HOW TO WATCH A DRESSAGE SHOW A GUIDE TO DRESSAGE TESTS What Classes Are Offered at a Dressage Show? How Do The Riders Know Which Class To Enter? What is A "Good" Score? How Does A Rider Know When to Ride? What Are Tests Like? Why Does the Bell (or Whistle) Sound? How Are the Winners Decided? What Kind of Dress Must the Rider Wear? What Kind of Tack Does the Horse Wear? What Kinds of Horses Can Compete? Why is Everyone so Quiet? What Should the Spectator Look For? How Can I Find Out About Dressage? Pony Dressage Preliminary Novice Elementary Medium Division Advanced Division Prix St. Georges Intermediare 1 and 2 (FEI) Grand Prix What Classes Are Offered at a Dressage Show? These are graded according to the level of training and individual talents of the horse and rider, and start with a training class called Preliminary, followed by sole performances at levels of increasing difficulty. In Australia these are tests of training and still start at the entry level of Novice and move upwards with increasing complexity, thru to Elementary, Medium and Advanced. The Federation d' Equestre Internationale (FEI), the worldwide equestrian sports
governing body tests are the even more complex levels and move from the Prix St Georges, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 11 and then Grand Prix the test used in the Olympic Games. There may also be a Pas de Deux for two horse and rider combinations, Quadrille for more than two horse and rider combinations and Freestyles where the test is ridden to music. For a more detailed description of the various levels of tests, see the pamphlet "A Guide to Dressage Tests". How Do The Riders Know Which Class To Enter? Most horses start at the Preliminary level. They are allowed to enter any two consecutive levels, plus a freestyle or other novelty class if it is offered at their level. As a horse improves and gets higher scores over a period of time, it is upgraded and is required to compete at the next level up the competition scale. What is A "Good" Score? Each test is made up of a series of movements. Each movement is marked separately, on a 0-10 scale, like figure skating or gymnastics. The passing or "adequate" score for a dressage test is 55%. Scores in the 60's are good, while those in the 70's or higher are exceptional. How Does A Rider Know When to Ride? Dressage shows are run on a strict schedule; riding times are available a day or two before the show. Riders arriving late at the arena are eliminated. What Are Tests Like? At each level, there are several tests of a similar degree of difficulty. The tests from Novice through to Advanced are written by the EFA Dressage Committee. Above Advanced, by the FEI. A show will choose tests at each level. All riders in a class ride the same test; they may memorize it, or have it read aloud. Prix St. Georges up must be memorized. In Championship Shows, ALL tests must be memorized. The tests are made up of patterns and changes of pace which are performed at the various letters around the arena, and are symmetrical ( the same movements are performed in each direction). The tests are not composed of "tricks" to be learned automatically; the object of dressage training is to develop the
horse physically and mentally, in harmony with its own natural ways of moving and thinking, and these tests are "checkpoints" to display the level of balance, strength and obedience it has reached in its training. Why Does the Bell (or Whistle) Sound? This will tell the rider who is warming up that they have 45 seconds to enter the arena and begin the test. Also, to halt the test for any reason, such as an "error of course" on the part of the rider. After three errors, the rider will be eliminated from the ring. How Are the Winners Decided? The Highest scoring horse is the winner. If there is more than one judge, scores will be averaged. Scores are posted as fast as they are calculated, usually near the Show Secretary's office. Winners receive ribbons, and at some shows, trophies and prize money. What Kind of Dress Must the Rider Wear? At informal (schooling) shows you may see riders wearing light coloured breeches, tweed or summer riding jackets, hunt caps and brown high boots. You may also see the more formal dressage outfit, which is required for official recognized shows: white/beige breeches or jodhpurs, short coats, black boots, white stock tie and approved headgear. Gloves are required at all shows, and will be black or white with the more formal dress. Spurs are optional in the basic classes. In the more advanced classes, from Prix St. Georges up, the rider must wear a tail coat, usually black, and a yellow waist-coat, again with the top hat, white breeches, gloves, spurs (now mandatory) and black boots. The rather plain severe dress is designed to focus attention on the horse. What Kind of Tack Does the Horse Wear? The dressage (or all-purpose standard) saddle; in basic level classes, a snaffle bridle. In Advanced and above, a double bridle is compulsory. What Kinds of Horses Can Compete? The basic dressage tests are within the reach of every riding horse, except perhaps, those who do not have a natural trotting gait, such
as pacing Standardbreds and Paso Finos. Arabs, Morgans, Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, European breeds and every possible mixture thereof have all competed successfully in the dressage ring. Most lower level horses are equally at home in the hunter ring, on the trail, or over cross-country fences. At the more advanced levels, horses and riders have usually begun to specialize in dressage competition as a separate discipline. These horses must be of outstanding athletic ability and temperament. The majority of Grand Prix horses in the world today are from the European "sport" breeds (Trakehner, Hanoverian, Holsteiner); this is perhaps because dressage is a newer sport in Australia, and our breeding programs have not had as much time to produce suitable individuals for high-level dressage. However, this situation is rapidly changing, and there are already many Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses and other breeds represented at the higher levels. Why is Everyone so Quiet? Riding a dressage test calls for great concentration from both the horse and rider. A sudden noise or movement could upset the flow of the test. Applause should be withheld until the horse has left the arena. What Should the Spectator Look For? In order to develop a basis of comparison, the spectator should watch several rides of the same test - each takes between 5 and 12 minutes, depending on the level. The horse should move forward rhythmically, with no impression of stiffness, discomfort or disobedience. As the levels progress, more and more accuracy is required of the performance. Above all, horse and rider should be in harmony - just as in figure skating or accomplished gymnastics, it is supposed to look joyful and easy! How Can I Find Out About Dressage? There may be an information centre at the show you are attending; leave your name with the Show Secretary for further contact; show officials will be glad to answer your questions (perhaps not at the beginning or end of the day, when they will be rather hurried). And please get in touch with your local Dressage WA representative. 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, but also confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving perfect understanding with its rider.
