Dressage Seat Equitation for AA riders

[Dressurfan]

Hi Everyone,
Is there, or are there plans for a dressage seat equitation class at recognized shows for Adult Amatuers? They have one for JR riders and it seems like a great idea for amatuers to focus on their seats as well. It would also be a great opportunity for some amateurs with non-typical dressage horses to show in a class that isn't judged mostly on the horse. What do you guys think? :yes:

[canyonoak]

I know we are going to have them in California shows--complete with prizes and trophies.

We think this is a much better way to achieve performance standards than a silly, mandated, expensive, useless and superfluous rule.

wink wink.

[BaroquePony]

Excellent idea if it can be judged properly. From my experience there is not enough focus on a correct seat at almost all levels in the US.

I think some of the pros could use a dressage equitation class as well.

[Equibrit]

I remember taking part in such a class, a few years ago. (I'm old too!)
Trip Harting was the judge. It was judged purely on seat, position and effectiveness of the aids.
Judges comments were made to the audience when scoring and he called movements out rather than having a test. He had two riders facing off to decide the winner.

It was quite fun and in the hands of an imaginative judge could be quite exciting.
I think I am correct in remembering that it was niot limited to AA's, but I doubt that you would get any of those sensitive upper level or pro souls to take part. They may have to hear something that they didn't like!

[ottb dressage]

i think it is a great idea and would love to compete in a dressage seat equitation class for adult amateurs. i'm not aware of any in my region though. looks like one of us adult amateurs needs to get the ball rolling : )

[Dixon]

How is the juniors' class judged? Does it focus solely on the rider's position and how precisely they transition at the letters, or does the rider still have to demonstrate connection, forwardness, etc.?

[lorilu]

I believe the juniors class is a group class, like a hunter flat class, movements called out...

Our GMO had an Eq class that used Training test 3 as the pattern, but had its own score sheet. Unfortunately, it was like adding another class to the show schedule time-wise, and we had to change it to a group class last year.
If anyone wants a copy of our old score sheet I am pretty sure I have one somewhere.
It only addressed rider position.

[canyonoak]

I think the best way to get such a class is to get in touch with your GMO and ask them to put the class in some show premiums/ask them to ask show managers to add the class.

And of course, if you have an awards committee or someone good at this, see if you can get some sponsorship/awards arranged which can be mentioned in any show premium/ GMO newsletter.

It can be the GMO answer to the Performance Standards proposal--a solution that does NOT cost more money, is NOT a database nightmare; is NOT superfluous..and (drum roll) creates better riders!!!!

YAYYYYYYYYY!

LOL

[Dressage Art]

I attended a weekend seminar on judging an equitation class offered by USEF to judges and "L" grads and sponsored by judge M. Creswick - that means that M. Creswick was paying entry fees of all riders who wanted to show in the equitation classes that weekend, so we, seminar participants can learn from as many riders as we can (the seminar itself was about $150 per participant per day). There were 2 classes: junior and AA. About a dozen kids signed up for their equitation class. Only 1 AA signed up for AA Equitation class and it had to be canceled. Yet, there were tons of AAs at the show.

Technically, anybody can enter in to equitation class if it is offered at the show, but AAs are shy.

I would love to see an equitation class as a qualification proposal. However, I heard that it will not happen since there are many adults with some physical problems that doesn't make their equitation look appealing (rider with a hip replacement was used as an example).

[CLB15]

Our GMO offers it to Juniors & Seniors at our Schooling Shows.
It's run like a rail class but competitors (either individually or as a group (depending on class size) are asked to do transitions from one gait to another and within a gait, circles, leg yields, etc. Some judges have the riders drop their stirrups. At the end the judges will often tell the competitors their strong & weak points.

Rules: http://www.usef.org/documents/international/dressage/DSERules.pdf
Guidelines: http://www.usef.org/documents/international/dressage/Judging-Guidelines.pdf
Scoresheet: http://www.usef.org/documents/international/dressage/2006DSEScoresheet.pdf

[honeydoozy]

Technically, anybody can enter in to equitation class if it is offered at the show, but AAs are shy.


