New Tests

(This blog was originally posted on December 8, 2014)

 

Photo courtesy of Sara Fogan

       The first time I competed in a first dressage competition in 2011, I rode Candy, a part-Arabian mare I was leasing from Silver Gate Farms, the barn where I was training at the time. I can still remember the patterns for the classes we entered. Candy was (is) a wonderful, kind little mare who helped me get over some of my anxiety about showing my first time out. After all, she was a pro—a schooling horse who had been to (and won ribbons at) various competitions. I knew I could trust her to take care of me while we were in the arena and practicing in the schooling arena. So long as I remembered the patterns and when to apply my aids correctly I would be good to go.

          When the United States Dressage Federation announced that the new dressage tests were published for the 2015 competition season, starting December 2014, I must admit that my stomach dropped a little when I heard that news. I could still vividly remember each of the patterns I rode three years ago, and now I would have to learn new ones. During a dressage seminar at the 2011 Equine Affaire, Axel Steiner, a former dressage champion, explained that the organization updates the tests every three years. In fact, he had been on the panel that helped to construct the “new” tests, which would be out at the end of that year. He said that these revisions were made to hone and fine-tune elements that would challenge the equine and human participants while making the transitions less physically strenuous for the horse. I was and am all for making things more comfortable for the horse; however, the idea of having to memorize new patterns was a bit anxiety-inducing, to say the least.

Next time I ride in a show, I will be aboard my own horse, Galahad. Unlike Candy, who had been trained primarily as a hunter, Galahad is a dressage horse. He has the conformation for and self-carriage that is desired in the sport: every one of his movements comes from his hindquarters, from his measured walk to his rocking-horse canter. When he is training, the gelding often learns new schooling patterns quicker than I do. He enjoys doing transitions, and is happy as a clam executing them on a long or a short rein. Having said all that, unlike Candy, he has never been to or in a show arena. To borrow a sweet expression I once heard a competitor use to describe her horse, which was also his first competition, Galahad will be “a green bean” our first time out. 

No worries. I will approach training and preparing for our first competition the same way I help my equestrian clients get ready. Even though our first competition is many months away, I will start learning and memorizing the test(s) I plan to ride, now, so I don’t have to cram all of the elements in at the last moment. My trainer and I will continue to school Galahad as we have been doing, teaching and reviewing elements from the next level and incorporate portions of different tests I plan to ride, with what we are working on. I will take him on walks around the neighborhood to get him more relaxed and comfortable away from “home,” as it were, and to show him that the outside world is fun and exciting rather than scary and dangerous. (So far, to my relief and delight, Galahad is more curious about what goes on around him than afraid or wary.) And, as it gets closer to the time when I plan to take my horse to our first competition, I will arrange to bring him to a show or two to school him. I want to give him an opportunity to experience (see, hear and smell) what goes on at these events before we actually compete—to reassure him as well as me that everything is okay, comfortable and will be fun.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

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