Laura Tomlinson on competitors plans and scoring the warm-up
The Winter Dressage Championships at Addington have been a superb alternative for British horses to expertise a bustling and atmospheric competitors venue. My home-bred Full Moon actually might do with some extra follow!
He felt fabulous on the smaller exhibits and within the warm-up at Addington, however I misplaced his focus going into the ring. He didn’t lose his head or get harassed however nothing flowed the way in which it ought to have and little errors crept in as I used to be wrestling the tradestands for his consideration.
It’s implausible to have competitions like that throughout the degrees to arrange our younger horses for larger events sooner or later and the expertise has strengthened our partnership, even when it was not our greatest.
Subsequent for me will likely be Hickstead Premier League with 4 of my horses, two of that are home-breds. I made a decision to take a bit of extra time with them earlier than competing at worldwide degree as they’re nonetheless very a lot within the consolidation part of the grand prix work and we stood to lose extra by dashing them than we might achieve.
Excellent concord
In the meantime, the race for Paris Olympics choice is on with a powerful group of contenders making for a possible medal-winning group. Having seen what’s on the market up to now, my guess will surely be on British group gold.
What I noticed from the highest British riders at Hagen in Germany final week seemed very spectacular for his or her first rides of the season, with concord on the forefront.
Apparently we’ve seen marks drop considerably decrease in early internationals this yr, together with the World Cup Remaining, with the judges seemingly struggling to agree on method a number of the identified combos when presenting with tight necks or open mouths.
Throughout this time of reflection and adjustment in our sport, seeking to refocus on scales of coaching fairly than extravagance, it’s to be anticipated that marks will fluctuate. I don’t envy the judges presently.
Worldwide five-star decide Hans-Christian Matthiesen made some fascinating factors in his current piece on how the competitors format should change, which Anna Ross highlighted in her final column. His concept to attain the warm-up was one thing my father and my previous coach and mentor, Klaus Balkenhol, all the time needed to see.
It might be implausible to let how we get our horses test-ready have an effect on our last rating. The methods wherein we cope with completely different conditions within the warm-up and use the belief and partnership we’ve constructed or are constructing with a horse ought to be celebrated. In fact, there would must be a interval of trial and error on how the rules for this could work.
How would they decide the size of warm-up and the way a lot energy would the observing decide have? If a horse begins unlevel however warms up and is sound by the point it goes within the ring, does this decide have the facility to deem the horse unfit to compete?
Proceed the dialog
Hans-Christian’s concept of getting in-hand, equipmentless lessons additionally sounds fascinating however might turn out to be extra divisive as it could create separate competitions for individuals who need to carry out tackless – however combining the 2 sports activities appears insurmountable.
May we do a grand prix check after which re-enter the ring with our horses tackless and show some pure horsemanship and partnership? It sounds fantastic however what of these competing stallions – they’d be at a drawback throughout breeding season for positive.
There are fascinating concepts on the market, however some create sophisticated situations, although that’s to not say they aren’t value exploring. For now, devising a approach to mark the warm-up and perhaps seeing extra relaxed horses within the ring can be a great begin. Judges are chargeable for the marking however us riders are chargeable for what we give them to mark.
With that in thoughts, I imagine we’ll have some implausible horsemen and ladies in Paris this summer time to point out what a stupendous sport ours will be. However behind the scenes, the conversations should proceed to work out the easiest way ahead to maintain our sport alive and our horses’ welfare on the forefront.
● What modifications would you prefer to see to the present competitors format? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your title, nearest city and nation, for the prospect on your letter to seem in a forthcoming difficulty of the journal
This unique column may even be obtainable to learn in Horse & Hound journal, on sale Thursday 9 Could
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Credit score: Alamy Inventory Photograph
Dannie Morgan’s Fever Tree, simply one of many British-bred champions on the winter dressage championships.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow Pictures
Carl Hester (GBR) using Fame on the 2023 I.C.E. Horseboxes All England Dressage Pageant at Hickstead, Sussex
Credit score: Elli Birch
Credit score: Future
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