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Designing my Routine...
Neither Mac nor I have competed in Dressage to Music so this was completely new
territory for us both. I had been considering doing DTM as there are so many
more competitions being run locally; as Mac is now fully fit and competing regularly
I decided this was an opportunity not to be missed.
Having spoken to a friend who had done a judging Dressage to music training day
I was able to gain some expert advice and useful tips from the judges perspective.
Unlike a conventional test the judge hasn’t seen your floor plan so it’s
crucial that the test flows and each movement has a clear start and finish so
you can be marked for each element. A test which is difficult to follow can
make it hard for the judge to award those all important marks!
Alison Kenward is so well known for her work in this field. Her routines
have been successful at both national and championship level and her contacts
in the music world have been fantastic at matching music. I am definitely
in the best hands.
Alison was so calm, friendly, and above all passionate about designing a
test to show off all Mac’s strengths. The day was great fun from start to
finish; Alison immediately put us at ease. We had quite an audience and
a photographer clicking away which was quite nerve racking but we both
rose to the occasion and put our best hoof forward!
We discussed Mac’s strengths - His flying changes, and our weaknesses -
the half pass, then Alison asked me to just work him round the
arena in walk, trot and canter, then into mediums and extended. We
conferred again and Alison started to create our floor plan.
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OK Di, shouts Alison with the stopwatch at the ready! Enter the
arena in collect canter and halt on the centre line. Forwards to
collected canter, track left and into medium canter down the long
side. Now collect, down the centre line, shoulder in and half pass
left, counter canter and flying change....and so it went on till
at last we were all happy and ready to film the final version!
The routine we have designed is very bold, with lots of medium
and extended, which suits the horse. Mac’s not a big fan of
half pass so medium canter before hand is a real help. Alison
really listened to what I had to say, and because of that I
believe we came up with a routine which really works for the horse.
My Verdict - I would say to anyone doing this, don’t worry
about warm up! By the time we got to video the final routine,
we had been working for an hour and a half. Mac stepped up to the
plate and did his best, with mother who was suffering from sinus!
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day – we can’t wait to see the
final version with music and start competing. Working with
Alison takes the stress out of designing your routine allowing
you to enjoy the fun part - the performance!
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(Left to Right) Alison Kenward of Solitaire Freestyle, Hayley Sharman of Equine Affairs & Di Barrett with Mac |
Choosing my Music...
Well this is where the fun really starts! G G Jingles sent me 6 walk, 6 trot and
6 canter music samples. The only problem being that they are all fabulous choices
that suit the horses paces and personality perfectly - How to make a decision!
For example "Addicted to Love" versus "Raining in my Heart"
versus" Another Day in Paradise" and that's only for the walk!
After listening to the music for quite a few days; then riding to each 45
second example (which is quite enough) I decided that I would have to get
another video done just to watch Mac and the music. I then decided to score
each one and hoped to reach a decision - Sounds easy doesn’t it!
Mac chose the trot music . . . . he adores "Rave On". In the
canter we were stuck with a decision between "I'm Still Standing"
and "That’s all", so I decided to ask G G Jingles what they
thought. No Contest to match the other music -
it has to be "That’s All" said Derek & Kirsty. . . .
So there you have it; Another Day in Paradise, Rave On and That’s All.
My music CD is currently bring prepared by GG Jingles so I’m busy
filling in the forms to register as a music member and get the music
registered - All looks quite straight forward! Next we’ll need to have
a practice or two. . . .And then that’s it out we go to play!
We’ll let you all know how our first show goes and
post the video!
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