| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 09:48:28 AM
I took Merlyn out to do his first dressage test last night (Into B) and couldn't be prouder of him!!
He's only really been schooling for the last 6 weeks with a few rideouts inbetween as I broke him properly in May this year. He really did me proud and behaved so well for a baby. He tried his heart out and although he wandered a bit at times during the test and wanted to look at what was going on elsewhere, he did as he was told at all times and gave it his all. He'd never been to that venue previously so there was lots for him to take in. The warm up area was indoors and he was a little bit spooky about the shadows on the floor from the sunlight coming through the roof vents, but still went well. The test was outside which suited him better and I thought he might have spooked at the boards and letters, but he didn't bat an eyelid at them. 
All in all a very successful first try for him and he even managed to get 5th! My friend who judges dressage read my comment sheet and felt the judge was a bit harsh in her marking. I had various comments about the horse either wandering or losing bend and was advised to encourage the horse to take more of a contact!  She said that at Intro level she doesn't expect consistancy of bend or a horse that works constantly on the bit as if they were capable of that, they wouldn't be doing Intro in the first place!! Whatever I'm just so so proud of him.  |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 24 Aug 2010 : 11:56:21 AM
That sounds really interesting. I must go and have a look. |
| Pasha |
Posted - 23 Aug 2010 : 09:32:03 AM
Originally posted by Kharidian
Just hi-jacking the thread slightly - has anyone tried the monthly dressage tests that you can video at home and send in electronically? They are marked by a BD judge, scored (you get the score sheets back) and you get rosettes too. There is also a Points League for riding schools etc and Junior and Senior sections. People from all over the world enter!
I'd better not name the site specifically, but the web name is a shortening of "Internet Dressage" and it has a whole community with a discussion forum etc. I think it's a fantastic idea (I don't have any vested interest in promoting it, by the way) but wondered if anyone had stumbled across it?
Caryn
Caryn - there is another one as well called Dressage Anywhere which uses BD tests and BD judges (Inter Dressage make up their own tests I think) - haven't used either, sorry as i'm too lazy to set it all up, but looks great fun! |
| Miska |
Posted - 22 Aug 2010 : 6:38:16 PM
Well done with your dressage Jayne! Looking forward to hearing lots more Merlyn adventures |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 22 Aug 2010 : 6:31:12 PM
Just hi-jacking the thread slightly - has anyone tried the monthly dressage tests that you can video at home and send in electronically? They are marked by a BD judge, scored (you get the score sheets back) and you get rosettes too. There is also a Points League for riding schools etc and Junior and Senior sections. People from all over the world enter!
I'd better not name the site specifically, but the web name is a shortening of "Internet Dressage" and it has a whole community with a discussion forum etc. I think it's a fantastic idea (I don't have any vested interest in promoting it, by the way) but wondered if anyone had stumbled across it?
Caryn |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 22 Aug 2010 : 3:13:17 PM
Hi Zena, welcome to Arabian Lines!! Sorry I never got your message or I would have responded immediately.
Your Zena is a half sister to my Maverick (foal in my signature)! Same sire, different mother. What a small world, as Vivenne who you bought Zena from is my best friend! Very sad news Zena's mum was PTS this year.......But Zena has a full sister from last year called Zeta and she is so like Zara. PM me your email address and I can send you some shots of Zeta. She is another one that is going to be tall and of course chestnut!!
I'd love to hear how Zena is doing, she was always a lovely mare and it broke Viv's heart to have to part with her. Her full brother Zephyr is doing very well in endurance and of course Zorro has been a Le Trec Champion as well as turning his hand to showing, jumping and endurance. They are all so versatile.
I'm hoping that Maverick will be the same. He is a bold character and another one that will be tall (comes from Dad's side). He is 14.1hh now and just coming up 14 months old. He is going grey, same as his mum and actually very like her in looks. |
| Zena |
Posted - 22 Aug 2010 : 12:20:40 AM
Hi there sorry to go of the subject but could you please tell me if your Merlin is related to my Zena. she is by st narreth king dancer reg part bred and i bought her of a lady at tweet hope foot 3 yrs ago. i dont wish for alot of information im just so over the moon with zena you have no idea how versatile and what she is capable of she has fulfilled all expectations that i just wish to know how many siblings and what they compete in etc ? hope to hear from you soon x natalie . did ask you these questions when i first joined arabian lines but didnt get a reply maybe post got lost? thanks again x |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 21 Aug 2010 : 7:10:42 PM
Thanks for the advice Templars. It all sounds very sensible. It's hard though to relax when you are trying to remember the test, as well as keep one eye on your horse and the other on what is going on round about!! I've also not done any dressage in about 10 years, so I was pretty tense about it all! As you say though it can only improve.
Saddlebred, I am so glad that I've kept going with Merlyn and put my hard work and effort into him. He is going to be a grand little horse and I enjoy every minute with him. |
| saddlebred |
Posted - 21 Aug 2010 : 12:21:55 PM
Yay Congratulations Jayne. That is amazing to be competing so soon when you only backed him in May. Clever Merlin. Bet you are glad you didnt get another one now> |
| templars |
Posted - 21 Aug 2010 : 10:36:59 AM
Congratulations!
Look at Traiblazers - they do a winter series of dressage and it's very, very friendly with encouraging judge's comments (and we haven't found any anti Arab penalties!)
Or look at your local Pony Club website - they do a winter series of dressage for non Pony Club people and again, all very nice and friendly (but they are a bit strict on dress code and tack so best to check with them).
It gets addictive very quickly - main thing is not to compete against the others, compete against yourself - for each movement, try and improve each time out and before you know it, you'll be getting higher and higher marks and as you relax, his performance will just get better and better.
Keep flying that flag!!!!
Edited to say: little tip I heard when I was listening to Badminton dressage - see each movement as a sentence - start it with a capital letter and end it with a full stop. In other words, if one movement fluffs up, don't worry, keep going and try and mentally work through each movement as a set piece - it's good advice and we've found it definitely helps us to stop motor biking corners! |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 21 Aug 2010 : 09:40:31 AM
Don't worry Fee, you'll be out Stressaging like the rest of us in no time! Every horse is different and you'll know when she is ready to do more. I'm only doing little bits with Merlyn and not pushing him hard as he is still a bit unsure about a lot of things. I'm just going to keep plugging away at home here and if I find something low key enough to take him to, then we'll have an outing!
There is nothing more satisfying though than taking a youngster out that you have broken, and put all the work into. People must have thought I was a bit of a looney as I couldn't help myself from grinning all the time! |
| Fee |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 11:12:04 PM
That's brilliant Jayne I hope to write such posts in the future with Polka, but we're going at such a snail pace it'll be next year at least! 
Fee x |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 11:04:31 PM
These Intro tests are excellent and such a great way to get miles on the clock for a youngster. I'm going to take him next month again to do Intro A this time and hopefully he'll be better again. The more he does the more relaxed he'll be. I'm going to see if there are some things like this on over the Winter too as it will at least give us both something to work towards.
I had a lot of very nice comments from people who were watching my test. One lady came up to me as I was leaving the arena and announced that he had the most beautiful elevated trot she'd ever seen...........mind you she was riding a heavy cob, but I was still very happy to hear it! Of course there were a few others who looked down their noses in disgust at me as I rode past. One of these though looked as though she was going to do a Prix St George test!! Her horse had white tape in it's plaits and white bandages on it's legs. They were only doing Novice too!!!!!
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| honey |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 10:50:57 PM
congratulations, i think the intro classes are really good. Im aiming ros for intro this winter, but its gonna be hard to get him there lol |
| Callisto |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 10:47:14 PM
Congratulations! That's brilliant |
| Nichole Waller |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 7:21:51 PM
Well done.! 5th for a first time out is excellent! I hope to take Ozzy to his first dressage test later this year. |
| HORSE |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 6:57:53 PM
Well done .. She is right judges deduct as Arabs are so beautiful and the paces so much nicer but am biased lol |
| Qui Gon Jinn |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 6:16:00 PM
Thanks for all your kind comments. I have to admit I actually enjoyed doing it! Don't get me wrong I have no desire to do lots of Stressage, but the odd test will be fine.
I loved your comment about the 5 penalty marks Arachnid!! I'm sure you are so right |
| Lindsay |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 2:25:15 PM
Well done guys xxxxx |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 12:58:52 PM
Yay well done i'm gearing myself up to take Ishara to dressage over the winter |
| sab2 |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 12:55:36 PM
Well done |
| marionpack |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 12:09:23 PM
Well done |
| Maramoo |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 12:05:34 PM
Well done |
| alison |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 11:57:17 AM
way to go.....well done.
alison |
| moatside |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 10:47:43 AM
Well done! |
| Arachnid |
Posted - 20 Aug 2010 : 10:34:23 AM
Very well done. I think you get an immediate 5 mark penalty for riding an arab into the area but the more of us that do it the less prejudice there will be (perhaps we'll get to a 4 mark penalty) |