A GUIDE TO DRESSAGE TESTS Pony Dressage For Junior Riders between the age of 10 16 years and riding a horse/pony up to 14.2hh Preliminary At this level, the horse must perform smoothly and obediently the simple patterns and transitions (changes of pace and direction) required. It must be "accepting the bit" - showing no resistance to the hands constant light contact with the mouth through the reins. It must be rhythmic and straight in the "working" paces: the walk (called "medium" in the test), the working trot and the working canter; when the horse's hind feet track into the prints left by its front feet, in a working pace, the basis of all schooling. The horse must bend correctly and not lose balance on 20 meter circles. At this stage, the horse's mental and physical development through training has just begun; but without correct basic work, further progress is impossible. Novice Here the lengthened stride is introduced at the trot and canter, in preparation for the extended paces of the higher levels. Both lengthened stride and extension mean that the horse takes longer steps without increasing the tempo or speed of the gait; but in the extension, the hindquarters (which supply the driving force at all paces) are engaged and are carrying more of the horse's weight, with much more power, elevation, and buoyancy in the performance. In the Novice tests circles at the trot and canter are reduced to 15 meters. No resistance should be evident through loss of contact, uneven steps, or tossing of the head. The horse is expected to be "on the bit", or "on the aids"; this means in the condition of balance, suppleness and confidence, appropriate to the level of the test it is to perform, and ready and able to respond to any signal from its rider. Elementary In this level, the horse s hindquarters must become more engaged to carry more of the horse's weight in preparation for the extension and collection of the Medium Division. Circles of 10 meters at the trot and canter are performed, together with counter canter as well as simple changes of canter lead through the walk. Transitions from
the trot to halt also demonstrate the increased obedience, strength and ability of the horse. This grade also sees the beginning of lateral work such as shoulder-in and travers. Medium While Basic level work is a necessary part of the training of every saddle horse, whatever its destination in life, most horses you will see in the Medium levels will probably be involved in dressage competition as an end in itself. Now the spectator will say, "That looks like a dressage horse", there will be a difference in the outline and muscling of the horse and an increased lightness, power and beauty in its way of going. If the basic training has been correct, this "medium frame" results from the establishment of collection; the driving power of the hindquarters is now fully available to the horse and fully under the direction of the rider. This results in lightness and mobility of the forehand, which looks more elevated in contrast to the lowered hindquarters. In Medium, the horse is expected to show all the variations within each gait: working, collected (shorter, higher steps, with the forehand very elevated and the hindquarters fully engaged), extended; and medium ("round" and less ground-covering than the extended pace). The half-pirouette at the walk (the forehand moves in half-circle around the haunches which act as a pivot), the half-pass at the trot, trot and canter circles of 8 meters, and half from the canter; the flying change of lead at the canter is introduced. Advanced Now increased mental and physical demand are made on the horse (and rider), leading to the ultimate test of artistic equitation, the Grand Prix. The horse must perform the volte, or 8 meter circle, and the halfpass at the collected canter. Prix St. Georges: This is the first international test published by the F.E.I. (Federation d'equestre Internationale). The horse must do the half-pirouette at the canter, and flying changes of lead every fourth and third stride. Intermediare 1 and 2 (FEI): Here the full pirouette and flying changes of lead every two strides are required. In Intermediare 2, the horse must perform the piaffe, a highly collected, cadenced and majestic "trot in place".
Grand Prix: Now you will see flying changes of lead at every stride, the piaffe, and the passage (a measured and very elevated trot in which the horse seems to float across the ground). This is the peak of training with the horse and rider blended together in perfection of movement.