Dressage tests..

This wednesday we have the Dressage cup round two, In the first round at my level with my old boy we came 2nd so I am hoping to do well agian.

The delema is I got my new horse just before xmas and prior to me having him he had done NO dressage in his life. He didnt understand a thing.
He's 12 years old and was quite a prolific star gazer, due to that he doesnt have enough muscle just yet to hold himself up for a whole test, so here is my delema.

I really want to try out for the Area Team selection for dressage.
For that we have to do a Novice level test,(2nd level) so would have to have counter canter established, 10m circles at trot, 15m loops at canter and lenghtened canter on a circle.

We have the 10m circles down pat, and 15m loops at canter shouldnt be too hard. BUT counter canter and lengthend canter could be difficult, he does auto flying changes from his days as a NZEF sjer. And he's a speedy thing so I don't know if I could get him back smoothly and calmly after lenghtening.

So my delema is, should I give the Area Selection test a go or not? Would be my 2nd test on him ever so I don't know!!!

HELPP!!

An honest answer?.................If I were in your position I would not. He and you are not ready.

Okay cool. My instructor is saying to give it a go because if we do bad then atleast we know where we went wrong and what we have to work on.
But I don't want to look like an arse:P

Just to give you an idea of the minimum requirements take a look at this practice level 2 test. Many mistakes are being made here and if it were being judged would not get that good a score.

Can you or your horse put out this level of comaptibility and performance?

This is a little off topic, and might sound stupid, but here goes. I've never done Dressage, although I want to start, but should the rider in that video be bouncing around that much - her upper body (esp. The back) seems so loose? That brings me to my question - is Dressage judged both on the horse and rider or just the horse? I always thought it was he combination - so even if a horse went perfect, there would be penalties for a bouncy/loose ride by the rider right?

Just curious, sorry again for interrupting the thread.

Honestly, it was all I could do not to giggle! She was NOT moving with her horse at all... I could see daylight between her butt and the saddle she was bouncing so high.

No that rider should not be bouncing all over like that. I did not look for the most perfect ride to use. There were tons of errors on that video and I did not put it up for critique but as an example of the very very barest minimun a rider needs to be to even CONSIDER second level ( to me that rider is still a training/level 1 rider). If the OP isn't able to be at least near the level that rider/horse combination is ( in spite of the bounce) then she should rethink doing level 2 and stick to training for the moment.

The video is playing up for me so I have only watched bits of it but from the bits I have seen I belive we are allot more consitant then that, its about the easyest level 2 test there is.
I had a go at it today and everyone is saying I should give it a go but I don't want to look like a knob ahha.

I'd say go for it. Like your trainer told you, it can't hurt to try. The other competitors and the judges too should understand. Besides trial and error can be the best way to learn sometimes.

I have put my name on the draw, will see how we go on wednesday and if I don't think he's up to it I wont do it.