Okay... as an AA, I can hazard a guess as to why this is true (and I've had this discussion with our local GMO Pres and a couple of show managers):

AA's work hard, and *struggle* along more often than not. It's tough to put yourself out there for "judgement" and critique, particularly when the comments come back in a way that stings. This happens enough in normal dressage tests where the HORSE is supposedly driving the scores. When that critical eye (and sometimes thoughtless comments) are leveled at the rider, it might be more than some of us really want to go up for. :winkgrin:

If the test were designed in a competitor friendly way, and judges were instructed to make the process friendly and helpful... more AA's might get brave and give it a go. If the FEE for this particular class were lower than normal classes, more AA's might be willing to say "what the heck" and go for it.

[poltroon]

I personally would be more interested in an equitation class that used a test than in a rail class. If there were rider/eq classes that used a test at the level I was riding at, I would go out of my way to enter.

[J-Lu]

How is the juniors' class judged? Does it focus solely on the rider's position and how precisely they transition at the letters, or does the rider still have to demonstrate connection, forwardness, etc.?

I scribed for this class, and the judge wanted to see the rider have the horse go forward and the rider demonstrate connection...showing that the rider was *riding*. She wanted to see that the rider had control over the horse by doing transitions within a reasonable amount of time (giving time for preparation of the transition) and on the bit, doing accurate circles, etc. She mentioned that the connected horse ultimately does let the rider sit and ride better, which is true, so generally the better connected and through the horse, the better the rider can sit and the better they can place in the class. She didn't judge the horse at all but just made the comment on how the connected horse improves the ability of the rider. She made the class fun for the riders and the winner was really evident.

I think it would be a fun class to ride in!

[Lendon Gray]

Just to let you all know -- the discussion of offering an Adult Dressage Seat Medal Final is often discussed in the committee, but there are so very, very few adults who enter the equitation classes held at open shows. If the adults demonstrated interest in the classes by entering, then a championship would be a definite possibility. Many of us would love to see it happen, but the adults are not demonstrating interest in riding in Equitation classes.

If your local shows don't offer an equitation class, ask them to, and then make sure you get together some riders to make it worthwhile.

Come on adults get in those classes and give the kids some real competition! Get the classes big enough so the management will want to divide the classes into youth and Adult, and then we can make a Medal Finals.

[J-Lu]

Just to let you all know -- the discussion of offering an Adult Dressage Seat Medal Final is often discussed in the committee, but there are so very, very few adults who enter the equitation classes held at open shows. If the adults demonstrated interest in the classes by entering, then a championship would be a definite possibility. Many of us would love to see it happen, but the adults are not demonstrating interest in riding in Equitation classes.

If your local shows don't offer an equitation class, ask them to, and then make sure you get together some riders to make it worthwhile.

Come on adults get in those classes and give the kids some real competition! Get the classes big enough so the management will want to divide the classes into youth and Adult, and then we can make a Medal Finals.

You know, I once mentioned this to show management and they thought this class was only available for juniors. Has it always been open to adults or has something changed recently? Is there an official class number? I'd like to bring this up again to our show management because I know there are AAs in the area who would enter. Thanks,
J.

[Equibrit]

USEF DSER Rules;


DR132 Dressage Seat Equitation.
1. Dressage Seat Equitation classes may be offered for Juniors, Young Riders, Adult Amateurs and/or Open riders according to the following specifications.......................

http://www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=dressage
It's all laid out if you care to look!

[poltroon]

Just to let you all know -- the discussion of offering an Adult Dressage Seat Medal Final is often discussed in the committee, but there are so very, very few adults who enter the equitation classes held at open shows. If the adults demonstrated interest in the classes by entering, then a championship would be a definite possibility. Many of us would love to see it happen, but the adults are not demonstrating interest in riding in Equitation classes.

If your local shows don't offer an equitation class, ask them to, and then make sure you get together some riders to make it worthwhile.

Come on adults get in those classes and give the kids some real competition! Get the classes big enough so the management will want to divide the classes into youth and Adult, and then we can make a Medal Finals.

