Judge Tip: How are Your Centre Lines?
How are your centre lines? There's at least two in every test, so it's worth making sure you practice at home.
BD List 1 judge, dressage trainer and coach, Mary-Anne Horn has put together this exercise to help perfect your centre lines.
➡️ Place two cones or blocks at the A and C ends near D and G.
➡️ Place a cone on the inside track of the corners.
➡️ Place two poles as tram lines at X.
1️⃣ Ride around the cones in the corners.
2️⃣ Turn onto the centre line using the cones for straightness.
3️⃣ Practice coming to a halt between the poles - learn to look at B and E for accuracy. Counting your strides to X will always help with the placement of the halt.
Practice the salute - reins into left hand, drop right arm, drop head.
4️⃣ Stand for a few seconds and then smoothly ride forwards between the cones and turn.
Make sure you practice this from both ends of the arena and let us know how you get on!