4th! lots of comments

[abi]

Came 4th out of 11 at "newcomers" dressage class on saturday, which i was thrilled with because there were some very nice horses there and sox and i are never going to be a dressage combination!!

got lots and lots of omments, now you can help me work on them

• Lacking suppleness
  
• Inncorrect bend at times
  
• Lacking bend through body
  
• Flat
  
• Against hand
  
• lacking balance
  
• Needs to accept contact
  
• hollow
  
• on forehand
  
• could have more purpose
  

I know what they all mean, but anyone got any excercises to improve it?

theres a lot to work on and seems a lot of picking for a junior newcomers test, the only nice comment was "fair steps"!!
can't of been that bad for where we came! xx

[Becca]

aww well done to you both! big smiles all round.

for being on the forehand and lacking perpose I would say lots of transitions and lateral work including rein back. helped bernie come off the fore hand loads.

basically lots and lots of interesting schooling work.

I'm sure brig and maxi will be able to help loads more

Balance and suppleness i would say circles serpentines etc. these will also help with bend

[kateflashy]

WELL DONE

[raymond]

well done.

Those are all the comments ray and I got when we first started so don't worry.

I agree lots of circles and serpentines for suppleness. Make sure sox is really off your leg with lots and lots of transitions which hopefully should mean more purpose. I found really concentrating on my aids for getting the correct bend helped - as initially I was so happy he was going forward - forgot about bend!

well done you two.

[brigadier]

Well done Abi
which movements got which comments, then me and Max can give you some exercises.
brig

[fimacg]

Dont worry about lots of comments - I write quite a lot for judges and most judges have said that especially at the newcommers and beginners levels that they will give lots of comments as their aim is to help to improve the combination and not to put them off.

[brigadier]

Thats so true fimacg, whats the point if all it says is 'on the forehand' 'wrong strike off' etc which all my early ones ever did!!!

[abi]

bend, flat, against hand, balance, hollow and on the forehand were all canter! got mostly sixes for it, and i can feel it is improving so im still pelased with it.

suppleness was for trot, and the walk could have had more purpose x

[suzii]

he sounds a hell of a lot like my horse! Well done on fourth. The only thing I can do to help (abit) is say circles loops and turns for supplesness! Ten meter circles are great and firgues of eight with a clear change of bend.

[nimbynoo]

I was always taught that halt to canter transitions help to bring them up on the forehand. For suppleness do carrot stretches everyday! I've been doing this with my new boy and it's helping alot with schooling etc.

Sounds like he's leaning on you a bit, for this i've been taught to give giving lots of leg and 'playing' with the reins. Pushing him on should make him use himself alot more then eventually he should begin to work himself into an outline which means he'd be accepting the bit

[abi]

thanks- shes coming on realy well and we've got another lesson booked for sunday

one thing that is bugging me is that she throws her head up as she goes into canter. its nothing huge, more like throwing her nose out, but ive noticed she doesnt do it naturally in the field. i've made sure im not banging on her back, and shes only had her back checked last month.
my instructor says it could be either a habit, or that she needs to do it to throw herself into canter, are there any excersises to help upward canter transitions? they've never been great, but i know she needs to bring her back legs under a bit more and use her back end as more of an engine!