Its a question every competitive rider asks themselves at some stage: how can I improve my dressage score? If youre stuck in the 50 or 60% bracket and wonder what the difference is to crack 60 or 70%, youre not alone. Its frustrating to hit a plateau with your dressage marks weve all been there.Dressage training is more of a marathon than a sprint, and improvement doesnt happen overnight. But we have good news: it may be that youre throwing away precious marks without realising it. All it takes is a little extra thought and preparation to put you on track for a great test.How can I improve my dressage score?We asked dressage judges exactly where marks are typically lost and what they want to see in order to award nines and 10s rather than fives and sixes. These are the key areas they highlighted:Accuracy of movements and transitionsKnowing the test wellEnsuring halts are squareBeing able to ride in a straight line (not just in a circle)Having impulsionNot dwelling on mistakes/movements that could have been betterRiding into corners dont cut them!Understanding the directivesRiding well between the movements not just the movements themselvesMaking sure you have energy in the pace and not speedDont fiddle with the horses headThink ahead and prepare for a movementEstablish a correct outline behind the vertical is a common sight and this is incorrectRead your test sheet and learn from it for next time.Read on to learn what these mean and find out what the judges want to seeBe accurateFirst and foremost, you need to be accurate. There is a reason this is at the top of this list because it really is important. So important, in fact, that being precise can put you at the top of the scoreboard in dressage.If your 20m circles look more like two corners and a straight line, you really are damaging your score. Same with crooked centre lines, laments List One judge Paul Hayler, who was appointed as training director for British Dressage (BD) in 2014.Judges expect every shape and movement to be ridden correctly and precisely, in the exact place specified on the test sheet.So if the test requires you to walk at A, that means walk at A. If it states canter at C, you must canter at C not a few steps before or after. Sounds simple, yes? Yet this is where marks are commonly lost.Its all about accuracy, agrees international dressage rider Kate Cowell. You will be rewarded with good marks just by being accurate and correct, for example ensuring that your transitions are exactly on the markers and that you are straight and make the correct size shapes.Clarity of transitions is also a good way to gain extra marks.Accuracy is learned at homeBeing accurate can mean the difference between winning and losingTo be accurate in a test you need to be accurate when youre training too. Whether its letters or a cone or a different coloured fence post, pick a spot to ride a movement at and do it.A gripe of mine is carelessness, says BD List 6 judge and classical trainer Claire Lilley. Accuracy is important in a horses training, and if you dont ride each movement accurately at home then your horse isnt going to develop the correct degree of suppleness and flexibility.A tatty test is due to rider error and often its down to little mistakes that could be corrected with good training leaving the rider in the placings as opposed to way down the leaderboard.Know the test wellSo many riders rely on callers these days, but its really important to know your test inside out, says dressage coach Kirsty Mepham, who partnered Dikkiloo at the Sydney 2000 Olympics as a member of Team GB.One of the most common issues I see is the caller announcing the next movement just as the rider is getting to the marker, which is too late to make a good attempt at it, resulting in mistakes and low marks.Windy weather making it impossible to hear them, someone else calling in the next arena and confusing you, your caller being ill on the day these are other reasons to learn the test.Having a caller as a backup in case of a mind blank is OK, but know the test too, advises Kirsty. You cant have a caller at regionals or championships, so its worth finding a way to memorise your tests early on.Halts must be squareThe halt is always the last movement in every dressage test and some tests require you to do one immediately after entering at A and during the test too.I see many riders throwing away easy marks because the halt is not square, explains Kirsty.I expect to see both pairs of hooves, front and back, aligned. Riders need to be pickier and train the halt at home to prevent them losing marks on an easily trainable movement.Practice straight linesIts harder to ride in a straight line than you might think. Especially if you mostly train in circles at home and youre used to working alongside a fence.I see a lack of straightness in many of the movements, with canter and transitions being particularly troublesome, especially on the long side, confirms Kirsty.The biggest issue is the horses quarters swinging in. Training at home is key to correcting this.Top tipsPractise shoulder-in when youre schooling as this corrects quarters in at all paces.Ride off the outside track regularly so that your horse doesnt rely on the fence to keep them straight.Dont just ride circles when training, ride squares and lots of straight lines too.Ride with your hands slightly wider and held further forward. This stops you from over-correcting, especially on straight lines.Transitions must be sharpEvery transition needs to be sharp and accurateTransitions between paces (ie walk to trot) and within the paces (ie medium walk to free walk) are an important part of every dressage test. The judge is looking for clear execution.I see riders panic about transitions, especially when riding trot-walk-trot and trot-canter-trot, says Kirsty.Im looking for a clear transition with three to four strides between each pace, but often they are rushed, as if the rider is desperate to get the movement over with.They will ride only one stride before transitioning again and its an easy way to lose marks. Id rather see too many strides than not enough. Free walk to medium walk and back also causes issues.Top tipsTransitions are easier to nail when your horse is straight, so work on this, not just the transitions.Preparation is key. Sit straight and use your bodyweight, not the reins, to ride a downwards transition and keep your leg on. Think going forwards to walk, rather than coming back to walk.For transitions within the pace, count the rhythm as you ride it. It shouldnt change.You need impulsionLack of impulsion is an issue across all dressage levels and particularly when collected movements are required, says Paul Hayler.Collection is controlled power, not slowing down. Without power, the movement, swing and suppleness is lost.As your horse becomes more experienced and starts to go up the levels, we look to see more engagement and impulsion with your horse staying off their forehand.Issues with loss of impulsion is often seen when riding in and out of transitions, with fluency into the next movement subsequently disrupted.Top tipA simple but effective way to increase impulsion is to ride a 20m circle in trot and gradually reduce its size. Keep the energy in the pace the same and dont let the horse slow down. As the circle gets smaller, they will lift their shoulders and engage the hindlegs in response.Focus on the next movementEach movement in a dressage test is judged individually. It is important to know where each one starts and finishes so that you ride accurately in order to get the best results.The issue I see here is when things go wrong, explains Paul. Rather than quickly regrouping after a wobble and riding for the next movement, the rider allows the problem to continue, so points are lost on two or three movements rather than just the one where the mistake occurred.Dont panic if you know a movement hasnt gone well. Focus on whats coming next rather than whats just happened.Use the cornersPractice riding good corners at homeCutting corners is easy to do and a big no-no.Riders forget that corners are a continuation of the test, and the judge will be looking for them be ridden correctly, advises Paul.You need balance and control with no cutting them short. If you ride corners like this, then the rest of the test is likely to be good, too. If not, then you run the risk of ruining the next movement.When ridden correctly, corners give you time before you have to do the next movement.Competitors often dont ride their corners correctly or deep enough, agrees BD List 3A judge John Lassetter.You should always ride deep into the corner, maintaining your horses rhythm and balance. This way it gives you more time to prepare for the next movement, whatever that is.I perpetually see riders doing a half circle between H and M, instead of riding a correct corner. They then dont have time to set the horse up correctly and so maybe overshoot the centre line or make another mistake.Top tipPlace a safe object like a cone in the corner of your arena with enough space for your horse to pass between it and the fence. Start with plenty of space at first and gradually move the cone in. This is a good way to practice riding into a corner.Understand the marks and directivesKnow which movements attract double marks in your test and train these to perfection. The free walk on a loose rein, for example, is usually worth double marks (20) and so is an important movement to be able to ride well. This starts with understanding what a good free walk is and how to ask for it.The directives are at the bottom of the test sheet. Study these too, as it gives you information about what you need to do to impress the judge.Show your horse offAt every level, its the riders job to show the horse offIf your horse has three good paces, show them off by giving them enough energy and freedom to move forward. Dont restrict forwardness with your hands.Remember as well that the judge knows nothing about your horse and they will mark what they see. So, if your warm up hasnt gone well or you arrived late or you havent been able to ride your horse a few days before test day, forget about it. Ride into that arena, sit tall and proud, and ride your horse to the best of your ability.Make every step countRemember to ride the bits between the movements in a dressage test. The judges eyes will be on you all the time and nothing should be left to chance for the higher marks. Finish the test with a smile and a positive salute, no matter how it went.Whenever Im judging I want to see riders riding between the movements, as well as riding the actual movements. Above all, they need to understand each movement in a test and ride each as correctly as possible, with suppleness and flexibility, says Claire Lilley.Think about your positionKeep your head up, shoulders back, heels and sit centrally in the saddle. Dont allow nerves or the pressure force you to lean forward or look down. Youre not allowed to use your voice either, which includes clicking, and youll be penalised if you do. So stay quiet!Poor rider position