How can i get into dressage

You will then enter and salute the judge, after halting and saluting the judge, you will ride the movements of your test using the letters around the arena as your guide.

You will be asked to ride at different gaits and variations of speed within the gaits. Then once you have finished the movements of the test you will halt, salute the judge, and leave the ring. At the end of the dressage competition, you will receive your scorecard, with a final score. Use this time to take a look at the judges comments and find areas in which you wish to improve on for next time. Just like humans, they learn differently and they all take different amounts of time to build strength and suppleness.

So the best place to start is to get a dressage trainer who can help you on the ground teach your horse the right aids and help you communicate and build your relationship together. Understand the Dressage Pyramid Of Training, will also help you with your training and what you are trying to work on. While you are training learn your tests and the movements required. Practice riding your test and mastering each movement. Practice the test and improve your horses response to the aids giving.

But be patient with your approach and listen to your horse as you are training. I love to use video to see how my riding looks. Its a great way to self- analysis and pick things up in between your lessons with a trainer.

Taking just a little bit of time to work on your own wellbeing can really make a big impact on the time you spend in the saddle. Have a look at our free guide to get some useful stretches and tips to get you started today.

Dressage is the foundation of most horse riding disciplines. It is the basic training of aids and all horses can benefit from a foundation of dressage training. Choosing to focus in on one discipline will allow you to master the art of that discipline further. It was for this reason I fell in love with dressage, I was doing eventing at the time and my jumping only improved as my dressage improved.

If you compete in dressage you will find the challenge comes in trying to improve your score by mastering the elements of what dressage is all about and the purpose of the test level you are competing in. Each movement when you ride has a description of what a 10 would look like, so when we ride its important to know the description of each movement and what the judge is looking for. This understanding will also help you with your everyday training and being able to progress through the levels.

Improve the 5 components of your riding. Only available 3x per year. How it works Start Here: Coalescence 1. Suppleness 2. On a horse like that, you can learn what it feels like to ride an animal that works correctly and what buttons you need to press to get the response you want. Forums and websites that feature lots of useful articles on dressage are a brilliant source of information for dressage newbies.

Here, you can learn from both other beginners and experienced competitors, as well as picking up vital tips from dressage trainers and judges.

The rule book for the dressage governing body in your country or state is also an extremely valuable mine of information for anyone wanting to get into the sport of dressage.

Most rule books also contain a section of definitions pertaining to each movement that is included in each dressage test at every level. That can be incredibly helpful in giving you an understanding of what the dressage judge is looking for.

That way, you can dip a toe in the water without feeling overwhelmed and out of your depth, which could happen if you entered a large affiliated event. Whether you compete at an unaffiliated or affiliated level, the general rule of thumb is to be riding confidently at home at a level above that at which you intend to compete. The reasoning here is that if you and your horse can easily cope with more challenging work in your home arena, there should be no problem when you take on an easier standard under pressure in the competition environment.

Affiliating does have lots of benefits, especially for beginners to the sport. Most dressage bodies publish a magazine that has lots of essential news, informative articles, adverts for training courses, and competition results. And of course, there will be a schedule of all affiliated competitions together with details on entry fees, how to enter, etc. The main drawback to affiliating is that it can be quite expensive, as you need to register your horse and yourself to be eligible for competitions.

Also, entry fees for affiliated classes tend to be quite a lot pricier than those at small local unaffiliated events. The standard at affiliated dressage level is generally much higher than unaffiliated, and you will be competing against some very good riders and quality horses. Dressage is a wonderful sport that anyone can enjoy taking part in, provided that they have a sound horse with regular paces.

Share your story with us in the comments box below. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Get to know your horse. First, make sure you familiarize yourself with your horse and that your horse knows you. Before you get all into competing or just doing dressage for fun, make sure your horse knows who you are and knows that it can trust you.

You also have to make sure you have faith in your horse. If you don't think you or your horse can do it, you won't be able to. Your horse must trust you to give it appropriate commands and you must trust it to do what you ask it to. To bond with your horse, try to spend a lot of time with each other in a way that reinforces the fact that you are the leader. Take your horse on walks and lead it by the bridle. Spending time with your horse while it grazes, hand-feeding it, and riding it are other ways to bond.

Gather the necessary materials. This includes a dressage saddle, a saddle liner, stirrups, a bridle, and reins. Someone who already competes in dressage can make sure you have all the needed gear for you as well as your horse. Make sure you also have a good pair of boots to wear while you practice your dressage.

Inappropriate footgear can lead to injury. There are other supplies that may be required for competitions — like a tailcoat for you or a fly hood for your horse. Work on your position in the saddle. Keep your heels down at all times. This keeps your weight back and body positioned solidly in the saddle. Adjust your stirrups so that your knee is at about an eighty-degree angle. The balls of your feet should rest on the stirrup irons.

Sit tall in the saddle without bracing your back. This will help improve your balance in the saddle. If you only put your toes in, your feet will slip out of the irons if your horse spooks and you will have no chance of staying on. Get in shape. Dressage is a sport that requires a lot of fitness from both the horse and you. You'll need to work gradually to build up the horse to the necessary level of exercise.

Just how much you work the horse depends on its starting fitness level. Part 2. Work on your horse's basic gaits. The first three gaits — walk, trot , and canter — should be forward and consistent. Both you and your horse should feel confident traveling at all three gaits in all circumstances.

Becoming comfortable with various speeds requires patience and practice. Mastering these skills requires a lot of practice and will most likely take months of constant work.