This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Tack and Training » Arabian Tack and Fitting »
  Discussion on Dressage bridle
Author Message

Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 - 2:47 am:

I have an Arab that I have been showing in western pleasure, but I think the new Arab mare that I bought as a baby is going to turn out to be better suited to hunter. I'm also thinking about the possibility of doing dressage with her, as it is an area I've always wanted to try.She's five years old this year and has only been ridden in a snaffle with a western saddle. I'm familiar with the western pleasure classes, but I don't know alot about the rules for dressage. My question is about the bridles and bits that are used in dressage. I've seen some horses (in ads) shown with a double bridle and some shown with just a snaffle. What do the rules state for the dressage classes, especially at the A level shows? I'd also be interested in names of books or tapes that are good in that area, especially showing what the actual tests are. Thanks

Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 - 10:21 am:

Hi Agnes, In dressage a snaffle bit is required in the lower levels, ie: intro (walk, trot),training level, up to 3rd.level, at 4th.level you have the option of using the double bridle or a snaffle, at the FEI levels, a double bridle is mandatory.
As for tapes and books, check out your local tack shop, or catalogs.(or the web, lots of stuff out here!)
You can also go to the USDF website, and the AHSA website for information, I don't have those URL's handy, but if you do a search they will pop up for you.
Good Luck, dressage is fun and challenging, and I have worked with a few Arabs that have done well in the dressage ring, they seem to enjoy it very much.

Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 - 1:02 pm:

Thanks Angela
That clears up a lot for me. I'm going to order a couple of books I saw written by Jane Savoie. I'll let you know how its going!

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2000 - 12:27 am:

A favorite dressage book of mine is Kyra Kirklund's--very practical information. As for competing, Max Gawhyler's "The Competitive Edge" is really really good.

The big thing I'd be careful with in an Arab is with a light/consistent contact. I scribe a lot at shows, and note that if riders try to "hold" the horse on the bit, Arabs tend to come behind the bit and also to break between the second and third vertebra. This causes the rider to lose at least 1 point on every movement. Riders who keep the horses light in front, and allow them to seek the bit rather than holding them there tend to do very well.

I can't recommend scribing highly enough--it's like getting a free lesson, and my understanding of dressage (and enthusiasm) has increased by leaps and bounds every time.

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2000 - 2:17 pm:

Thanks for the info Gay. I saw those books on the web yesterday, so I think I'll go ahead and order them. I appreciate the comments about Arabs being on the bit also, from going to alot of the
Arab shows I have to agree that getting behind the bit can be too easy to do. Its also a great idea about scribing, how do you go about doing that?

Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2000 - 9:04 pm:

Hi Agnes--

I started scribing by calling my local dressage chapter and expressing my interest. If you have legible handwriting, can write quickly, and know the tests well enough to know when the judge has forgotten a mark or given you an extra mark (which, bless their hearts, they do from time to time but less often than one might expect given how many rides they see in a day), then you should do fine.

You quickly learn to abreviate: FH for forehand, fwd for forward, nds for needs, R.B. for reinback, etc. Each judge has his/her own "vocabulary" of comments, and sometimes you have to improvise abbreviations on the spot. As long as the rider can figure out what you meant, it doesn't matter. A lot of times at breaks, you find scribes getting together and quizzing eachother on the abbreviations they use.

It's great fun. My challenge now is to get my body to behave when my brain, which is by far the better rider, tells it what to do...

Posted on Friday, Jun 2, 2000 - 4:43 pm:

Thanks for the info. Its definitely something I'll look into.... but first I need to make sure I learn more about the actual tests! In the meantime, I'll try to go to as many shows as I can to at least observe. I'll keep you posted on my progress with my mare.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC