Unaffiliated dressage questions

[balancingfigure]

I’m hoping to do some unaffiliated dressage soon and I’ve established I think that Prelim is the place to start (& possibly stay😁). Cantering is my horses best bit so I don’t want to do intro. But there are so many tests. Is it best to just buy the whole set from British Dressage? Do they change or add tests very often?

Also dress. I have jacket and stock, boots and hat and need to get pale jods. What about gloves? I only usually wear gloves in the winter but I think they are expected for dressage? If so what colour?

The BD tests are easy enough to find online then you can print them off yourself. There are loads of tests but in reality a few tend to get used more than others eg around here the local venues seem to use P7 and P14 loads.

Not all unaffiliated dressage venues expect full competition gear - some are more relaxed so check before you go. Gloves are a definite yes - it’s fine to wear dark ones to match your jacket/hat. Remember bridle numbers!

Yes P7 and 14 here too! P2 has an annoying ending that my horse struggles with
I bought the set for £30ish from BD the other day and it has intro, prelim and novice on laminated cards. We're aspiring to novice and have already put ourselves out of intro by scoring too high in a prelim (after he came last in the intro, he freaks at the first test and then settles and shines!)

If I were you I'd check out the website or FB page of the venue(s) you're most likely to go to. The ones near me usually have a calander of up coming events that will tell you which tests are planned for which date. They should have a list of rules too and photos of previous events which will show you the standards of dress/turn out they expect. My dressage kit has white jodhs, white shirt and stock, black jacket, long black boots, black hat and hairnet... I only do prelim and novice. One of the venue's near me alternates dressage, showing and cross-country every weekend through the summer so it's easy to go along and watch before diving in. The BD website has an easy to find rule book too. Good luck, have fun. It should be dressage, not Stressage!

Thanks everyone. Black gloves, hairnet and bridle numbers on the list!

I was hoping to go along and watch one but family commitments seem to get in the way and so I feel like I should just start. Also not sure there are quite as many events around me but I do keep finding out about more gradually.

@balancingfigure if you give the entries secretary a call I'm sure they would be only to happy to let you know what standards are expected. From what I've seen whilst following my dad around, it varies drastically from place to place!! Went to one place recently for a BD comp and there was SO much bling! hats, browbands, stirrups, hairnets - places I didn't even know you could put bling had bling!

come to the ones I run ! I'm very friendly!

Look for your local riding club, they will normally have some lower key / fun ones during the year and are quite helpful with callers etc.