BD vs unaffiliated

LaPufalina · 2021-12-27T17:41:17+00:00

I did my first BD prelim competition today and my loan horse went the best he ever has for me. Judging by previous unaffiliated scores (around 65%-68%) I thought today would have got two 70%+ scores but I got about 62% and 63%. Seems a big difference and I feel a bit deflated [sad] is that about right for the difference? I'm excluded from some venues' restricted prelims now because of previous scores so thought it was time to step up! Maybe not.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/12/2021 18:30

I find BD judging more consistent personally.
Unnaff I’ve had an absolute disaster of a test get high fifty’s (horse did a beautiful canter pirouette and tempi changes, however not required at novice… one movement really should have been a 0 and got a 6?!?!?) and some really nice obedient tests get mid fifties.
Has it been at the same venue you’ve been at? Certain judges just really like/dislike certain horses. I have a lovely mare who is plenty flashy for the level we are at and very correct and easy to ride very accurately but VERY thoroughbred in type (US bred flat race horse so no bone at all quite tall with no depth of girth).
And some judges just take a real dislike to her - I find this happens less at affiliated where I feel the test is fairly judged rather than the horse.

lastqueenofscotland · 27/12/2021 18:31

Ask what was the feedback on this compared to previous tests?

Original poster

LaPufalina · 27/12/2021 19:16

Oh interesting, thank you Queen. Unaffiliated judges have loved him so far, get comments like "quality horse", "lovely horse", "super horse" so I always feel like the subtext is "shame about the rider", ha.

Not seen the test breakdown yet as the sheets are being posted but have a video of the second one and our FWLR was a 2 at best but the canter was lovely. His owner said he needed to work through his bridle in trot more.

OP posts:

lastqueenofscotland · 27/12/2021 19:38

I was wondering if the feedback before had been constructive. Some shows are just all together a bit jolly! So if it’s been “nice horse” rather than “nice horse, need to work on left bend/stepping under/impulsion/consistency in the contact” and so on, it’s probably just judges trying to be a bit nice.
I don’t mind a harsh judge as long as it’s constructive feedback you’re getting.

Original poster

LaPufalina · 27/12/2021 19:59

Ah I've got you. Yes I do get a lot of comments about him needing to relax more and that there's potential there (it tends to be "lovely horse, but...".

Today was the first time travelling solo and he was much more relaxed without stablemates there to shout for (non-stop ) , so that's why I felt we did considerably better. We've done about six venues so a range of judges. Look forward to dissecting my test sheets now!

OP posts:

Cecillie · 29/12/2021 12:40

Fwlr with a low score is a killer as it’s a double , so could have been that.
Personally don’t find any more consistency in bd scores than UA , if you filter out the few ua judges that are mad markers 🤣 but we do have pretty high standard UA comps locally .
I tend to compete prelim BD but novice UA , as standard generally higher and don’t want to come last every time.
Dressage is like that though isn’t it.
First bd back deter lockdown , I felt my tests were horrible , like riding through treacle. Went back to box, had little cry and chat with horse about us taking up a new sport etc, then won both the classes.other times you come out buzzing and get 60%🤣

Original poster

LaPufalina · 29/12/2021 19:22

@Cecillie

Fwlr with a low score is a killer as it’s a double , so could have been that. Personally don’t find any more consistency in bd scores than UA , if you filter out the few ua judges that are mad markers 🤣 but we do have pretty high standard UA comps locally . I tend to compete prelim BD but novice UA , as standard generally higher and don’t want to come last every time. Dressage is like that though isn’t it. First bd back deter lockdown , I felt my tests were horrible , like riding through treacle. Went back to box, had little cry and chat with horse about us taking up a new sport etc, then won both the classes.other times you come out buzzing and get 60%🤣

Haha this is me! Completely buzzing and then two last places, I've taken some positives though and we have our first points on the board!

OP posts:

JaffavsCookie · 29/12/2021 21:27

I do think in general scores UA are higher, as mentioned often for encouragement, and if the judges aren’t listed then you get all sorts. My trainer told me not even to read the sheets if an unlisted judge UA, just to view it all as good experience for the horse/ rider and judge it on how I felt the test had gone.

puddlesofmothers · 31/12/2021 08:08

Hiya

Well done on starting BD it took me ages to brave it. Mark's I find are much stricter with BD and once that's all you're doing it won't matter. I reckon when you start looking at regionals you can knock another 10% off. I like strict and consistent but I also love winning 🤣.

Tips for fwlr, I wasn't forward enough with enough swing in my walk. So now I imagine we're late for the bus so need to pick up the pace but not run. I've gone up 1.5 marks which with the x2 has helped us out loads.

fiowen45 · 31/12/2021 20:58

We did UA for several years and got consistently high score 70%+ each time so we signed up to BD on the club membership and did the my quest stuff which is abit of step in between UA and full blown affiliated . We have heard the marks are harsher at affiliated competitions as obviously your trying to qualify. And unaffiliated is marked higher to encourage you to move up levels or to affiliated .

Original poster

LaPufalina · 01/01/2022 13:29

@puddlesofmothers

Hiya

Well done on starting BD it took me ages to brave it. Mark's I find are much stricter with BD and once that's all you're doing it won't matter. I reckon when you start looking at regionals you can knock another 10% off. I like strict and consistent but I also love winning 🤣.

Tips for fwlr, I wasn't forward enough with enough swing in my walk. So now I imagine we're late for the bus so need to pick up the pace but not run. I've gone up 1.5 marks which with the x2 has helped us out loads.

