Comments on: How to Compete in Dressage

on 8/8/2006 I once got a comment on how tense my body was while riding. This was because I was so nervous. The judge said instead of carrying whales with your hands try to carry hummingbirds! Try to relax before you go into the ring by listening to music or reading. Good luck!

on 7/28/2006 When you enter the ring, try to almost hit the letter A so you go straight from A to X. Also, when saluting to the judge, make sure you smile and point your chin up.

on 6/30/2006 Be gentle with every movement that you do, both while in the ring and while practicing. Dressage is about passion, accuracy, and flowing into every movement that you do. If you or your horse is stiff, you won't get marked well. Try working your horse on side reigns just before you enter the ring. It works wonders!

on 6/30/2006 When you're doing the test, think about the movement calmly a few strides before you need to do it. Also, use half-halts to let your horse know something is going to change. Prepare yourself by being determined, like "okay, I have to canter in that corner, 3, 2, 1 NOW!!" Try not to think about anything, just the test, and don't think about what your score will be! Also if you make a mistake, forget about it until after the test. Never blame mistakes on your horse! Even if you get eliminated, let your horse know it's not a big deal.

on 3/20/2006 In most Dressage competitions you are not allowed to talk to your horse while in the ring. Words like "whoa" or "easy boy" cannot be said to calm your mount.

on 12/12/2005 Don't forget to have fun. It's the best time to show off the work you and your horse have done together. Even if it isn't perfect, just remember it is not the last competition you will be in, and if you have a positive attitude you will do well!

on 11/22/2005 I don't care how good of a rider you are, keep your horse up to speed. Even if one part of your dressage test is absolutely flawless, you're going to get marked down if your horse isn't halting well, or listening to your cues. Set up markers around the ring and work on walk to halts. When that's solid, praise, move to the trot, and then to the canter. After that, work on the rest of your transitions (try not to clump all of this into one session) downward and upward. Work on your circles and every little thing that might make up a dressage test.

Another thing to focus on are the elements of dressage. My instructor will constantly give me work sheets with "Dressage pyramids" on them to work on when I'm exercising the horses.

on 11/22/2005 DON'T EVER PUT YOURSELF DOWN, AND THINK YOU CAN'T. DRESSAGE IS ABOUT EMOTIONS, PASSION AND DESIRE. IF YOU WANT IT SO BAD TO CRY THEN GO GET IT. ALWAYS DREAM. AND ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOUR HORSE, YOU WILL GO FAR.

on 11/22/2005 One of the most important things to remember about dressage is that it is about accuracy. And if you practice your dressage test too much on your horse it will start to anticipate the movements, and for that you will most likely get marked down. Only practice your test once or twice on your horse to see what you need to work on. The rest of the time work on the different movements. Work on the transitions, 20 meter circles and other things that might cause trouble in your test. For you practice your test all you can. When you are sitting and daydreaming think about you and your horse doing you dressage test perfectly. Your sitting up and looking very elegant all of your transitions are perfect and so on.

on 11/22/2005 Keep at it and when you compete you can see your mistakes and the things you are good at. Try to work on mistakes, even if you hate them, they be useful. The results make you and your horse feel good.

on 11/22/2005 If you are like me, and compete in three day eventing, it gets confusing switching from jumping to dressage. Usually your hands will suffer the most. If this is you, then you might want to try this: When you warm up, ride with your hands wide! Think of your horses head as a wheel and you are steering him like a wheelbarrow. It sounds weired, but it works. It really does.

on 11/22/2005 Request your test ahead of time. Practice it constantly. When I was preparing for an event, I'd use my lower level dressage test as a warm-up. I'd walk through the whole thing, then walk and trot through it, and then do the complete test. I would do the opposite for a cool-down. Practice it in your head- - picture it, memorize it! You're bound to be nervous the day of the competition, and the last thing you want is to forget your test. You want everything to be as natural as possible.

on 11/22/2005 When practicing or competing in dressage, the most important part is elegance and the coordination of the horse with your movements.

on 11/22/2005 Don't use mares in top level dressage because they will most likely let you down with their moody attititude. Horses will only respond if you have the right attitude. If you can think like them and treat them right, you will get finesse.

on 11/22/2005 If you think that you can't do well and are nervous, then that signals your horse to become nervous. On the other hand, if you tell yourself "It's okay, you're going to do good." Then you will me more relaxed and so will your horse. And you will do great!