Competition warm-up

[Equine Elegance]

One thing I've wondered with warm-ups.... I always get cut off, now I know this happens a lot to everyone and if I see it going to happen I always halt, but having a monster of a horse, you would think people would give you a bit more room and not be so inclined to get close to us... I personally try to stay away from little ponies, like shetland size if there are any there, because he is scared out of his mind by them!

Are there any ways that you find to get a decent warm-up? I never seem to get any decent work in, especially if the warm-up area is crowded. Like at Caboolture... I like competing there, but if it's a big day, any hope of a good warm up goes out the window. I think one of my problems is that I am keeping an eye on what everyone else is doing instead of concentrating solely on warm-up.

Should there be rules for warm-up areas? I try to stick to general courtesy rules like left to left and horses working in higher gaits (eg trot and canter) get right away. The arena rule, slower gaits on the inside doesn't really work, so I always walk on the very outer edge of the warm up area... but how many people know these things and how many actually put them into use in a warm-up area?

I also like the idea of a seperate lunge area. It's beneficial for all parties. I almost always lunge before I get on and it's nice to know that I am not going to disrupt anyone's ridden warm-up and I am not going to have someone cut in front or ride into the lunge! But similarly, this option isn't available at all competition grounds due to lack of space.

What ways can everyone make warming up easier for all parties?
How do you get the best warm up at a comp?

[Jytte]

Hey Dan!

Sorry for not rplying before, my computer has completely died on me!! Yeah I was pretty stoked about the 59% in my I1...and Sue had me 2nd!! Just one judge, not going to name her, has a 'thing' against me and seems to always place me poorly...but c'est la vie!

With the size of your horse, I don't think you should stop for any horse in a warm up...just plough over the top of them!! Just kidding...I remember when I competed down in Sydney that there was a board up alongside the warm-up arena with etiquette...brilliant!! Everyone knew the rules and if they stuffed up then they were in a bit of trouble with the other riders...perhaps this should be copied up here?

I find that it is easier to just keep an eye open on what others are doing, but more importantly where are they are going...and choose your movements accordingly. Don't forget that higher paces and movements have right of way...so they should stop for you if thats the case:)

Ivanka: I hope you husband wasn't talking about me!! *jokes*

[Ivanka]

Jytte... I dont' know.. I was so busy with myself I didn't see ANY of the other tests (shame on me!)

Anyway, last year when SEG organised it's first official comp, we put up a sign with the following rules:

Warm-up rules:
• No pedestrians in warm-up area
• Keep an eye out for other riders
• No lungeing in warm-up area
• Please pass each other on the left side (e.g. left shoulder to left shoulder)
• Faster pace has right of way
(e.g. canter over trot)
• Higher movements have right of way (e.g. shoulder in or piaffe over working trot)
• Avoid halting on the track
(THINK before stopping!)
• Instructors please keep to outside of warm-up area


And remember:
HORSE RIDING IS FUN!! It’s OK to smile…. 


Samford Equestrian Group

[ann]

I remember when I competed down in Sydney that there was a board up alongside the warm-up arena with etiquette...brilliant!! Everyone knew the rules and if they stuffed up then they were in a bit of trouble with the other riders...perhaps this should be copied up here?

That's a good idea, Jytte.

Another approach is one I found on the web. The London (Ontario, Canada) Dressage Association (http://www.londondressage.ca/newrider.html) has a guide for new dressage riders. Perhaps the DQ committee, with input from this topic, could develop a similar document, editable by clubs to suit their own local conditions, to be sent out with draws. It would be especially helpful at training and Associate days, and the riders could study it up before arriving, and maybe practise at home with friends and family.

I found that with horses new to competition days, the biggest problem was that they were very nervous about having strange horses coming at them in the warmup, and would sometimes duck off to the wrong side before I had a chance to ask them to move to the right. Or would be so tense and worried, that they weren't listening to me anyway. I think they need practice at that at home, as well. Often surviving the warmup arena was more of a challenge than the test itself.

[HooFie]

hehe if anyone saw the pony spooking at everyhorse at NADEC that was me! lol It is a bit daunting i think, but something they just have toget over.

Alot of those things are common sense if you ask me...i sometimes get (or think i get) in ppl's way, and i always say sorry, it's a big thing for me to concentrate on what im doin lol

I don't find it really an issue? Like just something you deal with competing. Perhaps though if you had some guidelines it might make warm up easier for you guys lol

HooFah

[Equine Elegance]

The info from the web and what everyone has posted is pretty much on the same wave length... I left out the higher level movements getting right away when I posted, but yes that is something I also do.