I know this is kind of weird, but I think for a lot of adult dressage riders they are not interested in riding collectively in a rail class in a dressage arena. Many adults I know take private or semiprivate lessons, and are not used to riding in 'traffic.' The kids are more likely to have experienced group lessons.

There is the additional factor that they are riding classes with tests and maybe they don't want to give up a test nor do they feel that their horse is up for a third class.

Is there a reason we've never offered an equitation class that's judged individually from a test?

[J-Lu]

USEF DSER Rules;


DR132 Dressage Seat Equitation.
1. Dressage Seat Equitation classes may be offered for Juniors, Young Riders, Adult Amateurs and/or Open riders according to the following specifications.......................

http://www.usef.org/Contentpage2.aspx?id=dressage
It's all laid out if you care to look!


Thanks!

[Equibrit]

I know this is kind of weird, but I think for a lot of adult dressage riders they are not interested in riding collectively in a rail class in a dressage arena. Many adults I know take private or semiprivate lessons, and are not used to riding in 'traffic.' The kids are more likely to have experienced group lessons.
That's pretty sad - imagine the joys they are missing out on; not being able to ride in a group. This class would do them good!

Is there a reason we've never offered an equitation class that's judged individually from a test? Yes - because you get collective marks for the rider in a test.


Sorry - but I find it rather astonishing to think that people who call themselves "riders" cannot ride a horse in company; not to mention the fun they are missing out on. Just because you haven't, doesn't mean you can't. Who knows - it may even encourage the DQs to leave the ring and actually experience riding cross country and become "whole riders" !

[poltroon]

Sorry - but I find it rather astonishing to think that people who call themselves "riders" cannot ride a horse in company; not to mention the fun they are missing out on. Just because you haven't, doesn't mean you can't. Who knows - it may even encourage the DQs to leave the ring and actually experience riding cross country and become "whole riders" !

I'm very comfortable with it; I grew up in the hunter/jumpers and showed to many quite nice ribbons on the flat - generally in rings about 3x the size of a large dressage court. (I event, too.) However, many of the adult riders I know have started in dressage, and ridden only dressage. Often the trainer only has access to one main riding area, which is a large dressage court, and for whatever reason, the dressage trainers I've been around seem to do private or at most semi-private lessons.

Even though I'm used to riding in a crowd, I would say that 3 is the most I want to ride with in a dressage arena. (By contrast, I've ridden in flat hunter seat equitation classes with 25 riders.) But I know adults who panic if there's another person in there. I agree, they should learn - but what I'm saying is that they're not going to volunteer to do it at a show if that's their issue.

For me, it's more a matter of flat classes? Been there, done that. I'm doing dressage now because I like the challenge of trying to ride well and beautifully while also riding a set pattern.

[Oldenburg Mom]

...but there are so very, very few adults who enter the equitation classes held at open shows.

WOW! I never knew there WAS a class for AA's, which I am most assuredly. I have also never seen any test (???) for AA equitation, and I've been scribing at dressage shows for the past 6 years!

Ok, so I just noticed it's a rail class. Big deal, we have a lot of rail classes in the breed shows: mares/geldings/stallions under saddle for 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-year olds,.... materiale, suitability, etc. etc.

I'll definitely ask for next year as my 4-year old (well, he'll be 5 then) will be moving into the proper dressage tests from the breed shows.

Thanks, Lendon!!!

[Equibrit]

I agree, they should learn - but what I'm saying is that they're not going to volunteer to do it at a show if that's their issue.


They shouldn't volunteer to do it the first time at a show, but the training to do it at a show/outside a ring could make them better riders.

[Whisper]

I enjoy hunt seat equitation classes (when I enter H/J shows), and would be happy to enter a dressage equitation class if one was offered at a show I was attending. :)

[ESG]

One of the most anticipated and enjoyed classes at WEF one year, was a professional equitation class. The likes of Margie Engle, Todd Minikus and other top notch jumper riders participated. As a pro, I would love to see our dressage GMOs offer something similar for us; I'd participate in a heartbeat, and I'm sure I'm not alone. :yes: