Dressage
1. Learn your test well in advanced. When you book your event look at the test and the movements. Don't learn it the day before!
2. Dress smartly - it will automatically give the judge a good impression of you.
3. Have a helper who brings supplies such as: the rule book, test sheet, fly spray, grooming kit, a bottle of water and polo's for after the test!
4. Time management. Know how long your horse needs to warm in.
5. Have a floor plan which is suitable for your horse in the warmup.
6. Leave horses boots & drop whip in the warmup.
7. Work your horse effectively around the arena. The judge is already getting a picture of you before the test starts.
8. Always acknowledge the judge/s with a smile or a "Good Morning".
9. Wait for the horn or the bell.
10. Try to stay relaxed and present your horse to the best of your ability it might sound obvious but it is important to breath.
11. Ask someone to video your test. Video analysis is a great tool. What you see and feel are sometimes 2 different things. Also very handy to show your coach!
12. Enjoy it!!
1. Learn your test well in advanced. When you book your event look at the test and the movements. Don't learn it the day before!
2. Dress smartly - it will automatically give the judge a good impression of you.
3. Have a helper who brings supplies such as: the rule book, test sheet, fly spray, grooming kit, a bottle of water and polo's for after the test!
4. Time management. Know how long your horse needs to warm in.
5. Have a floor plan which is suitable for your horse in the warmup.
6. Leave horses boots & drop whip in the warmup.
7. Work your horse effectively around the arena. The judge is already getting a picture of you before the test starts.
8. Always acknowledge the judge/s with a smile or a "Good Morning".
9. Wait for the horn or the bell.
10. Try to stay relaxed and present your horse to the best of your ability it might sound obvious but it is important to breath.
11. Ask someone to video your test. Video analysis is a great tool. What you see and feel are sometimes 2 different things. Also very handy to show your coach!
12. Enjoy it!!
Showjumping
1. Walk the FULL course.
2. Do your homework and learn the jumping distances. Ask your coach for help with this!
3. If there is time to watch other people watch how the course rides including lines, distances in doubles and related distances and any 'bogey' jumps.
4. Be aware of the course time.
5. Know your horse and have a warm up plan.
6. If there's something your unsure about ask your coach or other riders. The professionals will love to give you advice.
7. Wait for the bell.
8. Ask someone to video your round. Video analysis is a great tool. What you see and feel are sometimes 2 different things. Also very handy to show your coach!
1. Walk the FULL course.
2. Do your homework and learn the jumping distances. Ask your coach for help with this!
3. If there is time to watch other people watch how the course rides including lines, distances in doubles and related distances and any 'bogey' jumps.
4. Be aware of the course time.
5. Know your horse and have a warm up plan.
6. If there's something your unsure about ask your coach or other riders. The professionals will love to give you advice.
7. Wait for the bell.
8. Ask someone to video your round. Video analysis is a great tool. What you see and feel are sometimes 2 different things. Also very handy to show your coach!
Top X-Country Tips
1. Remember to have some breakfast, for all phases yes but particularly for this phase!
2. Keep horse and rider hydrated.
3. Ensure your horse is fit enough for that track. E.g. don't enter a very hilly testing track for a first run.
4. Walk the XC course and look carefully at all possible options at each fence.
5. Download the Cross Country App. Brilliant for the course plan, optimum time, minute markers and pictures of the jumps.
6. Make sure you understand the black flag alternative rule. Ask the stewards if unsure.
7. You can walk the course as many times as you like!
8. Have a warm up plan.
9. If you are using a stopwatch really understand how to work it. This shouldn't put you off when riding the course.
10. Don't forget you have gears and to change up and down them according to which type of obstacle you are jumping.
11. Cool down procedure of the horse after the cross county is essential. Ask advice from your coach and watch how the professionals cool down it really is a team effort.
12. Videoing a cross country round is sometimes tricky but if it all possible always get parts captured. Or more and more there are companies video the whole round you can purchase.
Moving Up A Level
1. When both horse and rider are CONFIDENT at there current level it is time to consider moving up a level.
2. Discuss your goals with your coach. They can help build a plan to achieve your goals.
3. Watch rounds at the level you wish to move upto.
4. Don’t overlook anything in training. A small problem can turn into a big one if not corrected.
5. You never stop learning. Continually update your skills watching the professionals, training video's and training articles.
1. When both horse and rider are CONFIDENT at there current level it is time to consider moving up a level.
2. Discuss your goals with your coach. They can help build a plan to achieve your goals.
3. Watch rounds at the level you wish to move upto.
4. Don’t overlook anything in training. A small problem can turn into a big one if not corrected.
5. You never stop learning. Continually update your skills watching the professionals, training video's and training articles.