We strive to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their horses, by providing year-round recreational and enrichment opportunities to all.
About DRESSAGE
- What is Dressage?Is it difficult or scary?
- The Object of DressageWill it help my horse?
- On The BitSounds hard!
- Tests For Dressage CompetitionHere comes the hard part!
- Scoring & PenaltiesJudges understand your mistakes
- Attire For CompetitorsYou mean no Levi’s allowed?
- SaddleryHorses need special clothes
What is Dressage? Is it difficult or scary?
Dressage is a methodical training of the horse. It is based on the three natural gaits-walk, trot and canter- which must be to carefully cultivated and improved through structured gymnastic work. With this training the horseman attempts, while working the horse under saddle, to condition the horse to being ridden without in any way diminishing its nature. Thus balanced beauty and harmonious movement become possible, because all forms of exercises, regardless of difficulty, including the High School airs above the ground, find their roots in the same movements which the horse can already do in raw form in nature.
When correctly implemented, a solid foundation in basic dressage is useful for horses of all equestrian disciplines, being a practical gymnastic preparation which prolongs the creature's usefulness and makes it a pleasure to ride.
Defined by: Erik Herbermann as written in Dressage Formula.
The Object of Dressage - Will it help my horse?
The object of dressage is the harmonious development of the physique and ability of the horse. As a result it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible, as well as confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving a perfect understanding with its rider.
These qualities are revealed by: 1) The freedom and regularity of the paces, 2) The harmony, lightness and ease of the movements, 3) The lightness of the forehand and the engagement of the hind quarters, originating in a lively impulsion, and 4) The acceptance of the bridle, with submissiveness throughout and without any tenseness or resistance.
The horse thus gives the impression of doing on its own accord what is required of it. Confident and attentive, the horse submits generously to the control of its rider, remaining absolutely straight in any movement on a straight line and bending accordingly when moving on curved lines.
The walk is regular, free and unconstrained. The trot is free, supple, regular, sustained and active. The canter is united, light and cadenced. The quarters are never inactive or sluggish. The horse responds to the slightest indication of the rider and thereby gives life and spirit to the rest of the body. By virtue of a lively impulsion and suppleness of the joints, free from the paralyzing effects of resistance, the horse obeys willingly and without hesitation and responds to the various aids calmly and with precision, displaying a natural and harmonious balance both physically and mentally.
On The Bit - Sounds hard!
A horse working on the bit (on the aids), accepts with no resistance a light contact of the rein, is yielding in the jaw and poll to the rider’s hand; moreover, the horse accepts the rider’s aids to ride the horse forward into them. A horse working on the bit moves with a supple back, shows no resistance in transitions and remains submissive to the rider. The horse’s “frame” while working on the bit, depends on the conformation of the horse, as well as the horse’s stage of training. The light contact of a horse working on the bit, or lack of it, can be detected only from the saddle. However, the results of a horse’s actions while on the bit, or off the bit, can be evaluated on sight. Care should be taken to consider the action of the entire horse, not just its head, when evaluating whether or not the horse is working on the bit.
Tests For Dressage Competition - Here comes the hard part!
The U.S. Equestrian Federation approves and issues tests for use at recognized dressage competitions in the United States. The FEI is responsible for issuing tests for international competitions. These are revised and reissued every three or four years.
USDF INTRO TESTS: These tests are designed for the horse and/or rider that is not yet comfortable cantering.
TRAINING LEVEL: Introduces the rider and horse to the basic principles of dressage competition. Training Level requires “obedience” to the aids of the rider without fight or evasion when ridden on light contact. One is searching for free, rhythmic forward movement, relaxed and obedient, stretching into the bit in a calm, receptive manner.
FIRST LEVEL: Determines that the correct foundation is being laid for successful training of the riding horse; that the horse moves freely forward in a relaxed manner and with rhythm, its spine always parallel to the track of the prescribed movement; that it accepts the bit and obeys simple aids of the rider. First Level tests require not only the same qualities of Training Level, but also require that the horse shows “soft response” to the aids. Examples of this are: softening of the lower jaw, some flexion at the poll, lateral bending, and quiet transitions.
SECOND LEVEL: Determines that the horse has acquired a degree of suppleness, balance and impulsion in addition to the qualities that the First Level horse has developed. The rider must now add “accuracy” through the tests of Second Level and be able to put the horse to the aids, that is, put the horse on the bit and keep it there without fight or evasion and without shortening the strides. The neck must be relaxed with the nose slightly in font of the vertical.
