Don’t Grow Roots!

A Polished Test Starts Before the Ring

By Candy Allen

Like all performance-based trainers, I am frequently asked by students returning from shows to help improve their scores. “My lengthenings, stretch circle, uphill balance, or connection need to improve,” they say. These are all worthy things to work on. For the most part, however, these are also long-term projects. Few things in Dressage are quick fixes, but accuracy can be.

Show season is well underway and I have attended many shows this season as a coach, spectator and scribe. And at every show, I have seen scores thrown away even before riders get in the ring. Mainly, it occurs in three places: the warm-up, outside the ring and approaching the center line.

Warm-Up

“Well, we won the warm-up” is a common refrain at shows. The implication is that all was perfect in the warm-up only to fall apart in the ring. And it is true, the world does change at

“A” —nerves may kick in, the footing is different, having to do that transition exactly at “C”, not in the corner, etc.

But is this an accurate description of what happens during that magical warm-up? Or was it because the rider didn’t ask much? Was it just a few 20-meter circles, a couple of transitions, or maybe a halt? Or perhaps the movements were not as precise as the test. Perhaps a few extra strides were allowed to make it less challenging and easier and, as a result, not demanding that the horse be truly on the aids? Those are easy to win but don’t ask the same questions that are asked during a test.

I also often hear my students say they wished their horses went as well during the test as they do in lessons. It’d be lovely to think my dulcet tones made all the difference, but they probably did not. The difference is that during the lesson we do all the hard things. We challenge the horse with that small circle, that shoulder in, those demanding leg yields and that accuracy.

In the warm-up, I see a tendency to not upset the applecart, which, while understandable, is not as effective at getting a horse to be on the aids. Yet, working through those things is what creates that suppleness and responsiveness that allows the perfect stretch circle or precise transition.

So be prepared to take the time during your warm-up to push yourself and create the horse you have in your lesson. You will be rewarded in the ring by taking that win into the test.

Waiting Game

Another area I see points thrown away is in the gathering area. I can’t tell you how often I see people sitting on their horses, chit-chatting with friends and family as they are waiting to be called into the ring. Meanwhile, the horse has relaxed –maybe even grown roots! Then, when they go to present themselves to the judge, they have to wake up their horse and get that suppleness, connection and responsiveness working in time to go down the center line.

If the judge is busy writing a novel about the previous ride, there may be more time, but if that bell rings right away you have 45 seconds to get it all together. Keeping the horse attentive and supple, even just at the walk, will pay dividends.

On one memorable occasion, I watched a rider button her jacket as she went around the ring because she’d been visiting with friends—nice horse, terrible entrance and a less than professional first impression.

Going around the outside of the ring provides another chance for schooling. It allows the horse an opportunity to see the new environment. It gives time to ask for a bit more suppleness or attentiveness. Conversely, wandering around the outside in a flat trot does not do much to prepare for a stellar test. A transition or a leg yield or a change of direction. (And yes, cantering is OK.) A moment to let your horse see that banner from both directions is a good idea, too.

Our judges are very well trained. The U.S. is considered to have one of the best judge training programs in the world. But they are human. (Yes, yes, they are!) And like all humans, they can’t unsee things. So doing something that you know will go badly around the outside of the ring is probably not the best impression. Showing your horse a scary banner is one thing, forcing him into a terrible rein back is quite another. Judges appreciate good training. It leaves a nice opinion. And while judges will not be judging you as you are going around the ring, the good ones can pretty much tell how your test will go by how you ride outside the ring. So make that time count. Be judicious in how you use it.

The Approach Matters

I also see points lost before the actual test when riders approach the center line. My students will tell you this is my pet peeve. Straight center lines are difficult enough. To make it more challenging than it already is seems this. Some people use the direction as a memory jogger to remind them which way to turn at “C”. In other words, if it is a left turn at “C”, come from the left. A nifty aide-memoire! I recommend making the turn from whichever direction the horse goes best. A nice, supple, balanced turn is a great start to that center line.

While there are no quick fixes in Dressage, there are places that with a bit of forethought might help with a more polished test. Steffen Peters, a top U.S. Dressage rider, said, “Prepare yourself and your horse the best you can. If you’re happy with the prep you must be happy with the outcome, whatever it is.” wasteful. Coming from the long side of the ring, making a nice balanced half circle and turning down the center line makes sense and promotes straightness. Hanging around “A”, circling there, wobbling around the letter and hoping you manage to straighten your horse before entering is risky.

So often I see this mysterious need by riders to hang around “A” until the bell rings and then make an awkward move to get around “A” and on the center line. Remember, there is a turn down the center line at the end of most tests. Why not start that way?

A lifetime ago a dear friend said to me, “Well, that was a stupid place to lose points.” Agreed!

Which direction should you turn from? It depends. There are two ways to do

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