I didn't even know dressage judges had a bell, much less that they would ring it. Was she calling for tea?
If you're reading this, you probably know that I do some writing. What you may not know is that I've had some training in technical writing, which is writing out procedures, instruction manuals, etc. I've had to write copy for companies who need step by step instructions for their products. Sometimes the skills I've learned come in handy. For instance, when I explain to my parents how to use a new piece of technology, I can easily think about all the steps needed to complete the task and make them so simple a 5-year old would understand them.
Step 1: Look at computer screen
Step 2: Look in the lower left hand corner
Step 3: Put your hand on the mouse
Step 4: Move the mouse so that the arrow hovers in the lower left hand corner
Etc., etc. I'll even include pictures or screen shots to make it easier. Again, I aim for kindergarten brain level. I am very literal when I write these steps, because I literally want you to do exactly what I wrote without any panic setting in. If you have questions about the steps, or mess up in any way, I didn't do a good enough job explaining what you're supposed to do.
Enter my infamous first ever dressage test. Beginner Novice Test A, from the United States Eventing Association (USEA). No offense, but whoever wrote these needs to rethink their methods. To say the least!
Just to give you a bit of background, I'd never done a dressage test before. I was at least a bit familiar with the letters around the ring, but still had to memorize the All King Edward's Horses Can Make Big Fences thing to help me remember where they were oriented. In addition, the two weeks prior to heading to this schooling trial my horse had swollen knees. As a result, we didn't really do much work. When the swelling went down a few days before we were to leave, I pretty much thought 'let's just see how he is, and do what we can.' I had no idea if we'd even be up for a dressage test, much less do the rest of the event.
LamBam went along like a champ! We went out on the cross country course with two other horses and riders, and he loved it. No knee swelling. We had a couple of lessons with the farm's owner in the dressage ring, and he was great! So, when the day of the schooling trial came, we decided to go for it.
Suddenly, I had to memorize a test.
Fortunately, I was riding in the Elementary division, so I had a very simple test. Elementary means simple, right? We don't even have to canter (which is good because LamBam doesn't always get his left lead), so it'll be easy. Right??
The night before the event, my trainer printed out written instructions for the dressage test I would be performing, and we went over it. Now, it's important to know that we were camping out at Great Vista, so there were only the barn lights and flash lights to help us see. I made an imaginary rectangle and trotted (on my own two feet) through the test for my trainer, who said it was right. To be fair, there were really no markers on the ground. To her, it probably just looked like I was going around in the same circle, and she probably figured I could read. I mean, I can, she just didn't know HOW I read stuff.
These instructions are vague at best. Have you looked at the link for the test yet? Here it is again: Link.
Anyway, on the morning of the test I was really happy with how LamBam was feeling, and trotted right into the ring with a smile on my face. I'm going along step 2, and suddenly I hear a bell ring. I look around in confusion, because seriously, why is a bell ringing? Thinking it was an anomaly, I kept going. Then it rang again. And again.
The bell rang a record number of 3 times in 20 seconds (possibly less).
I didn't even know dressage judges had a bell, much less that they would ring it. Was she calling for tea? Scones and biscuits?
Finally, realizing that I was denser than concrete, the judge called out to me, asking what test I was riding. I brought my horse to a walk and headed toward her. She was so nice! I was laughing and explaining that I had never done this before, and had no idea what the bell meant. My trainer came over and conferred with us as well, and LamBam got some nice attention. He loves dressage tests now. Traitor.
After that little pow-wow, we were allowed a do-over! I don't know if I was penalized for the error (I think so, but not too harshly. See the pics in the slideshow), but I had the right instructions in my head this time, and we managed to do very well. We both received some nice compliments despite my flubs.
Though I understand HOW to read a dressage test now, I still think I shouldn't have to know how to read it. It should be self-explanatory. Or maybe I'm just too technical to read the dressage test instructions without being overly analytical. Who knows!
I decided to write out the actual test steps and compare them to what I thought they meant. Then I wrote out how, if I were writing the instructions, the test would be written. See what you think, and leave me some comments if you're so inclined.
Dressage Test Says 1. A Enter working trot. C Track left 2. E Circle left 20 meters working trot 3. Between K and A working canter left lead 4. A Circle left 20 meters working canter 5. Between F and B working trot 6. C Medium walk 7. HXF Free walk. Between F and A medium walk 8. A working trot 9. E Circle right 20 meters working trot 10. Between H and C working canter right lead 11. C Circle right 20 meters working canter 12. Between M and B working trot 13. A down centerline 14. X halt, salute How the test SHOULD be written: 1. Enter the ring at a working trot 2. Maintain gait down centerline 3. Track left at C 4. Pass the letter E 5. Start to make a circle so that you pass halfway between D and X on your way to B 5. Pass B 6. Then finish the 20 m circle by passing halfway between X and G on your way back to E 7. Continue trot to K 8. Between K and A transition to left lead canter 9. Pass A and F 10. Continue cantering so that you pass halfway between D and X on your way to K and A, creating 20 m circle 11. Transition to trot so that you have working trot between F and B 12. Continue working trot toward C 13. Medium walk at C 14. At H turn toward X so that you free walk to F 15. Between F and A transition to medium walk 16. At A working trot 17. Pass E 18. Start to make a circle so that you pass halfway between X and G on your way to B 19. Pass B 20. Finish the 20 m circle by passing halfway between D and X on your way back to E 21. Trot toward H 22. Between H and C pick up the right lead canter 23. Continue the canter passing C and M 24. Pass halfway between X and G on your way to H and then C 25. Transition to working trot by M 26. Continue to B and A 27. At A turn down centerline 28. Halt by X 29. Salute the judge | What I Thought it Meant 1. Trot into the ring at A, trot down the center line and turn left at C. 2. Uh, this step is pretty vague. Because I've already been trotting in a half circle shape, I guess it means turn left at C and continue the the circle I've already been trotting, making it a full 20 m circle. That would make the most sense. 3. Somewhere between K and A ask for, and hopefully get, the left lead canter. I don't have to do this, though, I can just trot since I'm in the Elementary division. And LamBam doesn't get his left lead yet. 4. Keep making a 20 m circle at the trot at the end of the arena with the A 5. Between A and F come back to (or just stay at in my case) the trot, make sure it's got a good pace until I reach B. 6. Transition to a walk, at C have a medium (?) walk. Mental note: ask what a medium walk is. 7. Whew! I like this one. Free walk, where horse is tracking up well, from H to X to F. Then come back to a more collected walk to A 8. At A begin a working trot 9. I think this is the same as step 2, just at the other end of the arena. At E, I'm gonna turn right for a 20 m circle cuz that makes sense to me based on these abysmal instructions. 10. Pick up right lead canter between H and C, or just keep trotting. No use cantering in this direction, IMO, if I skipped it at the other end. 11. Keep circling 20 m at the canter (or trot in my case) 12. Between M and B come back to or remain at a trot 13. Turn at A and trot down the centerline 14. Transition to a halt by X, salute the judge |