Get in my ring! June was busy with three judging gigs: the Wesley Clover Horse Trials, the Limestone Series Schooling Show at Chipmunk Ridge, and the Touch a Rainbow Horse Trials.
I try to be very succinct for the sake of my volunteer scribe, and the schedule, and these are my most common comments, and what I mean by them:
Not Quite Straight: on your centre line entry, finish and the corresponding halts, all I can really see is how straight your horse is. If I can see 3 or 4 of your horse's legs as they come at me, then he's Not Quite Straight and will usually get a 6 as long as there's some pep in his step, maybe lower.
More Balance: Balance is so fundamental to dressage. You are trying to improve your horse's balance in every stride. To be more upright, to shift more weight to the hindquarters instead of leaning forward onto the shoulders, to prevent rushing forward or tilting to one side, to be more balanced.
More Bend: If you're riding a circle, the horse should take the shape with his whole body. If he doesn't, you need More Bend, and might need More Balance or More Suppleness, too.
More Supple: The topline of your horse is composed of long muscles. When they are tight underneath you, the horse's head comes up and he will need to be More Supple. When they are relaxed, your horse's head will lower slightly, and he will flex slightly at the joint between his head and neck (the poll).
Relax More: Tension will affect your suppleness and often your contact. JUST RELAX!!! (jk) Beautiful dressage looks easy. At ease.
Losing Energy/More Energy: Beautiful dressage is energetic, and while tension is the other extreme, let's see SOME hustle!
Obedient/Not on the aids: These are opposing terms used to comment on your transition. It's one or the other, folks.
Steadier Contact: The outline of your horse should stay consistent or else it's distracting and I wonder: is there tension or unsteady hands?
Steady Rhythm: This is a compliment, and comes with a higher mark. The tempo stayed the same throughout the movement and the picture looked relaxed.
Fairly Fluid: For a transition or a figure. This is also a compliment with a higher mark. You gave a relaxed, obedient impression and appeared fairly supple.
Fairly Smooth: See Steady Rhythm and Fairly Fluid. I want to show some variety of comments on your test. If you see all three comments, you are having a consistent test!
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