How do you decide when to move up?

[Whisper]

With all of the controversy about qualifications, I've been thinking about this a bit lately. So, I figured I'd ask what you feel is necessary for *you* and *your horse* before a moveup, and how well you expect to do at the new level the first couple of outings. Do you like overlapping say the 4th test of your current level with the 1st test of the next one up, so you have one that's solidly in your/your horse's comfort zone, and one that's a stretch? Do you prefer to show a level or 2 below where you're schooling at home and really focus on getting those highpoint/year end awards? Is your trainer telling you to wait and keep working on your current level, or pushing you to move up?

[Pely]

I will move up when the horse can do the new test comfortably and accurately 95% of the time.

Just because the horse is doing well at a lower level doesn't mean he should move up. Quite the opposite. He should move up when he is able to do the new test/level well.

[xQHDQ]

Well, hopefully I've been working on the requirements of the next level for a while. Whatever the horse is good at - it doesn't matter if the movement is in test 1 or test 3. I'll try the test I want to move to at home - usually starting at the first test of the next level but not always if he does something really well at a higher test. If it goes well, I'll go for it at a show. If it doesn't, I work more at home and show at the lower level.

I hope that helps.

[ApolloGirl]

When I first started Dressage I was told a rule of Thumb by my trainer, who was also a judge and upper level dressage rider herself.

You can move to the next level when your horse can comfortably school every test at the next level. This way you give you and your horse the best chance of success. The test its self is enough challenge for you to get it right with only one ride.

AND

Remember some horses may need extra time at the level they are on now. They may not be phyically or mentally ready for the next level.

[RonaldGroen]

This is all arranged in the qualification system

[Ibex]

This is all arranged in the qualification system

:rolleyes:

Everyone is different. We usually edge up slowly - i.e. a lot of overlap between the 4th test of one level and the first of the next. It tends to be a fairly natural growth that way, and my coach *does* believe in pushing the horse and rider in some circumstances, i.e. she knows we can do it, we've schooled in sufficiently at home etc.

We also do a lot of schooling shows where you can safely go out with only a semi-solid test and not worry about it - the same series attracts a lot of first timers, young horses, and eventers polishing their own tests in the TOC classes. Coaching from the sidelines (as long as it's subtle) is ok, and working on a test in a show environment is hugely helpful.

[pintopiaffe]

This is all arranged in the qualification system

Ah, yes, well, what about those of us who cannot afford to show at TL and First, and plan to come out at 3rd? (at least recognized). We wet our feet and got the 'show mileage' at TL and 1st schooling... But there is no sense in going backwards.

As to the OP, I will show 3rd when the horse is comfortably doing all the movements required for the tests, and schooling in the level above. I will do it when I am confident enough with what we're doing at home, that the added nerves (mine! not his!) won't leave me stressed. I won't do it until it's fun. We might not be perfect at it yet, but I want it to be about getting the judge's opinion on where we are...

My attitude has changed pretty dramatically about showing. Now it's about dressing up and taking my pony out and showing him off and having fun. Otherwise, I'm saving my money for lessons. ;)

[carovet]

I have a goal that I set each fall/winter for the following year. I tend to stay home until I can show the level that I want to, rather than showing at level x until I feel I am ready to move up. So this year I will show one show (or 2) at 4th, and then probably won't show any more this spring until we can do a decent psg, hopefully by early summer (psg being this year's goal).

I also like to get the first test of a new level "out of the way" early in the season at a smaller show, even if I know I'm not quite ready for prime time competition at that level ...that way when I am ready to show it for real, I already know that I have put that test together once, and it won't be any worse than that time. There is the added benefit that the first time that I ride it under those circumstances I don't feel any pressure (self induced) because it is a "test ride" for fun rather than "for real".

I don't show a test "for real" if I don't feel like I can do a decent ride (for me that means at least mid 60's). At times that means that there may be an element in the test that is not a finished product (last year I showed 3rd despite not having reliable clean changes) but the rest of the test is of sufficient quality that I am comfortable riding it in public.