THIRD LEVEL: The Third Level tests are of medium difficulty and are designed to determine that the horse has acquired an increased amount of suppleness, impulsion and balance so as to be light in hand and without resistance, enabling the rider to collect and extend its gaits. In addition to the above, Third Level tests require that the proper foundation for “collection” has been attained. The horse shows a distinction between the paces (working, collected, medium or extended walk, trot or canter).
FOURTH LEVEL: The Fourth Level tests are of medium difficulty, designed to determine that the horse has acquired a high degree of suppleness, impulsion, balance and lightness while remaining reliably on the bit; that its movements are straight, energetic and cadenced and the transitions precise and smooth. The Fourth Level horse must show complete “obedience, relaxation, collection and extension.” He must go fully on the bit without evasion of any kind. He is prepared to proceed to the International tests of Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II, Grand Prix and finally the Grand Prix Special Test.
FREESTYLE TEST: This is a competition of artistic equitation to music. It includes all the required movements and gaits of the standard tests of the same level. The competitor is however, absolutely free in the form and manner of the presentation he chooses within a fixed time. The test should clearly show the unity between rider and horse as well as harmony in all the movements and transitions. In the Freestyle, creativity and artistic presentation as well as technical execution will be considered.
PAS DE DEUX: Two riders are to create, and to execute from memory, an original ride showing two horses simultaneously. To be scored equally on four points: 1) similarity as a pair, 2) ability to perform together, 3) composition of ride, and 4) execution of ride.
USDF QUADRILLE: A team of four horses and riders execute a test maintaining even spacing and perform movements in a uniform manner.
Scoring & Penalties - Judges understand your mistakes
All movements and certain transitions from one to another, which have to be marked by the judge, are numbered on the judge’s test sheet. They are marked from 0 to 10, with 0 corresponding to lowest possible mark and 10 corresponding to the highest mark. Riders receive a test sheet with written comments after the ride is performed for a reference.
During the ride, the judge signals a rider error with a bell or whistle. The rider then approaches the judge’s station and is advised where the error was made and where to resume the test. The first error is penalized by a two point deduction from the total score; the second a four point deduction. The third error results in elimination, though the rider may continue his performance to the end, the marks being awarded in the ordinary way. Other errors that result in elimination include all four feet of the horse leave the arena with or without rider, late entry into the arena, resistance of longer than 20 seconds, failure to wear competitor number, use of illegal equipment, and marked lameness.
VOICE: Using the voice in any way whatsoever, or clicking the tongue once or repeatedly as a cue to the horse, will receive a two point deduction from those marks that would have been awarded for the movement in which this occurred.
Attire For Competitors - You mean no Levi’s allowed?
Neatness should be the first requisite. For Training through Fourth Levels the dress code is a short riding coat of conservative color, with tie, choker or stock tie, breeches or jodhpurs, boots or jodhpurs boots, a hunt cap or riding hat with a hard shell, derby or top hat. Hairnets may be worn by riders with long hair.
For all tests above Fourth Level, the dress code is: a dark tailcoat with top hat, or a dark jacket with a bowler hat or hunt cap, and white or light colored breeches, stock or tie, gloves, and black riding boots. Spurs are mandatory.
Any exhibitor may wear protective headgear at any level of competition without penalty. Exhibitors choosing to wear protective headgear must wear a short, dark jacket, dark tailcoat, dark hat covers (where applicable).
One whip no longer than four feet including lash may be carried in all classes except in most championships. The carrying of a whip in FEI Level tests is forbidden except for ladies riding sidesaddle (exception: Competitors riding sidesaddle may carry a whip in US Equestrian/USDF championships).
Saddlery - Horses need special clothes
An English type saddle with stirrups is compulsory. A dressage saddle with stirrups is compulsory for FEI tests. Saddle pads are optional, but should be white or of conservative color. For Training through Second Level tests and FEI Pony tests, a plain snaffle bridle is required with a regular cavesson, a dropped noseband, a flash noseband or a crossed noseband. For US Equestrian Third and Fourth Level tests, a plain snaffle bridle or a simple double bridle (bridoon snaffle) and bit (curb) and curb chain, lip strap and rubber cover for curb chain optional (cavesson noseband only). Martingales, bit guards, any kind of gadgets (such as bearing, side, running, balancing reins, tongue tied down, etc.), any kid of boots (including “easy boots”) or bandages (including tail bandages) any form of blinkers, ear muffs, or plugs, nose covers, seat covers, hoods are, under penalty of elimination strictly forbidden.