Prelim 4 rough and ready!

[Catg]

Hi everyone,

The first dressage test at my new showground is Prelim 4 so I got my instructor to video it for me, it felt awful but when I watched it I didn't think it was all bad. Considering I haven't done a test for 18 months and haven't had a lesson for 6 months and this was video'd at the end of the lesson and and (I have loads more excuses :lol:)

Anywhoo here we are, be honest, I can take it!

YouTube- Catherine & Zeb Preliminary 4.wmv

I know my hands are still moving a lot, I am working on it. Also I forgot the last bit, I don't usually stand around when doing dressage :rolleyes:

This is poor Zeb when we got home :yawn:, he couldn't even be bothered to leave his stable, I ache too babes don't you worry!

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt94/Catghamlin/Zebedee/IMG_4035.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Cat x

[CDR]

I know nowt about dressage but well done, looks good to me!
Good luck!!

[Cobby Keri]

zeb is lovely bless him he is so obedient, I think you both did really well the only comments I would make if I had to would be the obvious one of his outline, working him in a more consistence contact so he is rounder for longer, you get some really lovely bits but it doesn't last for too long before he resists the contact and sticks his head up, all in all a good test though, well done.

[My Crazy Clan]

well done, hes lovely.

[Catg]

Thanks girls, can't wait till the clocks change so can practise more x

Cobby keri thanks for your comments, I am def going to crack the outline thing this summer, I'm determined to do it, I have another film of me doing prelim 4 18 months ago and his head was up and down like a yoyo so we are getting there slowly but surely x

[lilholley]

Looking good! I am still a dressage novice, but I think(?) his walk could be a bit more forward? Also the second canter - is that his harder rein? He just looks a little stiffer.. He starts off in a beautiful outline doesn't he? I noticed that immediately :D

[Catg]

Thanks lilholley yes he does try to work in an outline bless it's me that messes it up, I just find it really hard to keep my hands steady so I'm constantly either dropping the contact or taking too much of a hold but I am getting better slowly as I improve my balance.

You are right about the walk yes it definitely needs to be more forward, luckily for us the dressage comps will be on grass and he finds it a lot easier going than in that sand school as it's quite deep. I think that's also why he struggled with the canter, the second one was on the right rein which is his better one so I shall go back and check that again, he was probably just getting tired by that point as we haven't cantered on sand all winter.

Thanks again for your help x

[Lesley_78]

Well done you've done much better then I ever could, best thing about videos are you can see where you need to improve, Keep up the hard work :)

[Catg]

I'm sure that's not true Lesley but thank you very much for the compliment. At the time I told my instructor it felt awful but I was hoping the video would be a pleasant surprise, she kindly told me it wouldn't be which made me laugh. I am still pleased with it though so she must have seen me do better which is a good thing too!

Cat x

[nic]

I dont think you were too bad at all.

A few of the transitions looked a little rushed and your reins were a touch too long which would make it difficult to keep a consistant contact and keep a steady outline...also your left leg was pushed forward whereas your right wasnt, were your stirrups a bit long/odd? Try working without stirrups for a bit then take them back and se how they feel then.

I thought Zebs trot was lovely and active:D

I did Prelim 4 with oscar last year and we came 3rd ( I can post the vid on here of you want?) I was hoping to do it this year too but the weekend the dressage is on my OH is away rallying so I have no babysitter:(gutted as I would love to see if we had made any/much progress!

Good luck and hope to see a video of the actual test!:D

[Catg]

Thanks for your feedback nic.

I'm terrible for working him too long, it goes back to me not keeping my hands still, if I try to hard to bring him into an outline he will resist because I don't have a steady hand, that's why we get the outline then lose it again. I'd forgotten about the long rein habit, will add that to my list of bad habits to work on! :o

Really interesting you should mention the stirrup leathers, I hadn't noticed so will go back and check what my left leg was doing. My left stirrup leather is longer than the right, the right one stretched and had to go up a hole to make it more even but they are still unlevel, I can definitely feel the difference between them and it's been getting on my nerves so I will sort it out, didn't realise it was affecting me that much which is totally dumb. :lol:

Prelim 4 was the first test I ever did so I have another recording of us doing it on grass back in 2008 so I will def get this next one recorded and will then have three to compare. :D

Sorry to hear you can't get to do it again, that's so frustrating! I would love to see your video of it so yes please! :)