The only one that was mentioned that is a little contradictory (in my mind)is the beginner riders having right away vs. higher movements/faster paces having right away.... I guess one would tend to keep more of an eye on any horse that seemed to be acting up or not under as much control as other horses.

Even if people were aware of the etiquette, a document attached to the draw would refresh their minds at every show, as well as informing any "newbies" to the ways of the ring... And a sign at the warm-up entrance would make it clear to everyone, as well as being hard to ignore, especially if people start to pick up on any continuing wrong-doings.

Of course there are exceptional circumstances, and horses are individual and unpredictable beings!!!! Even the quietest horse could surprise you, and the babies react so quickly that sometimes your response isn't quick enough... (and I'm still suffering! :) )

It seems that Australian's (not in all instances) are less aware of basic arena etiquette because we are not constantly training in the same circumstances. In Europe and even America where they have big stable complexes, there are quite often several horses working in the arena at all times so the arena rules must be followed for anyone to get decent work. Here, horses are more spread out, a lot of people work on their own and only experience working amongst a group of horses when at competitions. Of course, this isn't always the case, because we do have agistment centres, but you would have to be unlucky if there were more than 3 horses in the arena at any one time.

The same person at the comps I have been to this year has cut me off every time they come past me. They even cut me off on the way into the ring! What annoys me the most is that this person isn't a beginner and knows better, they even commented to me that we seemed to be running into each other a lot. I made every effort to keep my distance but to no avail.... It is this behaviour that really ticks me off, how many other riders out there are doing the same thing to some degree or another?

Hoofie, But how many people use their common sense?! Sometimes it is like they have just turned it off.....

Or maybe it just appears as a tangled mess because of so many horses doing so many different things?

[Ivanka]

EE you've started one of my pet-topics.... arena etiquette...

Growing up in The Netherlands, it was really rare to have the whole arena for yourself (mind you: the arena is 20X40m), usually there are 2 - 10 other riders in it.

When you'd like to change rein, you'd yell out to everybody if they would object. Nobody walks on the track, always inside the ring. You would cross left shoulder to left shoulder as this is logical because you would end up on the inside track on the other side of the diagonal...

Here in Australia, I find that most people don't look at other horses/riders...
Personally I feel that the higher level riders should give way to the newbies, purely because they can! As a beginner rider, or with a young horse, you need all your concentration and focus simply to stay ON THE HORSE!!

I am amazed that it seems impossible here to ride in a 20X60m arena with 2 or 3 other riders without bumping into each other, where I used to be able to ride with 13 other riders of all levels in a 20X40m arena....

(and my favorite pass-time was the Friday evening Quadrille lesson... LOVED IT!!!! 12 - 16 mad riders with equally idiotic horses trying to put a freestyle test together... FANTASTIC start of the weekend!)

[HooFie]

That's true EE, some ppl do appear as if they've left it at home.

You guys seem to have lots of bad stuff to point out about the warmup lol
Maybe i don't pay enough attention and miss it all.. :?

[Equine Elegance]

(not picking on you Hoofie) but maybe that is part of the problem, maybe some people are so oblivious as to what is going on around them that they are causing major havoc without even noticing! At least everyone here is switched on. (well.... you all sound like you are most of the time anyway! Everyone has a blonde moment every now and then.)

I loved your last "rule" in your first post Ivanka. That's always the first thing that goes out the door... SMILE! Are you kidding? Do you know how hard that is? :) That and breathing..... Geez, you wouldn't to make the rules any harder would you? :) If every test had a section for the minimum number of breaths you had to take and how much of the test you smiled in, I would fail miserably! (and that's just in the warm-up!)



Jytte - I would be stoked too! Esp. for the first I-1... Now it can only get better! It's weird not riding down at the park anymore and not seeing you down there! Not that I ever say much anyway.... :)

[ann]

Hey, everybody, the little problem with the Attachments mod has been fixed since early this morning. You can come back and post to your hearts' conent.

[Ivanka]

breathing ... yes... I knew I forgot something during my tests...



lol

[Equine Elegance]

Ooops... didn't mean to cut my own thread dead.

Hoofie, my comment was not aimed at you, but what you said raised an important point. From what I saw last Sunday, you stayed out of "trouble" in the warm-up!

We know what everyone else needs to know, or be reminded of, so how do we got about implementing ways of getting the warm-up etiquette publicised?

Do we as individuals suggest to our clubs that it might be helpful? I'm sure NADEC would be willing to look at all suggestions, but they would want volunteers to help set it up. They are already talking about not running dressage days next year if they don't get more help... that would be a tragic loss.

Or do we go through Dressage QLD?