| TRAINING LEVEL There are four tests within the Training Level, each one slightly more
difficult than the one before and challenging the horse to be more
accurate. At this level, the horse must perform fairly simple patterns and
transitions smoothly and obediently. He must accept the bit, showing no
resistance to the constant light contact of the hand with his mouth (through the
reins). He must be rhythmical and straight in the working paces: the walk
(called 'medium' at this level), the working trot and the working canter.
When a horse's hind feet track into the prints left by his front feet, he is in
a 'working' pace which is the basis of all schooling. He must bend through
the ribcage and not lose his balance through turns and on circles. Without
correct basic work, further progress is not possible.
Training Level, Tests 1 & 2
In these tests, all three gaits (walk, trot and canter) are performed in both
directions via different figures including 20 metre circles. Transitions
from one gait to another are to be performed smoothly when required although
they may occur over a few metres rather than at a precise point.
Training Level, Tests 3 & 4
In these two tests, once again, all three gaits are shown in both directions,
but now the transitions must come at specific letters around the arena.
Tests 3 & 4 both include a 20m circle which asks the rider to release the
reins so that the horse can stretch downward and forward, without any increase
in tempo, maintaining his balance. This is to demonstrate that the horse
is not being 'held together' by the rider's hands.
FIRST LEVEL
The purpose of First Level tests is to confirm that the horse has mastered
the requirements of the previous level and is ready to move on and to begin to
carry more weight on the hindquarters, thereby becoming stronger and acquiring
the ability to perform movements of a more demanding nature. As at the
Training Level, he must accept the bit, move freely forward and straight, and be
able to maintain his balance and 'throughness' on curved lines and in
transitions.
First Level, Tests 1 & 2
These two tests include circles at both trot and canter 15 metres in diameter
(not 20 metres as in the Training Level tests) and ask the horse to be more
supple and flexible than the previous tests as he has to bend more around the
rider's inside leg laterally; in addition, he must be able to bend more
longitudinally (from nose to tail) compressing the muscles on the inside of his
body and elongating them on the outside of his body. Also, in these tests
'lengthened' stride is introduced which requires the horse to (upon command)
lengthen the frame of his body and the stride in either the trot or
canter. This movement is usually done across a diagonal to allow the horse
to perform the movement with a certain degree of freedom, all the while staying
on the bit and remaining round and soft. The 'stretch circle' is also
required in these two tests.
First Level, Tests 3 & 4
While incorporating those gaits and movements in all previous tests, Tests 3
& 4 at this level also ask for the 'leg-yield'. Leg yielding is a
movement that requires the horse to remain straight with a slight bend away from
the direction in which he is traveling. Throughout this movement, the
horse should remain on the bit and calm, yielding to pressure from the rider's
leg. As a prelude to the 'collected' paces, leg-yielding is a means of
making the horse supple, loose and unconstrained. Also, these tests
require that the horse do more figures away from the wall, viz. half-circles,
circles, and work on both the centre line and the diagonals.
SECOND LEVEL
Second Level tests are a natural step up from First Level tests in that they
are to confirm that the horse (having achieved the pushing power (thrust) in the
First Level) can accept more weight on the hindquarters and is able to perform
'medium' paces while reliably on the bit. A greater degree of and more
consistent straightness, bending, suppleness, throughness and self-carriage are
now required. Very importantly, for the first time, 'collection' is
included. Collection is achieved by using the seat and legs to engage the
hind legs to drive the horse forward to a (more or less) stationary hand,
allowing just enough impulsion to pass through.
Second Level, Tests 1 & 2
In these tests, the diameter of the circles has been further reduced to 10
metres, emphasis is placed on quality transitions (by awarding separate marks
for them), and the 'medium' paces are introduced (medium being more than the
'lengthened' paces at First Level, but not as extravagant as the 'extended'
gaits seen in Third Level). Also, there are several 'lateral' movements
evident at this level, including shoulder-in (a natural progression from
leg-yielding) whereupon the horse is slightly bent around the inside leg of the
rider; shoulder-in is both a collecting and suppling movement. 'Travers'
(another lateral movement) also involves bending around the inside leg of the
rider, but the positioning of the horse is quite different. Also, a
'stretch circle' in canter is required at Second Level.
Second Level, Tests 3 & 4
While some of the new movements in Tests 1 & 2 are asked for in Tests 3
& 4, other new movements are added here. Another lateral movement, 'renvers'
is introduced in Test 4. Renvers is the inverse movement of travers with
the tail (instead of the head) to the wall. The horse must also perform a
'turn on the haunches' which he does so by appearing to pivot around one of the
hind feet; however, the hind feet must remain active in the walk during the
turn. Stepping backwards or sideways is penalized.
THIRD LEVEL
Third Level tests confirm that the horse can perform the required movements,
gaits, and transitions with rhythm, suppleness, acceptance of the bit,
throughness, impulsion, straightness, and collection. A clear distinction
within each pace (collected, medium, and extended) must be evident.
'Working' paces are no longer performed. It is at this level that the
spectator will probably say, "That looks like a dressage horse!"
The musculature of the horse is more defined at this level, and there is an
increased lightness, power and beauty in the way he moves.
Third Level, Tests 1, 2 & 3
In these tests, extended paces are required as is the single flying change of
lead, half-pass in trot and canter, a further decrease in circle size to 8
metres in diameter, and a releasing of the reins on a canter circle. All
of these movements must be done calmly and accurately. Also, the horse is
expected to be much more alert and responsive since the transitions occur
frequently, often within a few seconds of one another. This is quite
demanding on the horse, but also requires a great deal of concentration by the
rider since it is he/she that will give the silent, very subtle commands to
execute the tests.
FOURTH LEVEL
The tests at Fourth Level confirm that the horse has mastered the
requirements of Third Level. As well, these tests are designed to
illustrate a higher degree of suppleness, impulsion, throughness, balance, and
lightness while always remaining on the bit. These tests also show that
the horse's movement is straight, energetic, and cadenced, and that his
transitions are precise, fluid, and effortless. Only a horse well-balanced
on his quarters, with real self-carriage, will be successful at this level which
precedes and prepares the horse for the demands of the subsequent FEI tests.
Fourth Level, Tests 1, 2 & 3
At this level, the very difficult 'collected walk' is introduced, as are
quarter- and half-pirouettes in canter, counter-change of hand in trot and
canter, and the exciting flying changes of leg every third and fourth stride
(called 'tempi changes'). In order to be able to accomplish all of these
movements (which are seen in all FEI tests) the horse has to be clearly on the
rider's aids every step and respond to these aids in an instant. At this
level, the well-trained equine dressage competitor will have acquired a high
degree of sensitivity, so that the rider must sit still in the centre of the
saddle, all the while communicating with the horse through subtle leg, back,
seat and rein aids.
FEI ADVANCED & GRAND PRIX DIVISIONS
Now increased mental and physical demands are made on the horse (and rider!),
leading to the ultimate test of artistic equitation, the Grand Prix de Dressage.
FEI ADVANCED DIVISION
FEI Prix St. Georges
This is the first international test published by the FEI (Federation
d'Equestre Internationale). A Prix St. Georges test ridden in Canada is
identical to a Prix St. Georges test ridden in Germany. As at Fourth
Level, the horse must do the half-pirouette in canter and flying changes of lead
every fourth and third stride.
FEI Intermediaire 1
At this level, full 360 degree canter pirouettes are required, as well as
flying changes every third and second stride. The canter zig-zag, complete
with flying changes, is required and must be performed along the centre line,
approaching the judge seated at "C".
FEI GRAND PRIX DIVISION
FEI Intermediaire 2
In this test, the passage (a highly-collected, elevated trot, moving
rhythmically forward) and the piaffe (the very cadenced and majestic
"trot in place") are performed. These are the movements
requiring the highest degree of collection, during which the horse must remain
energetic, supple, calm and on the bit.
FEI Grand Prix de Dressage/FEI Grand Prix Speciale
In these tests, you will see flying changes of lead at every stride in which
the horse appears to be dancing rhythmically, the passage and piaffe (outlined
above) and several demanding transitions, designed to demonstrate the horse's
balance, suppleness and flexibility. This is the zenith of dressage
training with the horse and rider executing the most difficult movements with
ease and harmony, at one with each other.
|
