On My Tackbox: Improving your scores

2019 CCN4* Short Summer Classic winners Shane Rose and Virgil are just one of the many partnerships Carolyn has judged. All images by Stephen Mowbray Photography.

ON MY TACKBOX

Improving your scores

An FEI Level 3 Eventing Judge, EA Dressage Judge and EA Coach, CAROLYN JAMES has judged many of Australia’s finest riders. Here she shares some expert pointers on how you can improve your dressage scores.

Have you ever got your scores and said to yourself or a fellow competitor ‘but I thought I did a good test. I don’t think the judge liked me’.

Here are some possible explanations from the judge’s point of view as to why your scores weren’t all that you’d hoped for, as well as some tips that might help you to achieve a better score.

So often you see things when judging that you wish you could tell the rider at the time because you know they’d make such a difference. And therein lies the value of protocol days when you can talk to the rider and work on problem areas. That being said, we are always happy to discuss the test with you after the event. Just remember that everyone, judges and riders alike, are trying to do

their best but given time constraints, it is not always easy to have these conversations, which should be both positive and constructive.

As a judge, our job is to use the scale of marks in assessing the combination according to the scale of training, and to try to ensure we give constructive comments in order to assist the partnership in their further training and development. If the movement is good it should be scored an eight, and if insufficient a four – and the comments should reflect these scores. A 10 is excellent (not perfect), and if there is nothing that could have been done better, then why not award that score. A great reference is the FEI Dressage Handbook Guidelines for Judging.

I often suggest to riders who might be stressing about being judged that they come and write for me because it helps them understand the common mistakes people make, and to see that we judges are trying to help riders with our comments.

As a rider I understand the frustration when things are not going to plan. Some time ago a rider who has had a lot of success at FEI eventing wrote for me at the Sydney International. On this occasion I was on the long side. The rider said: “I had no idea how different it looks from here. It’s so obvious when the halt is not at the marker or not square, and I can clearly see the balance, engagement and frame.” And, by the way, it is where judges are positioned that often accounts for any differences between their marks.

But now let’s look at strategies that may help you to improve your score. In training your horse, be adaptable. Perhaps not everything that you planned to do that day will work. It has been said that the difference between a good rider and a great rider is feel. Ride what you have at that time and moment, and if something is not working then change it. Go back to something that does work.

Always spend enough time in walk and really stretch your horse over the back and use suppling exercises to help longitudinal and lateral suppleness, ensuring that they are mentally as well as physically prepared for the work to come. And remember to give breaks and reward them for a job well done.

Not only does your horse have to work on being stronger, more supple and flexible, so do you! How many of us remember to take time to stretch before the session? A rider who is stiff and tight will not be

Another dressage test judged by Carolyn – Amanda Ross and Di Cavalli Diesel at the 2019 Sydney International CCI4* Short.

Carolyn judged Stuart Tinney and Celebration at the 2020 Wallaby Hill International 3D Event.

able to work in harmony with the horse. Pilates and yoga are both great for riders and certainly improve strength, flexibility, balance and core strength.

Also work on your body alignment. A horse cannot be expected to perform a correct shoulder in if the rider is crooked, and all too often the rider doesn’t even realise that they are crooked. Which brings me to my next point: wherever possible, have a pair of experienced eyes on the ground, someone who is able to assist you and alert you to issues that you aren’t aware of.

At the competition have a plan for your warm up routine. All horses are different so know what works for your particular horse. Allow yourself plenty of time so that you are not rushed or stressed. And do not change your tack just before a competition - always practice in the equipment you are going to ride in. arena dimensions, the geometry of each figure, where each movement starts and finishes, and be sure to read the directives. All too often riders do not ride a corner correctly and then have little time to prepare for a movement across the diagonal. Ride each movement and not just the pattern. For example, not just

centre line C track right, MXK medium trot, K collected trot – but talk yourself through it, use the corner. Ask yourself, have I got him around my inside leg? Prepare for the transition with a half halt, and think: get straight, now rhythm and correct tempo not speed!

The size of your circles is where we often see marks thrown away. Having said that, the quality of the paces is so important.

Whilst we are not judging when you are outside the arena it is still important to give a good impression. Remember to look confident as you come down the centre line. It’s the first impression of you that the judge has, so enter and ride for that 10. As someone once said, dare the judge to take marks off you!

Prepare for transitions within and when changing the pace with half halts. When halting try to show immobility, but if your horse is tense do not hold it for too long. If carrying a whip do not salute with the whip hand and try to use peripheral vision to find the marker, which like all things, takes practice.

The directives are there to help you. For instance, a halt includes the transitions in and out. As previously mentioned, accuracy is important. The size of your circles is where we often see marks

Christine Bates riding Adelaide Hill delivered a winning score at the 2020 Wallaby Hill International under Carolyn’s watchful eye.

thrown away. Having said that, the quality of the paces is so important. However, an accurately ridden, obedient test with a horse that does not possess extravagant paces is capable of gaining some good marks.

If something goes wrong during a movement put it behind you and ride the next one positively. Remember, an improvement in one mark per movement equates to a 10 per cent improvement on your overall score. And finally, look at the test to see where the coefficients are.

It is a great idea to watch tests from some of the professional riders both here in Australia and overseas. Live telecasts and on demand replays are great for this. There are so many educational platforms out there and we never stop learning.

So read the comments on your tests and work with your trainer on areas that need improvement. Remember the word ‘dresseur’ means to train, and the aim is to produce through correct training a horse that is balanced, and developing greater flexibility, strength and responsiveness to the aids, which in turn should help create a harmonious picture and a happy equine athlete.

I hope these pointers have been helpful. Enjoy the journey with your horse and remember that there are no shortcuts. Shortcuts cannot replace the good basic training that creates building blocks you can always return to.

Where Carolyn goes, her mascots go: a Highland bear from the Isle of Skye, and Willberry, the fundraiser for Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony Charity (Image by Carolyn James).