Easy Ways To Improve Your Dressage Performance & Score

Dressage is a sport that requires correct attention to detail, with every move being perfect. However as we all know a perfect score is practically impossible, but improving your current score is not. Here are a few simple tricks to keep in mind when in the arena that will boost your performance on show.

First Impression Is Important

It is important to create a benchmark from the first step in dressage and so it’s imperative to nail your first halt. In order to do this you will need to break it into components to ensure a champion score.

•  have a smooth entrance into the arena and make sure you are straight and your horse responds to your seat.
• have someone else watching you in training for your halt as if you look down yourself on the holt it often results in an unsettled horse.
• when you exit from the holt you should leave precisely. Keep your exit simple and graceful without unnecessary gestures.

Transitions

Most people underestimate the importance of transitions in their dressage score. If you look at the Grand Prix, quickly you will see that 13 of the 33 movements in the Judges directives on the score sheet highlight transitions within the pace, or in or out of a movement. Practice hard on your transitions to make them as perfect as possible and this is an easy way to improve your score!

Be Accurate

It is a common problem for riders at all levels, even professionals to be lacking in accuracy in the dressage test. If you strive to improve and stand out from the standard of your level in accuracy this is a sure way to help your performance. Each movement should be executed with precision and aim.

Corners

Corners provide a valuable opportunity to correct if needed. A lot of riders miss this in their eagerness in focusing on the next marker. You should make use of every corner by using it to do a small half holt pulling everything together and coming out of the corner ready to start the next movement as prepared as possible.

Visualization

It is vital to visualize the arena you are riding in as this will make you feel more familiar and at ease in the competition arena. You need to visualize your test in real time. Go through each movement sitting down and place emphasis on your breathing when you think about it.