The rider must always strive to hone his skills in order to reveal his capable and subtle communication to the horse. The horse in turn will display the energetic hindquarters and elastic connection over its back to the bit. Correct practice will prepare horse and rider better; repeating an exercise poorly will not.”
Gabriel Armando FEI 4* Judge
That is what it is all about. I must hone my skills to communicate with Biasini so that he can have active hindquarters and an elastic connection to the bit. That is what will improve our test scores.
Know your geometry and be aware of how your horse feels – don’t just ride the movement!”
Lorraine Macdonald Equestrian Canada Senior dressage judge. Retired FEI 4* judge
Be aware of how your horse feels. I must be able to tell, from where I am sitting, how Biasini is going and what I need to do to get him ready for the next movement.
The marks are awarded for the quality of the gait and throughness, and lastly the execution of the movement.”
Lee Tubman FEI 4* Judge
It is how the horse is going that will get good marks . It is not just executing the movement. It is all about how we execute the movement.
The judges will always be looking for a rider who has a good connection with horse’s mouth, and this can only occur if the rider also has good contact with the seat and legs.”
Cesar Torrente FEI 4* Judge
My position is of paramount importance . My seat and legs must be in the right place to give Biasini the aids and the instructions about what he is to do . If my position is correct and I am using my seat and legs then he will be light in my hands and not pulling me out of the tack.
Four FEI 4* judges have given their opinion on how riders can improve their scores at the higher level dressage tests. Can I do all those things? Yes, but not quite consistently enough. So if I went into the show ring there would be moments when my connection or Biasini’s level of activity or his frame will be lost and then I have to struggle to get it back. Biasini and I have lots of show miles and we have always had reasonable scores. But until I can be absolutely solid in the work that my coach Belinda Trussell has been working on with us, for the last year, there is not much point in going into the show ring. I am not quite there yet. Close but not solid enough to go down a centerline in a show.
We are working on it, we will get it and then we can enter at A with confidence.
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