| Author | Message | ||
     Cathy Willis Member Username: Cathyw Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2011 |
The open competitors who queried this test 8b with the competition committee believed this test was a test too far i.e far too much collection and extension. We asked the competition committee to look again. It was Council that came up with BHDTA 1a which is the Open Pairs test / tandem test, not the competitors who queried it. | ||
| Jeff Bannister Member Username: Jeff Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2011 |
As single horse rep I have had no representation from anyone in the single horse class regarding this issue so this is my view view, not that of my class. I understand that the proposed dressage BHDTA test is of a lower quality/standard of movement than the FEI no.8. The open horse/ pony class is the class below advanced. The advanced class has no choice but to perform the nominated advanced test, currently No. 9/2008. It is from the open class that the next national advanced class of competitors and subsequent world team emerges. You cannot enter advanced class without proof of ability, part of it in dressage. If drivers want to limit their own performance ( as distinct from potential of what might be possible after schooling/ training etc) by wanting a lower quality dressage , they can choose to remain in intermediate class dressage and do the same marathon and cones course. In that way those drivers can make some comparisons of performance in two out of three disciplines. However to restrict, or try to restrict, the opportunity of more determined drivers and capable horses to do a more advanced test is contrary to the principle of improvement. It may also prohibit the development of some open class drivers to progress to advanced class because they could not ever achieve the higher standard of dressage required to enter advanced class. Maybe the answer is that the lowest 3 performers in the points league MUST revert to the intermediate class in the next season when after improvement/alteration of set up etc, the drivers could choose to try to progress back to open level or choose to stay in the intermediate class. Our sport used to have just open and novice single classes. The new classes were introduced to allow drivers/horses to improve progressively to encourage ability and flourish. To enforce less development in one of the three disciplines seems undesirable and ultimately less stimulating and less rewarding. Part of our sport must surely be to find an appropriate level at which to find one's own level of enjoyment. It is reasonable to say all of us as drivers have had ups and downs with different horses of different abilities, performing at different capabilities at different times of their career for a myriad of reasons. That is the nature of the sport. The tests provide known standards against which to improve performance. To alter the standard would not improve the quality of the sport. My view: I see no reason to alter/lower the standard of the proposed FEI test in favour of the BHDTA test. | ||
| Cathy Willis Member Username: Cathyw Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2011 |
Following the thread on the BHDTA facebook page Wilf Bowman-Ripley has asked me to post the following: Dear All This was discussed at the AGM as to which test everyone wanted for the open single class, and there was no firm opinion then. This was only a stop gap until the judges designed a new open test. As a member of the BHDTA council and competitions committee, could everyone that will be in the open single pony/horse class 2012, please text e your name and test preference ASAP, please let any non FB members know and I will take this back to council with the majority and let you know what the majority want. To try and get the best decision for all the competitors Wilf (07802 899004) |