If it is easy then I'd rather be at home schooling rather than spending my money at a show. This means I move on up rather than stay at a level to collect year end awards.

As far as my coach -- he tends to be of the same philosophy as me, so I would (probably :D ) take his advice if he thinks I'm moving up too soon.....but I don't think that has happened yet.

carovet

[Whisper]

I'm enjoying reading everyone's thoughts! I've shown unrec. Intro and TL, plus the BN dressage tests so far. I'm hoping to show at recognized (GMO only, not USEF/USDF) TL and perhaps a little bit of 1st Level - Test 1 if it goes really well. :) I do have a regular instructor, but can't take lessons on the horse I would be showing (due to insurance reasons).

The horse discipline I have the most experience with moving up in is vaulting. For that, the horse doesn't need to do anything particularly new, so it's more a matter of when I'm ready. Usually my coach encourages me to do some cross-entering between levels, and show in the schooling classes (feedback only, no scores/placings). I really feel that challenging myself to do the next level up has really made a positive influence on me, but I recognize that for dressage, both the horse and I need to be ready.

[GreekDressageQueen]

Well, I think that is a tricky question because moving up depends on so many things. My horse is 3rd/4th level but like most horses at that level he is schooling movements that are seen in PSG but we are still working on refining movements in the 3rd level test. I think the decision to move up should really depend on the judge's scores (if you are at least 60% or above in at least 3 shows), your trainer's recommendation, and your particular horse's talents. Technically, my horse can do 4th level - he has all the movements down - but it is best to stay at 3rd until he is fabulous at 4th. I don't want to ride a test and be "just okay" I want to be competitive and if takes a little longer and more strength training to add that extra pizazz, which will get me 10% more points then I am willing to do that.

As far as overlapping - because my horse goes better in the double and there are some tricky rules about riding in a double before showing 2nd (even if you are also showing 3rd) I do not overlap 2nd and 3rd level. My horse didn't have a problem, but some horses have a difficult time making the counter-counter adjustment to flying change from 2nd and 3rd and may show tension/do a change anyway at 2nd because the horse thinks he has to. I personally avoided this problem by skipping 2nd level all together and going straight to 3rd. The new qualifications system - if implemented - will likely hurt me in the long run. In Europe, some horses don't even make their debut until they are showing in the small tour, which I think is the rider/trainer's personal choice and I would really hate the USDF to implement the qualifications rule to prevent US riders from doing the same. However, I will overlap Training and First if I have a young or green horse because that first test will be my warm-up/throw away score.

[Hampton Bay]

My attitude has changed pretty dramatically about showing. Now it's about dressing up and taking my pony out and showing him off and having fun. Otherwise, I'm saving my money for lessons. ;)

I could not agree more!

Personally, I move up when I feel ready. I don't show enough to care about year-end awards, and placings mean nothing to me. I show to get feedback on my horse and myself. I am still working on my show nerves, especially because my mare is an increadibly difficult ride. Any bit of tension really makes her resistant, so I will likely stick with schooling shows to work out that issue (or maybe just have a glass of wine before I tack up!)

However, she has a ton of natural collection, and lateral work comes easily to her, so I have no doubt she could do well at 3rd/4th IF I can give her a confident ride. When I feel we are ready to tackle those levels, we will. Until then, I would rather save my money for lessons and schooling shows.

[Speedy]

I think you kind of know when you are ready. But right around the times that has happened for me, other things were happening too - we were getting mid-to-high 60s to low-70s consistently at recognized shows at the current level and we were comfortably schooling everything required at the next level. If that is all coming together, I think you can safely give it a shot. If I moved up and didn't hit the low-60s at that level, I think I'd go back to the drawing board, because if you look at the comments on a test that is scoring less than 60, you are probably getting comments to improve some of the most fundamental aspects of the requirements - but then I am one of those people that really takes the comments, not the score itself, seriously. It's always interesting, how consistent the comments, good and bad, can be from judge to judge...