Lessons Learned from My First Dressage Test of the Season
The first dressage test of the season always feels like a bigger occasion than it probably is. It is only a few minutes in an arena, yet those minutes reveal months of training, preparation, nerves, and all the tiny habits that can be hidden during an ordinary schooling session. This year, Archie and I arrived at the venue with plenty of enthusiasm, a reasonable plan, and a few questions about whether our winter work would show when it mattered.
Our preparation had been a mixture of focused schooling and the usual interruptions. The weather had limited some sessions, my schedule had been uneven, and Archie had spent a good deal of time developing strength rather than polishing competition details. We had worked on transitions, straightness, and a more consistent connection, but we had not done as many full run-throughs as I would have liked.
That became important once we reached the showground. The test was useful for reasons that went beyond the final percentage. It showed me where Archie has improved, where I still interfere, and how much difference a calm warm-up and a clear riding plan can make. It also reminded me that the first outing is a starting point rather than a verdict on the whole season.
Preparing Archie For The First Outing
In the weeks before the competition, my main goal was to make Archie stronger and more settled. We spent time in a correct working outline, but I tried not to chase a pretty frame at the expense of rhythm. Our instructor encouraged me to think from the hind legs forward, keeping the contact elastic and allowing Archie to stretch through his neck when he needed a break.
Transitions were a major part of that work. Archie can become slightly hurried when he anticipates an upward transition, especially from walk to trot. If I become tense, he notices immediately and starts offering a faster version of what I asked for. We practiced preparing each transition with my seat, using fewer hand aids, and returning to a steady tempo before asking for the next movement.
I also included more schooling in unfamiliar places. A dressage test is never ridden in a completely private bubble. There may be other horses warming up, loudspeakers, parked trailers, flapping jackets, and riders moving in every direction. A few sessions at a different arena helped Archie look around without losing his focus, although I knew a competition atmosphere would test that training more seriously.
The night before the show, I packed early so that the morning would feel manageable. I checked the bridle, saddle, girth, boots, number bib, gloves, spare gloves, grooming kit, and paperwork. Archie had a quiet evening, a good meal, and plenty of time to rest. My own preparation was less impressive: I went over the test repeatedly and still woke up thinking about the first halt.
Settling In At The Venue
We arrived with enough time to unload without rushing. That decision made a noticeable difference. Archie walked off the lorry alert but sensible, and I had time to walk him around before tacking up. He watched the activity around the warm-up arena, pricked his ears at passing horses, and made it clear that he had opinions about a brightly colored banner near the entrance.
I did not want to spend the whole morning trying to keep his attention. Instead, I let him look while keeping my own breathing steady. Once I mounted, I began with a long rein and a relaxed walk, then gradually introduced changes of rein, large circles, and a few transitions. The aim was to help him feel that the showground was simply another place to work.
Our warm-up was neither disastrous nor perfectly smooth. Archie felt slightly tight through his back at first, and I was more aware of the other riders than I wanted to be. I found myself checking the time, watching the steward, and wondering whether he was sufficiently forward. That mental noise affected my riding. I used too much leg in one moment, too much rein in the next, and had to remind myself that an unsettled rider cannot create a settled horse.
Once Archie began stretching into the contact, his rhythm improved. I practiced the opening halt, a few accurate corners, and the transitions that had caused problems at home. I avoided riding the entire test several times because I did not want to tire him or make the movements feel mechanical. The final few minutes were quiet, and that was the best sign that we were ready.
Riding The Dressage Test
The test began well enough. Archie entered with a reasonable amount of energy, and our first halt was square-ish rather than perfect. I could feel myself holding my breath, so I made a deliberate effort to soften my shoulders before moving away. The first centre line was not as straight as it had looked in my imagination, but the rhythm remained consistent.
Our early trot work was probably the strongest part of the test. Archie showed a better connection than he had at the beginning of the year, and I managed to follow his movement without constantly adjusting the reins. The circles felt balanced, although I could have ridden them with more commitment to the correct size. I tend to make circles too small when I am concentrating, which costs accuracy and makes the horse work harder.
The walk section exposed one of our less polished areas. Archie became eager during the transition into medium walk, and I allowed the tempo to creep up instead of quietly correcting it. The free walk had some good moments, but I did not give him enough rein soon enough. His neck lengthened, yet the stride did not cover as much ground as it can at home.
The canter work was a mixed result. The first transition was prompt, but I sat too rigidly and made Archie a little tense. I was thinking about achieving the movement rather than riding the quality of the transition. Later, on the opposite rein, I relaxed more and the canter became rounder and more forward. That contrast was a useful reminder that Archie was not the only variable in the test.
