ASKHQ: LOSING MARKS FOR LENGTHENING

Q: Why do dressage riders often lose marks for lengthening?

A: You need to show the judges obvious changes between your gaits. Marks are often allocated for this your test. We often lose marks here due to not showing enough difference from movement to movement. For example, the movement may say ‘HP lengthen the canter, P collected or working canter’. We instantly focus on the lengthen and feel this is the most important part of the instruction. We will then demonstrate a brilliant lengthen but take too much time to get back to a working or collected canter. This ends up in a lot of marks lost.

You should still really go for it in your lengthens but prepare well before the marker to make the difference noticeable when you collect. Showing a difference is more important than showing a spectacular lengthen. Accuracy and correctness will get you the marks!

If you have a horse who gets a little speedy and out of control in lengthening work, make him as collected as possible before the lengthening. Then show as much as you can in the lengthening (without losing control) and then collect him again as much as you can. This will demonstrate the difference and will get you good marks even if your lengthen was not spectacular.

Answered by Bronwen Meredith