I just have to mention bling one more time! If you are one of those who thinks that the more bling you have the better your marks will be please be assured this is not the case! Patent Konigs may look the part and you may feel because the world champion wears them that you should have a pair,but the world champion does not squeeze her horse to death with said patent Konigs and squeak her way around the arena! My teeth were so on edge today with every stride this horse took I was seriously near a walk out! Scraping nails on a blackboard has the same effect on me, its a killer! That said there were some lovely horses at Addington regionals today and hopefully some of you took the time to pop over and watch and support. The atmosphere was very friendly and the classes ran to time. The big boys were out in force and the medium open and advanced medium open look like a whos who in dressage! I was part of a panel judging the advanced medium restricted which was quite a mixed class but how satisfying that all 3 judges had the same order and only a difference of about 5 marks! Girls we done good! So there should be no complaints from competitors today. I will check the forum later...
Many times I have been asked what is the difference between this level and that level. The answer is collection. Yes even from novice to elementary collection plays a part. The levels require more and more as we approach the top. Now for some, that is what was missing in the tests today. Do not think of advanced medium being the same as medium but with a flying change. It is the collection that shows how much the horse can wait on the hind leg either to go forward or back and he must show these transitions in the medium and extended paces. Of course sometimes a horse will lose balance or for a moment lean on the hand when he is new to the level but this is a work in progress so little mistakes will occur. Better this than doing the whole test in flat out mode or medium trot and canter as judges cannot give the high marks for this. So maybe thinking of collection as more balance on the hindlegs will help. However, it does not ever require more curb! True collection prepares for an uphill medium/extension and it is this forward and back that develops cadence and eventually passage.
Hacking out yesterday across the stubble fields around Burford, I realised just how big a walk my mare has. It even felt powerful at times but also strong in the hand when madame decides. Half halting and making her wait was a bit of a struggle as her mind was on what was over the next hill and how fast could we get there, however eventually she relaxed into a lovely extended walk. This is always the difficulty in the arena, some go slow, some go quick, some lose rhythm and some do not take the contact. So hacking obviously helps but I also think that the rider must not try too hard. Watching some good walks today both horse and rider looked relaxed and the riders appeared in some cases to almost take the leg off and breathe. I will certainly be giving this a try in the arena when I am next out.
Rotterdam is not far off, it was the main topic of conversation today. If you think you are excited and nervous at a regional just try and envisage how it must feel to be on the British team! The horses all travel tomorrow so lets wish Carl, Laura, Charlotte and Emile the very best of luck!
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