Musical Freestyle Song Ideas?

I am doing a musical freestyle with my horse at training/first level.

I know I have to find his beats per minute ect. but does anybody have any song idea that have worked for them in the past? Or hints on how to create and interesting Musical freesyle. I am not into classical music, my horse deas not have that personality, so leave that out unless it is a must.

thanks

Musical Freestyle Song Ideas?home theatre

Lately the big thing is doing the sport enter songs- you know the ones they play while they are introducing players before a big game.

If your horse is spunky then you might want to go for some old swing music.

If he's a laid back type of guy go for songs that were popular in the 70's.

When I competed in fourth level I had a mix of classical and Johnny Cash songs. If you have a chance just get some of your favorite songs together and start downloading them on your computer. Most computers have a CD maker where you can edit songs and add sounds and overlay tracks. We didn't have that technology back when I competed but I do that now for kids and their horses that I train.

Musical Freestyle Song Ideas?ballet theater opera theater

Before you begin you must gather a few pieces of crucial information.

1.The number of steps per minute your horse takes for each of the paces it will use.

2.The length of time it takes for the horse to complete the required moves in each of the paces.

3.The target length of the music.

4. Which is your horse's best pace, and which is its worst.

From this information you can choose music of the correct speeds for your horse and you can make an interim allocation of time for each of the paces.

Using a stop watch, or any other timing device, count your horse's paces. Do this when the horse is going well. Using a video camera allows you to concentrate on the riding, and do the counting later in comfort. In trot and walk count the rear feet. In canter count the inside rear foot. Most horses' paces fall into the range:- trot = 125 to 185 steps per minute, and both walk and canter = 85 to 115 steps per minute.

If your horse has a weakness it is tempting, and sensible, to design a test which shows as little of that weakness as possible. However, you must be certain you allocate enough time to fit in the moves required in each pace, including the dodgy one, otherwise the judge is going to bounce you. Do these moves in the practice arena against the clock to establish the time they take, then add a few seconds for safety.

To establish your target time first read the latest version of the rules for your level and find out what minimum and maximum time your are allowed. Each level allows a fairly generous bracket of time, but it is easy to get so close to one end of the bracket that a dodgy tape player at the competition could put you outside it. Aim for the middle. For example, if at your level the bracket is from four minutes thirty seconds to five minutes, your target time is four minutes, forty five seconds.

All horses have their strengths and weaknesses. Be very clear in your mind which is which in your horse, and divide up the target time accordingly. Beware though - onlookers (and judges ?) tend to switch off if treated to too much walk.

You are now in a position to design a test which makes good dressage sense and which will show your horse in the best possible light. It is not the job of this site to tell you how to do this.

The next stage involves hours of listening to music in the search for the perfect accompaniment for your horse. In theory almost anything goes, so it is all a matter for personal choice, which is not really much help when you consider how much music is out there. However, you can get on the scent of something suitable quite quickly with a structured approach. A theme, any theme, eliminates great oceans of music. A certain show, TV themes, a favourite composer, music about flowers - anything that will get you started in some kind of direction. If you get diverted onto a different course along the way it doesn't matter because you still have a purpose - it's just a different one. Your horse's character might give you clues. Wagner might lend himself to a big, bold horse whereas themes from childrens TV programmes might suit a small dainty pony.

You will quickly find that hardly any music exists that is precisely the right speed for your horse. Do not despair - these days it is possible to alter speeds of some forms of music without damaging the sound too much. Avoid large speed changes because the character of the music may be altered so much that it ceases to do the job you intended it for.

The mere fact that you are out here on the Web suggests you know how to look beyond the confines of your own house for what you want. Nevertheless, a summary of what is available can do no harm. CDs, tapes, videos, LPs and singles belonging to you, your friends and families, their friends and families, and in libraries. TV and the radio (I know, I know - but I won't tell if you don't). Music files stored in computers and keyboards anywhere in your life. MIDI files, WAV files and any other kind of sound files out here on the Internet.

Good luck and have fun!...
I saw a stunning musical freestyle ride at The Washington International Horse Show done to Cher's Song for The Lonely. I have also seen Eye of The Tiger used.