Dressage tests

Dressage Tests

By Maribeth Dunlap

May 2006

What is dressage?

Dressage is what many people think of as ballet of the horse. Watching dressage can be very beautiful, inspiring and breath-taking. When ridden correctly, the horse and rider appear to be as one unit, dancing a pas de deux together in perfect harmony and precision. But what appears invisible and effortless to the on-looker is in fact a fantastic achievement in art and athleticism that has taken many years of development and dedication for the horse and rider.

The object of dressage is the correct physical and mental development of the horse. Dressage should improve the horse; make him calm, supple, loose, and elastic. It should make the horse more confident and attentive, and it should help him to carry himself in better balance and thus, help him to stay sound longer. Dressage is a French word meaning to train. It is a system of training that develops the horse over time. This system incorporates the Training Scale or Training Pyramid and consists of rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection.

What are dressage tests?

The purpose of the dressage tests is to show the steady, consistent development of the horse. Dressage tests are ridden in shows and are used to measure the correctness of the horse’s schooling. The tests are arranged in specific levels, which build upon each other to show the progression of the horse’s development. Each test level shows a particular stage or level of development, beginning with the basic levels and ending with the Grand Prix. The tests are a series of movements in which the horse and rider perform. As the horse and rider move up the levels, the tests become more challenging and the degree of the six main elements of the Training Scale, rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection, increase. 

Dressage tests are prepared and distributed by three governing bodies. The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) prepares the USDF Introductory Level Tests, and tests for the pas de deux, quadrille, freestyle, and sport horse tests. The United Stated Equestrian Federation (USEF) prepares the tests for Training Level, First Level, Second Level, Third Level, and Fourth Level. The Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) is an international governing body on equestrian competition and creates the tests for Prix St George, Intermediaire I and II, and Grand Prix. The FEI also creates the tests for the Young Riders competitions, tests for Ponys, and the Preliminary Dressage Tests for 5 and 6 year old horses. These tests are rewritten every few years.

Where is dressage performed?

Dressage is performed in a standard 20 x 60 meter arena. There are 17 letters placed in specific places around the ring in which the rider executes the movements. First Level Tests and below can also be performed in a short arena, which is a 20 x 40 meters and has only 11 out of the 17 letters. Quadrille is always performed in a short arena.

The following diagram shows the standard dressage arena and the placement of the letters:

The letters in the center of the arena are not marked by any visible marker but are assumed. The outside letters, however, are always visibly marked. The arena is typically formed by a low white fence or chain and may be beautifully decorated with flower boxes or small shrubs. The three red circles represent 20-meter circles and the red line from A to C is called the centerline. The rider enters the arena at the letter A and rides down the centerline to a predetermined point where he or she will halt and salute the judge who sits at the letter C. There can be additional judges placed at other key points around the arena depending upon the level or type of competition.

What are the training directives?

Each level of dressage has a specific purpose that is stated on the test form. This is called the training directive. The following are the training directives for each level:

• Training Level: Purpose: To confirm that the horse’s muscles are supple and loose and that it moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, accepting contact with the bit.

• First Level: Purpose: To confirm that the horse, in addition to the requirements of Training Level, has developed thrust (pushing power) and achieved a degree of balance and throughness.

• Second Level: Purpose: To confirm that the horse, having demonstrated that it has achieved the thrust (pushing power) required in First Level, now shows that through additional training it accepts more weight on the hindquarters (collection), shows the thrust required at the medium paces and is reliably on the bit. A greater degree of straightness, bending, suppleness, throughness and self-carriage is required than at First Level.

• Third Level: Purpose: To confirm that the horse having demonstrated that it has achieved the thrust (pushing power) required in Second Level, now demonstrated in each movement – especially in medium and extended paces and in the transitions to/from collected movements – rhythm, suppleness, acceptance of the bit, throughness, impulsion, straightness and collection. There must be a clear distinction between the paces.

• Fourth Level: Purpose: To confirm that the horse has achieved the requirements of Third Level. These are the tests of medium difficulty designed to confirm that the horse has acquired a high degree of suppleness, impulsion, throughness, balance and lightness while always remaining reliably on the bit and that it’s movements are straight, energetic and cadenced with the transition precise and smooth. (Cadence is shown in the trot and canter. It is a marked accentuation of the rhythm and beat that is the result of a steady and suitable tempo harmonizing with springy impulsion.)

• Prix St George and Intermediare I: Demonstrates that the horse is able to submit to all of the demands of classical equitation and is developing the ability to achieve the more demanding requirements of Intermediare II and Grand Prix.

• Grand Prix: The horse should have achieved perfect lightness as characterized by the total absence of resistance and the complete development of impulsion.

How is dressage scored?

In addition to the training directives, each movement in the test has a description for that particular movement. Dressage tests are scored on the individual movements that are called for in each test and by the collective marks. Certain movements also have a coefficient, which means if a movement has a coefficient of 2 then the score for that particular movement is doubled. This is done to stress the importance of achieving that particular skill at that level. 

Individual dressage tests are scored using a numerical scale from 0 to 10. Each movement is given a score and the judge also usually writes a brief explanation of why she gave that particular score. 

The numerical scale is as follows:

10-Excellent: Absolute precision, movement is performed exactly on the correct lines from marker to marker. All the requirements of the training scale have been fulfilled to their utmost.

9-Very good: Absolute precision, movement is performed exactly on the correct lines from marker to marker. All of the requirements of the training scale have been fulfilled. 8-Good: Accurately performed movements that follow the correct lines. All the requirements of the training scale will be regarded as good.

7-Fairly good: Fairly accurate movements that are performed following the correct lines. All of the requirements of the training scale will be regarded as fairly good.

6-Satisfactory: Either the movements will be performed with accuracy and precision but there will be some weaknesses within the training scale, or movements may be lacking accuracy and precision but still demonstrate good qualities of the training scale.

5-Sufficient: Either the movements will be performed fairly accurately but there may be some clear weaknesses within the training scale or some fairly serious mistakes. Or, movements may be inaccurate but still demonstrate satisfactory qualities of the training scale. 

4-Insufficient: Either, the movements will be performed fairly accurately but there may or will be some serious weaknesses within the training scale or some obvious error within the movements. Or, movements may be very inaccurate but will demonstrate sufficient qualities of the training scale.

3- Fairly bad: Inaccurately performed movements with serious problems within the training scale. 

2-Bad: Inaccurately performed movements with severe problems within the training scale. 

1-Very bad: Movements performed are barely recognizable. Showing severe resistance throughout, i.e. rearing, running backwards. 

0-Not performed: Not performed. There is no fragment of the movement performed.

What are the collective marks?

At the end of a dressage test sheet is a section called Collective Marks. This section contains the judge’s over-all impressions of the test ridden.

The collective marks are based on:

• Gaits: the freedom and regularity of the horse’s three natural gaits, walk, trot and canter.

All three gaits should be pure and be performed well. They should be fluent with a true, clean rhythm, moving freely and without mistakes or constraint. They should be regular and efficient, showing signs of soundness and correct training. A horse with pure gaits moves in balance, both longitudinal (back to front) and lateral (left to right). He should track straight and not interfere.

• Impulsion: the horse’s desire to move forward, the elasticity of his steps, and the suppleness of his back.

Impulsion does not mean speed for speed has no value in dressage. Impulsion is a term used to describe the horse’s willingness to move forward with thrust from the hindquarters. A horse that is moving with good impulsion has more expression of the gaits, more suspension and active, well-engaged hindquarters.

• Submission: the horse’s attention and confidence, harmony with the rider, lightness and ease of the movements, the horse’s acceptance of the bridle, and lightness of his forehand.

The horse should travel with a steady, consistent outline. He should be “on the bit” and consistently remain so throughout the entire test. He should be free from any resistances and willingly respond without hesitation to the rider’s aids.

• Rider: the rider’s position and seat, correctness and effect of the aids. 

The rider should give the impression of an effortless performance and should sit on the horse with good position. The rider’s aids should be invisible and should give the over-all impression of being in complete harmony and balance with the horse. 

Once the rider has completed his or her test, the judge completes the scoring and writes any further remarks or impressions. The test is then sent to the scorer who then calculates the final score. The number of points given by the judge is added to give a total. This total is then divided by the number points possible for the test to give a percentage that is use to rank the horse and rider combinations for a particular class.

In Summary:

In summary, dressage tests are only a small part of dressage. It is not even necessary to compete at a dressage show or to ever ride a dressage test. But what it does do is to add another element to dressage. It can give a rider a measure of their accomplishments on a particular day. Riding dressage tests gives additional challenges to the horse and rider by riding specific tests in front of peers, with distractions and sometimes show nerves. It can also be a social outlet, providing a fun venue in which to get dressed up and enjoy a day with your horse and friends.

So good luck and most importantly, have fun!

This article was written by Maribeth May 2006 – All Rights Reserved Used With Permission.