8368 Maclain

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
1				PURPOSE: To introduce the rider and/or horse to the sport of dressage. To show understanding of riding the horse forward with a steady tempo into an elastic contact with independent, steady hands and a correctly balanced seat. To show proper geometry of figures in the arena with correct bend (corners and circles).			RIDER #	8368
2							NAME:	Maclain Conlin
3							JUDGE:	Robyn Nunnally
4							Points Possible:	160
5							Final Score:	66.875%
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7	USDF INTRODUCTORY LEVEL – TEST A
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9			TEST	DIRECTIVES	POINTS	*	TOTAL	REMARKS
10	1	A Between X & C	Enter working trot rising. Medium walk.	Straightness on centerline and in transition; clear trot and walk rhythm.	6		6	drifting right after X
11	2	C M	Track right. Working trot rising.	Balance and bend in turn. Quality of transition.	7		7	steady
12	3	A	Circle right 20 meters, working trot rising.	Roundness and size of circle; clear trot rhythm and bend.	6.5		6.5	nicely forward; show more inside bend
13	4	K-X-M	Change rein.	Clear trot rhythm and straightness on diagonal; bend through corners.	7		7
14	5	C	Circle left 20 meters, working trot rising.	Roundness and size of circle; clear trot rhythm and bend.	6.5		6.5	could be more elastic to bit
15	6	Between C & H	Medium walk.	Willing and balanced transition; clear walk rhythm.	7		7	prompt
16	7	H-X-F	Free walk.	Complete freedom to stretch neck forward and downward; clear walk rhythm, straightness on the diagonal; ground cover.	7		7	fairly willing with stretch and steps.
17	8	F-A A	Medium walk. Down centerline	Willing and balanced transition; clear walk rhythm, bending in corner and turn. Straightness on centerline.	7		7	clear steps
18	9	X	Halt and salute.	Straightness; willing, balanced transition at halt.	6.5		6.5	straight but a little right of C line
19	Leave arena in free walk. Exit at A.
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21		COLLECTIVE MARKS			POINTS		TOTAL	REMARKS
22		1	Gaits	Freedom and regularity	7		7
23		2	Impulsion	Desire to move forward with suppleness of the back and steady tempo.	6.5		6.5	could be more elastic in connection
24		3	Submission	Acceptance of steady contact, attention, and confidence.	6.5	2	13	show clear inside bend on circles
25		4	Rider’s Position and Seat	Keeping in balance with the horse	7		7
26		5	Rider’s Correct and Effective Use of the Aids	Correct bend and preparation of transitions	6.5		6.5	Develop softer contact/more suppleness
27		6	Geometry and Accuracy	Correct size and shape of circles and turns	6.5		6.5	straightness on C lines
28		Steady test!
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33		POINTS:	107
34		ERRORS:	0
35		SUBTOTAL:	107
36		SCORE:	66.875%
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38		Good start on a cute, honest, willing pony! Continue to work on being more supple in the connection and rounder in the neck. Do lots of circles and start working on leg yielding on your circles – leg yield to make the circle larger, then smaller. Leg yielding helps you learn to use your inside leg, which increases bend through the body. As the horse’s body becomes softer and more adjustable, the suppleness through the neck and jaw will also improve. At home, you can work on counterflexing a little (don’t do it in a test!), again just getting the horse to move and adjust different body parts. You can also practice, at home, a few steps of leg yield as you transition from walk to trot and vice versa. Again, it help with suppleness of the jaw and keeping the frame a bit rounder. Check to be sure your saddle is well centered and your stirrups are even. Ensure that your weight is evenly distributed to each side – the same amount of pressure on each stirrup. Work on sitting up taller and keeping your elbows closer to your ribcage. While your free walk was good, I felt like your pony would stretch even deeper if you allowed more rein. Don’t completely throw your reins away, but practice allowing more rein to slide through your fingers and let the poll drop and the neck lengthen. Equally important is a smooth retake of the reins at the end of the free walk. I liked how you changed your posting diagonal at K when you trotted across the diagonal. It’s a smoother overall picture vs changing it at X…good job! Good luck as you progress!
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