Deep breath...dressage is subjective..!

[pboy]

I took Indio to our first competition of the year today, at Cholderton (where Anna Ross-Davis is based and Mark Todd used to be back in the 1990s). The yard is behind a beautiful stately home and the warm up arena is is an area that used to be a walled garden. Shame the warm-up surface was mostly water but it's a beautiful setting!

Our first test was fairly poor - Indio felt very against the hand and we didn't feel at all harmonious! He felt quite spooky in the indoor arena so I was pleased to get 64.something%.

We had a break (and a very tasty bacon and egg roll from the catering van - yum) then I got on for my second test. Indio felt fantastic in the warm-up, really supply and much more with me. We've been struggling to get right flexion recently as he's suddenly got a lot more strength and power from behind, and he struggles to keep his balance, but today was the best he's ever felt. We went into the arena and the test felt lovely, just a couple of mistakes in a couple of transitions. I was confident we would be at least 3-4% higher than our first, if not more.

So I was pretty pee'ed off when we got 65.74% - just 1.5% higher than our first The judge really didn't use a wide range of marks in either test - we got 6, 6.5 or 7 for every movement. We watched a couple of other tests towards the end and it was evident that she liked very forward (borderline rushing and downhill) horses who went into very strong contacts, so it's no wonder that we didn't do as well as I'd hoped. At least I know what to do next time if we get her! I'm not usually one for bashing judges but my YO and a friend who were there agreed so it's not just sour grapes Ho hum, that's dressage for you! I was so delighted with Indio though, once again he stepped up to the plate and was a pleasure to ride. I love my horse

Here's a video of the second test, I'd be really interested in opinions!

[solomon]

Really like him! Such a trier. I thought he looked much straighter in the head and neck than I have ever seen before. Steadier in the contact too. Live his free walk. He looked very happy . Does he throw you to the left? Couldn't decide all the way through if you left stirrup looked slightly lower. Such a nice horse though isn't he?

[pboy]

Eagle eyes there Sol! Yes he throws me to the left and falls out through his left shoulder. I also have a tendency to lift my right leg so I need to more consciously think about dropping more weight down my right stirrup. It's something I started working on in the past week so very much a work in progress! Also his saddle has felt a little like it's rolling in the past two weeks, luckily the saddler is coming on Friday so she can check it.

Other than that I agree - he's becoming steadily straighter and mostly better in the contact, though when he does his new 'big' trot it can get a bit ropey again! It's an up and down journey ;-)

[racaille]

Gosh that manege looks huge!

Thought he looked slow off your leg for the left canter but otherwise a 'clean' test, he looked like he as trying hard and listening to you. You obviously just had a judge who didn't like his type. I remember Sam doing a really decent test for a judge who marked him down really harshly but obviously loved the flashier (Spanish) horses who all did well. As you say, it's about the judge's personal preferences ....

I think Indio has really progressed, seems only recently that he has a really wonky head but now that has practically disappeared. Well done - and don't be discouraged, next time you will have a judge who loves him!

[pboy]

Thanks Rac!

The transitions out of right canter and into left canter were poor, yet we got a 6 for those but only a 6.5 or 7 for the good movements. In our last competition we got a 9 for our free walk! Oh well, you can't please everyone and I'm so so happy with his progress. He has the chiro on Tuesday and it will be interesting to see what she says as he feels far more even these days.

[brigadier]

I got you as a mixture of 7and 8.late to canter left was your lowest but nothing lower than 6.5.If I was being hyper critical I would say it was a lovely calm and obedient test, lacking sparkle in places. Your riding got you 8. Ithought it was a very well ridden test. Dont worry- ride you next one like that with a judge that likes grey horses that carry them selves and you will probably win!

[pboy]

Ah thanks Brig, that's very kind! We've had 66-67.8% in our last three tests and it's annoying to have scores go backwards when your horse feels so much more supple. I think I'll avoid the venue in future! To date I've felt the BD judging was very fair and our marks have ranged from 4-9 so maybe it was a one off :-)

[brigadier]

judges have off days too- sometimes they miss a movement or the writer cant keep up so they put a generic mark to cover- have you done any writing?

[pboy]

I have but the judge was very on the ball! It's so useful to do though, I learnt a lot. I think I was just unlucky on this occasion as the judge was looking for something different. YO has just started her judges training and she said the guidelines at Prelim are very open to interpretation. It's swings and roundabouts - I'm sure I'll be over-marked at times so I just need to suck it up ;-)