailed for a step backward in a halt (anywhere in the test), even if it was a rebalancing step…and I honestly miss the swing in the GP, I2 & I1 - it was a cool exercise. And the walk pirouettes in the GP - my mare would piaffe in and out of them all the time…it was a good day if she didn’t. :lol: But it made me a better rider! Oh well, I’ll be quiet now as my age is showing!!

[Margaret_Freeman]

[QUOTE=Tasker;2866303]
Oh well, I’ll be quiet now as my age is showing!! :D[/QUOTE]

That’s really not nice of you to say, since I was riding with your mom and dad before you were born.

I’ve never understood why the first halt was removed from the eventing tests, except for time saved. Gee, if the halt is too hard, then the free walk should also be too hard. Let’s skip that, too, since so many event horses jig instead of walk.

If you’re looking for really tough FEI tests, try the FEI junior and pony tests. They’re diabolical.

[Tasker]

[QUOTE=Margaret Freeman;2866408]
That’s really not nice of you to say, since I was riding with your mom and dad before you were born.

If you’re looking for really tough FEI tests, try the FEI junior and pony tests. They’re diabolical.[/QUOTE]

Ahhh, Magaret…it is like having a big collective family! With all the changes that have gone on, it does begin to make me feel some age! I did find footage of Chip & Addy from the mid 80s and it really makes me smile as they had been ‘old’ for so long…it is hard when they age because that memory overlaps the one of them being young & vibrant.

I will pull out those tests tomorrow as it is a quiet day in the indoor and have a go at them…the busy bee children need some new challenges! Thanks for the suggestion as I haven’t looked at them. (I’m not a JR & they’re not ponies) But they need some new projects!

FWIW - It was a couple of years ago when I saw one of the strenuous YR tests with the half pass-pirouette-half pass sequence all happening on the centerline…it might have been the one with the changes on the centerline, but I can’t remember all of it! That was one of those days that I gave thanks I had aged out…I think it was when the GP A was still being used, so I was more focused on getting from D-P-R-G in the trot without having a ‘surprise’ canter transition or some passage crop up and convincing Annie that we were going to do MY test not HER test! Such a great teacher but WOW it could be exciting some days!

[Caroline_Weber]

Tasker, thanks for reminding me of this stuff! Winter is a nice time to torture ponies with useful exercises, I think. It’s a good thing my horses are at home…there won’t be anyone around to hear my evil laughter.

[Tasker]

No problem Caroline! Just when your horses ask you, “WHERE did you come up with THIS???” Just blame COTH! :lol:

[Kementari]

@grayarabpony;2865267

In return, not to sound snarky – but have you been to an event before? Event horses hardly ever stand quietly and then explode into action. Only very well-trained ones and then only rarely. Have you watched the dressage at Rolex?

I’d be much more impressed by a beautiful crosscountry and stadium round (rare to see at lower level events) than an initial halt. And it is a difficult move. What is the highest score you’ve ever gotten for one?

An 8, for the record. (And since I’ve never gotten higher than an 8 on any move, I’m fairly proud of it… ;)) On my OTTB eventer (who I also taught to never DREAM of walking off when I get on).

It’s a matter of priorities. TPTB decided that opening halts shouldn’t be a priority - and many eventers agree with them. That doesn’t mean event horses COULDN’T be taught to do it, just that people don’t bother. Personally, I teach my horses to halt, anyway, but admit to being happy, sometimes, to not have to do that first halt on a greenie who I’ve just managed to get into a nice rhythm…

[Caroline_Weber]

And as far as eventing dressage goes…my mare, who was competing at training/schooling intermediate when I decided to just do dressage with her (now showing 3rd/schooling PSG), usually received 8s or 9s for her halts. Even when right next to the XC course. With her, it’s all a matter of keeping her focus. On the other hand, the other two horses I’m riding right now (my intermediate horse and my sister’s prelim OTTB mare, who I’m riding for a few months while she does an internship at a track clinic in FL), are perfectly capable of good halts during schooling, but if the ring is next to the XC course, it will take a lot of effort to get a 7 for the halt. But they do indeed halt.

[grayarabpony]

My mare eventually stood still when I mounted. But when I first started riding her, her only experience being ridden was on the racetrack, where the jockey was legged up while she walked. I met her in western PA, where horses don’t get out as much as they’d like. Getting her to stand still while I got on just made the sweet mare mad, as she was often about to come out of her skin. I learned not to start a ride with an argument. After we moved to NC and she got out every day for at least 12 hours a day, she learned that when I got on was her last chance to stand still for a while.

I’m pretty sure I never got an 8 for an initial halt. There was usually a comment about the straightness of the line in too.

[ltw]

I have another thought!!!

Why have the national tests - Training-4rth become so much harder???

Examine the tests from 10-15 years ago, everything is elevated close to one level.

[Lgd1]

And just to add to the fun - they are going to be reviewing ALL of the straight FEI level tests for next season Pony, Jr, YR, PSG - GP. Not sure about the freestyles.

[SillyHorse]

And a little birdie told me that it’s likely that Training through Fourth will not be changing for quite some time (as in, no change in 2011).

[canyonoak]

The ‘short’ Grand Prix (Test B) was designed by Jo Hinnemann, and it was designed for television–show as much as possible in the shortest time.

Test A was deemed a physical nightmare by almost everyone (and here I am talking Klaus B and every other trainer out there) and was retired very quickly.

In Europe, when time and space allow, they still use longer Grand Prix tests which ask more questions.

But those are part of the German and Dutch tests, not particularly FEI.

Yes, the schaukel ( forward-back reinback, aka ‘the rocker’)is a great test of how through the horse is and I would hope that riders still practice it.

With any luck the throughness will still show in the actual test.

[magnum]

They got easier ???

Magnum

[scottishgirl]

I took this this photograph at an event a year or so ago. It was the horse’s first event of the season, and hes a reformed showjumper.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/missninanoo/297506459/
If you enlarge the photo you can see her grinning, due to the perfectly executed enter-trot-halt-salute-yankthereinsoutofyourhands maneuver.

[grayarabpony]

That is a gorgeous location! Where is that?

[grayarabpony]

[QUOTE=magnum;2867842]
They got easier ???

Magnum[/QUOTE]

:lol: