Dressage Intro test - what to wear?

[ceej]

I am taking the plunge (and it may seem a very small plunge but its terrifyingly masive to me!) and doing an intro test on the 1st Sept. Im bricking it - I will probably forget the test and come last either way! I have never done anything in front of others and Im so worried I will make a tit out of myself but I know I have to get the first one done!

So what do I wear? I have won a nice black jacket on Ebay for £10 but I dont know whether it will fit yet and if thats not the right attire then thats fine - still a bargain! I have beige jods but nothing else. What i am worried about is wearing kit that really in practice people only wear higher up and looking an idiot! Like I have read that whilst the rules say light breeches, really you only wear white when you are higher up..I dont wanna make these mistakes!

So:

Dark jacket or tweed? My friend recommends tweed and has a jacket I can borrow (Im not a huge fan of tweed though unless you are ona hunter and think my black jacket would look smarter on M who is grey, but again, is black really reserved for higher up?) Should i get navy?

Stock? I have read that you can wear a stock, choker (is this just like a polo neck shirt - so the shirt without the stock?) or tie. Again, Im not a fan of ties, but dont want to look too posh in a stock! I like the idea of just the riding shirt...

Numnah colour - I have read white or black depending on horse colour - but it doesnt say which for which colour! I have a black numed sheepskin one - is this ok? Its a numnah not a pad - but she is quite long so a pad may help shorten her anyway?

I have my black boots and black velvet hat -

Gloves? Friend suggests black (white is generally for higher up when you have good hands!)?

I will plait her mane - should I/could I plait her tail?

And no boots/bandages...

Help! Plus any other tips!!!

[racaille]

Can't help with the kit as I expect it's different here: black jacket, white jods, white pad not numnah are standard at all levels. And yes, avoid white gloves as they draw attention to jiggling hands.

But are UK competitions very stuffy? When I did my one and only dressage comp it was peeing down and I ended up just wearing a brown fleece.

Anyway, I'm wishing you the very best of luck. Interesting that you are afraid of making a tit of yourself - that's my major fear too - but honestly we have to stop giving a toss. You may be last, but you'll have learned something about yourself and M and a comp is a change from solo schooling/hacking.

You'll be fine hun, no matter how it goes. Prepare everything well in advance, have a good slug of wine the night before and chill. Try putting it into context: if you mess up, you won't kill anyone.

So enjoy it and let's see some pix!

[solomon]

You have to wear white or beige gloves at unaffiliated here. Beige jodhs are fine as is black or tweed jacket. Most here wear black. Stock looks better than a tie and not too posh! Dressage legal bit very important. Can you go to a local dressage event and watch before the day? Give you a better idea of what is usual in your area? You will be fine, M is an experienced horse who has hunted, she will be plaited? I don't see mant plaited tails at dressage but manes yes.

[racaille]

Ooooh that's harsh, to insist on light-coloured gloves!

[ceej]

I dont think they insist on light gloves under fourth level? (whatever that is - I saw a bit quoted from the rules somewhere)

I think I will try to get to the one before to see what they are doing...

M is usually ridden in a hanging cheek snaffle - is this ok? If no I can put her eggbut in...

yes Racs; I have a morbit fear of looking an idiot!!! But I have to get over it!!

[racaille]

Forgot to pass on my big bit of wisdom ..... SMILE!!! For a start if you smile during the test it makes the judges think that you feel it's going well (I think this is a Mary King tip) but most of all, when you DO make a tit of yourself (and I can say this from personal experience ) if you smile and laugh about it, it seems to defuse the embarrassment ie you let everyone know you just did it for fun. It's only when people mess up and then scowl or cry that it becomes a big deal.

Try it. I know it works

[solomon]

Hanging cheek is fine, oh forgot to say normally white dressage saddle cloth too not numnah! Wonder who decides???

[zara]

Get out there and have fun ceej! I was absolutely petrified last week and could hardly keep still or breathe Try and arrive in plenty of time to warm up and see the lie of the land if you haven't been before and try and watch a couple of others before you go in. Is it indoors or out? Is under BD rules?

1stly regarding turnout you don't have to plait but it helps to show off the horse's neck. Your numnah should be a white dressage square but at lower level unaffiliated it doesn't matter too much; failing this an unobtrusive numnah the same colour as your saddle.

Hanging cheek snaffles are dressage legal as long as it is all the same metal (very unlikely anyone will open her mouth and look).

You don't need to plait her tail; I only plait Tordi's mane cos it's long and want to show off his neck.

Def no boots, bandages or martingales. A breastplate is allowed as are neck straps. You are allowed to carry a schooling whip or crop. You don't have to change hands with a change of rein.

For your turnout you can either wear tweed with a shirt and tie or a navy or black jacket with a stock. Your stock can be any colour or white with black but you musn't wear white with navy. Certainly gloves should be white but again at unaffiliated it shouldn't matter and there were people competing with me the other week with black and brown gloves. Jods should be beige or white. Long boots and a hat that matches. You should wear long boots, preferably black or jod bots and leather chaps.

I personally feel more confident when I think we look good and have made an effort to be "correct". I also think it adds to the overall impression you give to the judge; don't worry about looking too posh, use it give you confidence! There were people out last week who frankly looked scruffy

During the test SMILE! I always forget and have a face like a slapped a r s e Ride each movement independantly, look ahead and plan where you are going. If you make a mistake don't panic, re-balance correct it and leave it behind and get on with the next bit. At this level the judge is wanting to see an obedient horse that shows some evidence of roundness, you'll pic up marks for accuracy and consistent paces. The free walk is a double score, work on it and really get her to stretch down to the floor. Don't forget you can have a caller so that if you forget, there is back up but try to learn it too.

Which test is it A or B? The vid of me Tordi in the vid section is B.

Get out there and try to enjoy it! It doesn't matter if its a distaster I'm sure there will be others faring much worse. Use your test sheet to your advantage and work on the areas which you didn't do so well. Don't think of it as competing against others just an exercise for you to work on so that the next time you get a higher score.

Have fun and good luck!
(Sorry if I'm "teaching granny to suck eggs") xx

[ceej]

Wow thats fab, thanks zara!!

My hanging cheek has a copper lozenge so maybe I will just ride in the eggbut to be safe

free walk is probably the only bit we can do nicely!!

It is test B, so i will go have a look

Thanks again for all that info - very helpful

[Blonde Donkey]

Just come across this.
You sound like me - scared of making a k nob out of yourself but I found when I was in the ring at shows very rarely did I notice the crowd or anyone else other than the judge who was calling out orders (normally because I was so shocked that Savs had her head on the vertical and was trotting like a beauty - will she do it at home? will she balls!!!) - I know showing is different but thought I would add my two penneth.
The other thing is no matter how good or bad the test is or how you feel you've done - give M a big pat and give the judge a smile.
And winning or being placed isn't everything - you're going home with the best animal anyway .

[ernieburt]

I can't really add to what Zara has said as she has covered everything brilliantly, all I can say is "tits and teeth" and breathe! (look proud and smile and don't forget to breathe) We say this to each over on the way in, it makes me smile anyway which helps.