Test learning with TestPro
Dressage TestPro have provided a number of steps you can take to make this process much easier and also give you the confidence to be at your best!
Learning your test so that you can recall it and compete effectively in the arena can seem a daunting task especially if you are at a championship event. Even if you opt to have your tests called on a regular basis, I would argue that you still need to know the test. There is nothing worse than not knowing what is coming up and how you should be preparing your horse for the next movement.
There are a number of steps that you can take to make this process much easier and also give you the confidence to be at your best!
Here are our top five tips for learning your dressage test;
-
No doubt you have memories of different teachers at school and how some had the knack of explaining facts so that they helped you to absorb and remember them. Not everyone learns and processes information in the same way.
Before you start to learn your test think about whether you are a visual, audio, text or kinaesthetic learner or perhaps you are a combination of a couple of these?
For example if you need to ‘see’ things to get the information in, then diagrams may be useful for you. A kinaesthetic learner may prefer a mixture of drawing out the test and also riding it.
-
Whatever your style of learning, it is easier to learn the test in manageable chunks. Start by looking at the entire test so that you can assess how to break it down. At first glance a test can appear to be a mirror image on both reins but there is often a transition or walk sequence that may catch you out when learning.
If I was learning Prelim 3 (2024) the first four movements after the entry are mirror image of each other so I would work through the first 5 all together.
Then there is a change of rein followed by the walk sequence which might work well as another section to learn. The canter sequence on each rein of this test is quite long so depending on how confident you are feeling I would look to either learn it all in ‘one hit’ or alternatively do the first rein from movement 10 to movement 12 (inclusive), then 13-15 leaving the final movement and centre line till last.
Realistically you have to find out what works best for you, and learning a section of 2-3 movements may be best for one individual but learning all the canter work may work for you.
-
There are those of us that can learn the test whilst getting changed ready to get on our horse but most of us require some quality learning time. Please don’t rush your test learning. Sit down with no distractions for up to half an hour at a time to focus on the test. Alternatively ride through sections of the test in a schooling session or work through the test with your coach, all of this is about having quality, consistent learning time.
-
Everyone gets ‘blank’ moments, it happens, and sometimes the first movement that comes into your head after the blank moment is correct but you may doubt yourself! Understand what can trigger these events and work out how to minimise them. So is it your horse feeling tense and spooky, is it distractions in another arena, tiredness, foggy brain, your nerves. Working with a coach or a mindset coach or learning to manage your nerves is a worthwhile investment, after all you have paid the entry fees, diesel etc., to get there so it is best to be prepared.
-
Helping each other to learn a test for a competition can be a way of diffusing any nerves and tension. Having someone call sections of the test out from a phone or even from memory and maybe videoing is a great learning opportunity. If you are both going to the same competition then you can also have the back up of calling for each other if needed.
Whilst it is tempting always to have your test called at every competition, it does not help if you then qualify for an Area festival or championship and do not have the option of a caller! My advice if you are nervous about going ‘solo’ is to try it out at a competition that you are relaxed in and build your confidence before pressurising yourself to cope with a big atmosphere.