Interesting! I love the visualising. The president of my riding club said my downward transitions still needed to be forward, and to picture someone holding onto my backpack trying to stop me moving away, that worked for me. His conformation means he looks flashy in trot and canter but isn't great at stretching in walk, so shows up our flaws. Definitely what I'm focusing on.

OP posts:

Original poster

LaPufalina · 01/01/2022 13:29

@fiowen45

We did UA for several years and got consistently high score 70%+ each time so we signed up to BD on the club membership and did the my quest stuff which is abit of step in between UA and full blown affiliated . We have heard the marks are harsher at affiliated competitions as obviously your trying to qualify. And unaffiliated is marked higher to encourage you to move up levels or to affiliated .

Oh interesting! I literally did this competition on a ticket because I had my mum up and she gave me a childcare pass

I will do more research on quest, thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

LaPufalina · 01/01/2022 13:30

@JaffavsCookie

I do think in general scores UA are higher, as mentioned often for encouragement, and if the judges aren’t listed then you get all sorts. My trainer told me not even to read the sheets if an unlisted judge UA, just to view it all as good experience for the horse/ rider and judge it on how I felt the test had gone.

Amateur question, but how do I know if the judge is listed? Is it a Google check?

OP posts:

JaffavsCookie · 01/01/2022 13:47

BD website, use the find a judge option. ( Judges can opt out of this public list but in practice tend not to)

Original poster

LaPufalina · 01/01/2022 19:56

Thanks Jaffa

OP posts:

fiowen45 · 01/01/2022 20:15

@LaPufalina my quest is run on the club membership of bd do is a lot cheaper than full membership and you gain points from your percentages and go on to a regional leader board. The highest 20 in your area qualify for regional finals then if your in top percentage of that you go to nationals .

Cecillie · 01/01/2022 22:17

Quest is great fun
It's how I got in to dressage , friends with the same breed pony wanted to make up a team so I joined in. Then got hooked !
You can wear team colours or if you do my quest, pick your own outfit. You don't have to wear show gear which is quite fun.

Notanotherusernamenow · 01/01/2022 22:26

Yeah I did unaffiliated Medium before upgrading from Elem and was getting 66-68%. Went BD and been consistently getting 62-64% - errors such as accidental flying changes - are just punished more consistently harshly - what has got me a 5.5 at ua was a 3 at BD. But it forced me to up my game, iron out the small errors, and now we’ve qualified for bronze and silver regionals. It just depends how competitive you are! For me it was important to set a new challenge. Also I’m an eventer who broke my back, so I had to get over riding dressage tests like an eventer on a day trip and actually ride as a dressage rider. ( Including losing a bit of extra weight as I had rather bulky muscle that looked wrong for dressage 😅 )

blobby10 · 04/01/2022 11:40

My Dad (aged 76) has competed BD from Elementary level years ago and is moving to Advanced this summer . He has always found the marking frustrating as it seems different judges look for different things each time! He just goes by a general trend of how his marks are going but has noticed that there are particular judges who do or don't like him/his horse. The comments are usually along the lines of ; beautiful horse with potential (she's 18!) but needs more from behind,

I could never get on with dressage as the marks are down to one person's interpretation and I got really frustrated that one judge thought a movement was great but another didn't!. At least with jumping or XC you know that a pole down = 5 penalties (or however many it is these days!) or 20 for a refusal XC. Its much more clear cut!

Original poster

LaPufalina · 04/01/2022 21:42

Blobby I prefer jumping too for the same reason but DHorse almost severed a tendon as a youngster so we try to keep him on the ground. He did a few 50cm logs at somerford farm ride last month and loved it but can't risk him too much

OP posts:

blobby10 · 06/01/2022 11:38

LaPufalina fear of injury was why Dad focussed on dressage rather than jumping - he had a nasty fall and realised how difficult life would be if he was seriously injured!

Sorry to hear about your horse - must be so frustrating to have such a restriction but how lovely that at least you can still ride him!

puddlesofmothers · 13/01/2022 11:19

Lapufalia yes I like to visualise too and the back one is great!

Does your horse stretch down and forward? I spend a lot of time teaching mine just in medium walk to follow my contact. It's great for the stretch but it also helps with making them supple. Eg if I lengthen they will follow the bit and if I shorten they will automatically shorten.

Original poster

LaPufalina · 13/01/2022 12:45

@puddlesofmothers

Lapufalia yes I like to visualise too and the back one is great!

Does your horse stretch down and forward? I spend a lot of time teaching mine just in medium walk to follow my contact. It's great for the stretch but it also helps with making them supple. Eg if I lengthen they will follow the bit and if I shorten they will automatically shorten.

Ah interesting. I'm having a schooling session with his breeder who broke him and brought him on as a youngster so will be mainly focusing on walk. I can be a bit lazy riding when I hack (we don't have a school so I tend to only ride "properly" in monthly lessons or tests) so I need to take every opportunity to get him going nicely and not just hack aimlessly

OP posts:

puddlesofmothers · 13/01/2022 16:06

With my bestest boy all of our schooling was done hacking ... our leg yielding down long winding country lanes is legendary 🤣. My other tip although my trainer would frown is to really collect your medium walk and do one or two strides before you gradually go into fwlr. Have a good un

Original poster

LaPufalina · 13/01/2022 19:15

Love these tips, thank you! I've been amazed at how welcoming the dressage community is. Also my 5yo does pony club and just the loveliest kids and parents, all willing to help each other out.

OP posts: