Here you will find some helpful information and links about dressage, rules and competitions.
|
Click here to find the new 2015 USEF Dressage Tests (Training Level thru Fourth Level (effective December 2014).
|
In a dressage test, each movement is scored separately. At the bottom of the test, there are "collective marks", which are scores given for the horses gaits, impulsion and submission as well as scores for the riders position and effective use of the aids. All of these scores are given on a scale from 0 to 10. These marks are totaled and then divided against the maximum total points. The resulting percentage is your dressage score. Being familiar with the explanation of these marks will help you better understand your scores.
This is a full sized dressage arena. It measures 20 meters wide (66 feet) and
60 meters long (199 feet). A shorter version of this arena is occasionally used
at lower level competitions and is the same width (66 feet), but only 40 meters
long (131 feet). The letters are very important as they mark where movements
begin and end during dressage tests. Memorizing the placement of these letters
will make your tests and lessons much easier. The easiest way to learn the order
is by remembering this little diddy.... "All King Victor Edwards Sassy Horses Can
Manage Really Big Plank Fences". This is for the letters surrounding the outside
of the arena. The letter "X" is in the very center of the arena. There are also four
other letters down the centerline which are "D - L - I - G", but I have yet to hear a
diddy that helps remember them!
The centerline of the arena evenly divides the arena longwise. There is also a
"quarterline" half-way to the left and right of the centerline. When riding a test,
the horse and rider are considered to be at the letter when the riders leg is
next to that letter. So if you are asked to pick up the left lead canter at the letter
"C", your horse should be picking up the left lead canter as your leg is passing by
the letter "C". In Intro and Training Levels tests, some transitions are asked for
in a corner (ex: working trot between E and K), so you can ride your transition at
any place between the letters "E" and "K".
Having a knowledge of the dressage arena and letters can be quite useful!
This is the dressage training scale or the "pyramid of training".