As a judge, I pay particular attention to the horse’s transitions for an overview of the quality of training accomplished. Recently new tests score specific transitions, lending more weight to the final score of the test. This was done for a very good reason. Riders tend to train movements in each test, often straying from the training scale. By incorporating the basics in simplistic ways, the rider is forced back on track and must adher to the principles of the basic training scale which places rhythm and balance as the basis to build all movements from.

The most commom mistake riders make at the lower levels is to forget to prepare the horse for the transition. The rider must always prepare, ask and reward for each communication to her horse. Planning ahead is key, prepare for the transition and then perform it seamlessly at the correct place in the test for high scores.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 24th, 2007 at 11:26 pm and is filed under Dressage, Judging, sales, Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.