| Author | Message | ||
     Wendy Peckham Member Username: Wendyp Post Number: 10 Registered: 07-2007 |
Hi Steph, Regards the plaiting, I used to drive a traditional cob and 'diamond-plaited' his long mane and used a French plait (kept long) for his forelock. That made him look neat and tidy without spoiling his long hair. On marathon day I put his mane in long plaits to keep him cool (I also put his very thick tail into several long plaits for marathon day, made it so much easier to brush out afterwards). | ||
| Steph Richards Member Username: Stephr Post Number: 6 Registered: 03-2007 |
Thank you Janet that is a very comprehensive answer and will answer a lot of questions for a number of people. I know I was not the only one with these queries. | ||
| Janet Pilling Member Username: Janetp Post Number: 15 Registered: 03-2007 |
Steph, it would seem there are three major influencing factors in the presentation mark. Firstly is Tradition - in the days when carriage driving was our way of getting about, gentlemen and ladies would show off their turnouts with smart clothes covered by an apron to keep the road dirt off them, a hat to keep their hair tidy, gloves to keep their hands clean from the reins and they also liked to show a certain style or panache. These traditions are carried forward in private driving classes and while there is no need to be quite so showey and correct in driving trials, the presentation mark does have an element of showing in there. The second factor is cost - we are constantly trying to make it easier for newcomers to the sport to take part without going to huge expense, hence the reason many clubs do not give penalty marks for not having lamps (in our club, SCDA, as long as you have a hat, apron, gloves and your whip you can actually do your dressage in marathon colours and we don't have standing presentation, only a safety check). This is something that can be picked up by watching fellow competitors, see what is the norm - it's amazing how many of us shop at Oxfam for our dressage jackets! :D. The third factor is safety - I don't think you should be penalised for having an under halter on however the whole idea of the slim black ones is so that they are discreet and tidy (the traditional element again?) A brightly coloured one will spoil the look of your turnout and may keep catching the judge's attention meaning he might be distracted and miss that nice soft bend on the corner or the lovely lengthening across X. By the time anyone gets to compete at an event their driving should have been assessed for safety but I see nothing wrong with keeping an under halter on provided you are not advertising the fact by using a red or yellow one :o). Presentation isn't complicated and it doesn't carry a huge mark, a lot of it is however the judge's 'opinion' which may not be yours. It is easy to drop a point or two by not being quite correct but there are three other sections in the collectives that can easily be improved on to compensate. Incidently I also drive a cob, he has quite a lot of feather and I have never plaited him although I am always tempted to strip him out and plait him at the National Championships! I'm sure he would look so different people would think I had a new pony! He would have all winter to grow his feathers back for the following season - maybe this year if we qualify :o) | ||
| Steph Richards Member Username: Stephr Post Number: 5 Registered: 03-2007 |
Thank you all for your replies. It would seem that education/training for dresage judges is the way forward or is there already a program? One question Fiona you say that a coloured underhalter was said not to be correct, does that mean a black or brown one would be and if so why and how would I know that | ||
| Fiona Powell Member Username: Fionap Post Number: 42 Registered: 03-2007 |
Steph, I usually put a note in the judges paperwork which, among other things, reminds them that lamps are not required, however I didn't for Elveden. We (EACDG) do try to ensure the judges have a copy of our yearbook (which is also on our website), which has our rules in it including: "9. Lamps are not required for dressage or cones, however you are welcome to use them." I think it confuses when some competitors have lamps and some don't!? What's the answer? When I asked a dressage judge at Blandings about the underhalter being worn, I understood that a coloured one was not acceptable. The presentation judge also recommended that it was not worn, even a black one, if one were being correct. I don't recall anyone complaining about comments on their underhalter before. I guess it depends on the judge! Hope this helps (a bit)? | ||
| Jane Wilson Member Username: Janewil Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2007 |
Each club may vary Steph but in the NEDTL lamps are not required. You'll have to check the rules for whichever club you're competing with. How you turn out your Sec D is up to you but generally if you trim feathers then you should plait, otherwise present him as the native type he is. You can also get very discreet black under-halters made of the same stuff as modern harness so that you can hardly tell they're there. Good luck! | ||
| Ruth Auton Member Username: Rauton Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2007 |
Hi, i would suggest at club level you do not need to have lamps - the judge should mark you accordingly and you may loose a mark against someone who has lamps. I would not put the underhalter on my horse in the dressage phase but have it in your spares kit. Again you should not be marked down for not plaiting - as Kathleen said - it's about the fact he's a cob - perhaps just put a fine ribbon in one single plait behind his bridle but not fully plaited. | ||
| Kathleen Upsall Member Username: Katastrophy Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2008 |
Surely the pony should be turned out to type- why would you plait a D? Mine would look plain silly with feathers and plaits! I'm brand new to driving, but do ridden showing with mine too- there's no hope of me pulling his mane enough to plait him! What colour is your underhalter? I've just got a black one to match his harness... | ||
| Steph Richards Member Username: Stephr Post Number: 4 Registered: 03-2007 |
I am competing in Club Open Horse after finally managing to get away from the dreaded standing presentation at Novice. However, I am now more confused. I drive a Hartland pro-sport with a Sec D. In the last two competions I have entered the dressage judge has commented on the lack of lamps. I do not have lamp brackets so did not think I had to have them. I have also had a "plaits?" along with a comment on the colour of the underhalter. Can anybody help with what is actually correct? |