is another of my gripes when Im judging, says John Lassetter. So often you see riders who look as though theyre on a motorbike rather than a horse leaning in around the corners in a wall-of-death style.Riders should always aim to keep their upper body level with the shoulders and hips of their horse, so that he or she can stay in an upright mode.Look ahead Show the judges that you mean business by looking up and in the direction of where youre going. This will help you communicate with your horse where you want to go too. Remember, body language is important andrider weight aidsare very useful.Hone your horses paces Collective marks are awarded for your horses paces.A horses paces can also be developed with time and work. Consistently working through the scales of training (rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection) is a systematic and attainable way of developing your horses expression correctly, says Kate Cowell.You can also develop the ease of movements and confidence in the work. The aim of dressage is to make it look happy and easy.Fitness countsIts also important to remember that a fit and muscled horse will product a better test, adds Kate.Consider your horses feed and management and talk to your trainer to develop tailor-made exercises specific to your horse and repeat them regularly. Keep developing the finesse of your aids.Dont confuse energy with speedSonia Berry, a BD List 6 judge who has ridden at Grand Prix level, would like to see competitors take their feet off the accelerator during a test.My pet hate is riders going too fast, thinking that speed equates to energy, she says. Theyre told their horse should come through from behind but mistake this for speed and start rushing everywhere at 90 miles an hour.A horse who is rushing will lose balance, fall onto the forehand and be trickier to ride. Make sure youre asking energy, not speed.Leave the horses head aloneAnother bugbear is riders fiddling with the bit, continues Sonia. I hate to see lots of movement through the hands.Avoid fiddling with the reins, as this is likely to lead to an unsettled horse with an inconsistent contact. You will lose a lot of marks for this.Think aheadCertain dressage tests often throw up a mistake thats repeated or poorly ridden time and time again, states BD judge Elizabeth Roberts.One of the things I always look out for is how riders prepare for transitions or turns.At the lower levels, its common to see a surprised expression on a horses face when the rider suddenly either makes a sharp turn or a trot now/canter now aid, rather than the prepare, give an indication to the horse that something might be happening (half-halt) and then the aid.Sometimes you see a horse looking rather shocked as he or she is surprised into the transition.Prepare, prepare, prepare!My pet hate is those riders who throw marks away through lack of preparation, says Alison Woulds, a BD List 5 judge who has ridden at Grand Prix level. A common example is when theyre asked to ride down the centre line, but they dont actually go on the centre line, instead they overshoot it. Or they attempt to ride a 15- or 20-metre circle and it isnt accurate.If youve got 25 competitors in a class, youll always see the odd one or two who havent prepared well enough.I feel like shouting at them: You could have won if youd only trained harder and spent more time preparing for this test!Establish a correct outlineThe most common problem I see when Im judging is people riding their horses over-bent, says Claire Lilley.Theyre obviously confused about whats right and whats wrong with regards to their horses outline, and I regularly see horses with their chin on their chest, but their back end trailing behind.I think a large number of riders arent being taught the correct way to ride into a contact.Above all, riders need to think of their horse as a whole and learn how to hold a contact, continues Claire. Of course, anyone can have a momentary slip where their horse loses the contact, but your aim should be to have your horse on the bit, while holding an even contact.If I see someone riding their horse over-bent, I will say something. If theyre riding a couple of horses in the same competition and dont take heed of my comments, then Ill start getting tough on their marks. Ive been known to get out of the judges car and go up to a rider to make my point.Dont rush immobilitySome dressage tests require immobility. This is a brief pause, where your horse stands still, but its longer than many riders think and easily rushed.If youre asked to halt for four seconds at C, make sure you count steadily to four. One Mississippi two Mississippi, advises Alex Gingell, Level 1 FEI judge and List 3a BD judge.Dont rush to get to four, which is easy to do if youre nervous. Practice counting to four with a stopwatch at home, so that you get a feel for how long four seconds actually is. You might be surprised!Read your test sheetHowever good or bad your test is, use it as a benchmark for improvement. Always collect your score sheet at the end of the day and take note of the comments. Think of it as constructive feedback for you to take away and work on.Over time, youll be able to look back at your horses dressage sheets and see how theyve improved in certain areas.Related contentHow to improve a horses walk *VIDEO*Four types of trot explained *VIDEO*Try Dan Greenwoods straight line exercisesWhat are the scales of training?Complete guide to the dressage arenaThe post How can I improve my dressage score? appeared first on Your Horse.