Signs Your Dressage Test Needs Some Work

by Emily Sorenson and Meghan Jackson

1. Under judges remarks she writes only:  "Nice braid job."

2. Horse confuses dressage arena rail for a cavaletti; exits at K

3. Your circles shape reminds the judge that he should pick up eggs on the way home.

4. Your serpentine was perfect, except that it was supposed to be a straight centerline.

5. Sitting trot has caused some fillings to be loosened in lower molars.

6. Your horse believes "free walk" means leaving the arena and heading towards the nearest patch of grass.

7. Your working trot had you working harder then your horse.

8. In your salute, your inadvertently use your whip hand causing your horse to perform airs above the ground.

9. Your walk seems to be more "rare" than "medium."

10. Impulsion improves only after the horse sees monsters in the decorative shrubbery near letters.

Here are another 10 from others ....

1. Your horse's response to the canter aid is "Can't, er, what?"

2. Your twenty meter circle involved jumping the rail twice.

3. Your halt took place in the judge's lap, instead of at X.

4. Your thoroughbred interpreted elasticity to involve trying to kick himself in the head with his back feet during the working canter

5. Your horse entered the arena at A, and M, and H, and B...

6. Judge's comments include words like "unusual, dramatic, explosive, and tragic"

7. Leg-yields involve your leg yielding before the horse does.

8. Free walk was interpreted by your Arab to involve prancing, a rear, and a few bucks.

9. The judge asks you take the broken letters with you when you leave.

10. Voodoo dolls of your horse were found in the possession of the show's grounds manager.