Our final centre line felt better than the opening one. I rode more positively, kept my eyes up, and allowed Archie to travel forward. The halt was not completely square, but it was calm. As we left the arena, I felt relieved first and proud second. The test had gone by quickly, and there were no dramatic mistakes, but it had given me plenty to study.
| Area of the test | What I noticed in competition | Lesson to carry into training |
|---|---|---|
| Entry and halt | Reasonably calm, but the line wandered | Ride the centre line with clearer alignment and preparation |
| Trot work | Better contact and rhythm than earlier in the season | Maintain the connection without over-managing it |
| Walk work | Medium walk became hurried | Use the seat and keep the tempo deliberate |
| Canter transitions | Prompt, but one transition was tense | Prepare earlier and stay physically softer |
| Accuracy | Circles and corners were acceptable rather than precise | Use arena markers and ride every line with intention |
| Rider focus | Too much attention went to the surroundings | Trust the plan and keep attention on rhythm and balance |
Reading The Marks And Comments
The score was not a personal best, but it was fair. The marks reflected a test with some genuinely improved work alongside familiar weaknesses. Our rhythm and submission received more positive comments than they would have last season, while accuracy and the walk work held the result back. That balance felt encouraging because it showed that the winter training had produced visible progress.
The judge’s comments were particularly helpful because they described the way the mistakes affected the whole movement. A hurried transition did not simply lose a mark for one moment; it also reduced the quality of the following walk. A small circle did not only affect geometry; it made Archie less balanced and left me correcting instead of presenting the next movement confidently.
I have sometimes treated a dressage score as a final judgment on whether a ride was successful. This test reminded me that the sheet is better used as a record of evidence. It tells me what the judge saw on that day, in that arena, under those conditions. It does not erase the work Archie has done or predict exactly how the next competition will go.
The collective marks also gave me something to consider. Our overall impression was sound, but the comments suggested that the test would become more convincing if I rode with greater confidence. Archie was not refusing the work or losing his balance dramatically. I was simply making some movements look less fluent by anticipating problems before they happened.
Turning Competition Feedback Into Training
The most immediate change will be to make accuracy a bigger part of our schooling. At home, I often concentrate on the quality of the gait and allow the geometry to become secondary. That is useful during parts of a training session, but a dressage test requires both. I need to ride from marker to marker, prepare before the movement, and finish one exercise before mentally moving on to the next.
I will also return to transitions within the gaits. Archie has more ability to lengthen and come back than I showed in the test, but those changes need to remain controlled. We will practice a few steps of increased energy followed by a return to working tempo, always protecting the rhythm. The goal is not a dramatic medium trot; it is a horse that stays balanced and responsive when the tempo changes.
The walk deserves regular attention rather than occasional repair work. I plan to include longer periods of relaxed walking, transitions within the walk, and free walk on a longer rein without allowing Archie to rush. I need to keep my hands quiet and use my body to influence the tempo. That is harder than it sounds because the walk leaves plenty of time to notice every small fault.
I also want to practice complete tests more intelligently. Repeating the full test every session would make it stale and could encourage us to memorize mistakes. Instead, I can ride sections separately, link two or three movements, and occasionally complete the whole test under mild pressure. Having a friend call the movements or watching from outside the arena will help recreate the feeling of being observed.
Looking After The Horse Between Shows
Competition preparation is not only about the ride. Archie’s comfort and energy levels affect every decision I make at a show. After the test, I walked him until his breathing settled, offered water, and loosened the tack promptly. He had a thorough check for rubs, filled legs, and any areas of soreness before we traveled home.
The following day was a light recovery day. We did some in-hand walking and a relaxed stretch, then returned to normal work once he felt loose and cheerful. I do not want to react to one imperfect mark by drilling the same movements until Archie becomes tired or frustrated. The best response is consistent, thoughtful training that keeps him confident.
Travel is another part of the eventing and dressage routine that deserves planning. A calm loading process, familiar hay, and sensible breaks help Archie arrive in a better frame of mind. I noticed that he settled more quickly than he had at earlier outings, which is a success that does not appear on a score sheet. Building that experience will make future competitions less demanding for both of us.
My own recovery matters too. I tend to review every stride immediately, including the ones that went unnoticed by anyone else. Writing down the key points while they are fresh is useful, but replaying the whole test for hours is not. A short, honest review gives me direction without turning one ride into a source of unnecessary worry.
The Priorities I Am Taking Forward
The first dressage test of the season gave me a practical list rather than a dramatic transformation. Archie is ready for more consistent work, and I need to become a more reliable partner when the atmosphere changes. The improvements are within reach, but they will come from small repetitions rather than one heroic schooling session.
My focus for the next block of training is:
- Ride every transition with preparation, balance, and a quiet upper body.
- Keep the walk deliberate, especially when Archie becomes eager.
- Practice arena geometry using markers, corners, and accurate centre lines.
- Build confidence with occasional full tests without over-schooling them.
- Treat competition feedback as useful information rather than a judgment of our partnership.
I am glad that our first outing exposed these details early in the year. It is much easier to work on a hurried walk or a wandering centre line now than after several competitions have passed. The score gave us a baseline, while the experience of warming up, entering the arena, and riding under observation gave us something even more valuable: a clearer understanding of what we need next.
Archie came home tired but content, and I came home with a page of notes, a slightly bruised ego, and renewed motivation. Our next dressage test will still bring nerves, but they should be more useful nerves. I know where to place my attention, what to practice between shows, and how much of the result depends on keeping my own riding calm.
Follow along with Archie’s training and future competitions at Party Pony Eventing as we turn these first-season lessons into more confident dressage tests and stronger all-round eventing performances.