March 6, 2009
Training Level
So, here we are at the beginning, so to speak. The first competitive level of Dressage here in the United States. Training Level.
The standards for our tests here in the US are designed and governed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and include 5 levels, (Training, First, Second, Third, and Fourth) each level containing four tests with the exception of Fourth Level , which has three (based on the 2007 tests). The tests you see performed above Fourth Level, which are Prix St. George, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special are designed and governed by the international equestrian sports organization, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Most countries have their own set of dressage tests that lead up to and prepare for the FEI tests. I am specifically familiar with the tests in Germany and Holland, in addition to the US tests. I recently found out that Canada uses our tests….good to know, my husband is Canadian.
I apologize if this information is redundant, however I often am asked about this and I must say I did not ever read it anywhere. So, I thought I might put it out there for clarification.
I want to make a point of pointing out that in each of our levels, there is a specific objective or “purpose” if you will, defined. It says so on each test and above and beyond anything else when deciding if you are ready to compete at this level, you need to determine how well you and your horse are able to exhibit this objective. This is much, much more important than your ability to ride the figures, get your transitions at the letter, etc.
At Training Level the objective (purpose) is:
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.
So, let’s break this down. The horse’s muscles are supple and loose…I would venture to say that this means that the horse is relaxed. This honestly is your biggest challenge. You may be able to accomplish this at home…and if you can’t that is where you need to stay until you are….but add the elements of a new environment, a judge at C, horses in the warm up arena, clothing that you might not be accustomed to wearing and the ever ominous show nerves. Yikes, this could be a potential nightmare!
Never fear, there is a way, to work through all of this and come out smiling in the end. But it takes time and preparation, starting long before you ever actually compete, but it is simple. Take your horse to shows to school. Go to schooling shows whenever you can, go to sanctioned shows just to school. The more often you get out, ride on a new property, the more indifferent you and your horse will be to new and unusual environments.
Practice riding in your competition clothes…especially the boots. If you always ride in half chaps, you and your horse will completely loose the connection when you put on those boots. In fact, if you can do it, have a pair of boots for schooling, and a pair for show. If not, get a pair of boots and take really, really good care of them so you can wear them to show. Put on your coat once in awhile to feel how that affects your ride. Oh, and always wear gloves, no matter what. It makes a much more sensitive hand. You have to wear them to show in anyway.
Expect that on each adventure off property, you and your horse are able to progress towards the goal of staying relaxed through your rides, and as far as the judge at C goes, pretend it’s your best friend sitting there cheering you on. You could use the ‘pretend they are sitting there in your underwear’ thing, but it is better that you are not distracted.
And finally, on the note of keeping you and your horse relaxed, and I will admit that this is a pet peeve of mine… KNOW YOUR TEST! Your job is to know that test so well that it is second nature, and your focus then can be on improving your horse’s relaxation, gaits and riding the figures. If you are having to worry about hearing the next movement, or for heaven’s sake, should your reader should make a mistake….forget it!
Ok, let’s move on. That it moves freely forward….this mean the horse exhibits a willingness to put some energy into its movement. This does not mean the horse is running and tense (see the above paragraphs…relaxation is paramount). Now, if I personally have to choose between relaxed and forward, I will always choose relaxed. Don’t get me wrong, I want both. But forward without relaxed is with tension which is something we do need to avoid, and I believe if you have relaxed, you can add forward easily. What I can add to that is that you need to be willing to go forward as well. At all the levels you need to be able to move with your horse, and at this level you have the option to rise or sit in the trot. If you can’t sit and allow your horse to move freely, rise…..and work on your sitting trot at home. You won’t have the choice at first level.
In a clear and steady rhythm…tempo, tempo, tempo. (Or, in Deutch…takt, takt, takt!) Ironically, this is very important, and makes a huge impression on the audience (including the judge). If you’ve ever seen a dancer falter or heard a singer out of time with the music, you get it. Finding the tempo that is right for your horse is a very good idea. You will know it is right because it will feel light, easy and as if you could go on forever. Your job is to keep it.
And finally, accepting contact with the bit. Ugggh. I wrote a whole article on this already. This means that your horse seeks the bit so he can define and balance his frame, therefore creating self carriage. Here is the bad news- if you can’t control your hands, your horse can’t trust the bit. If your horse can’t trust the bit, he is probably not going to accept it. What we consider an acceptable frame, ’on the bit’ requires that the horse seek and actually lean into, to a certain extent, the bit. It requires that the rider have the ability to direct the horse to move into that contact from behind and have the ability to separate the use of his hands from the movement of the rest of his body. I could write another article entirely just on this subject. But I will spare you today.
Here is some very important information. The objectives of Training Level never go away, no matter what level you are riding. This is the very basis on which it is expected you will build on when advancing up the levels.
The frame in training level is expected to be fairly balanced, but without collection in the gaits. The gaits are listed and briefly described below:
The Gaits
Halt
The halt is ultimately described as complete immobility of the horse while standing square and perfectly balanced on all four feet with acceptance of contact with the bit. For training level, I would also like to note that there should be in the halt an inclination to move forward, and that any tendency to shift backwards is a fault as it demonstrates lack of acceptance of the contact with the bit.
At training level, all halts may be performed through the walk, which is to say that it is not necessary to perform a trot-halt transition. You may transition from the trot to the walk and then to the halt. At first level, this is no longer the case so I encourage you to school the trot-halt transition and be able to perform it with relative balance by the time you reach training level test 3.
Medium Walk
The medium walk is performed with definite contact with the bit and flexion of the poll. It should clearly demonstrate activity, freedom and adequate length of stride. Tension in the back of the horse (most often created by tension in the rider’s seat) can create an irregular or lateral walk, both of which are faults.
Free Walk
The free walk is the horse’s natural walk while stretching with minimum contact with the bit. This is the ultimate test of a horse’s acceptance of the bit, as he should stretch forward and down in an attempt to maintain contact while the reins are being lengthened. Failure to do so indicates lack of acceptance of contact and tension in the back.
Working Trot
The working trot is the horse’s natural forward moving trot while under saddle and accepting contact with the bit and with flexion of the poll. It is typically of a quality which allows the horse to ‘track-up’ meaning that the hind foot steps into or in front of the prints of the fore.
Working Canter
The working canter is the horse’s natural forward moving canter while under saddle and accepting contact with the bit and with flexion in the poll.
The Movements
At training level, the movements might be considered fairly simple. Or not. Straight lines and 20 meter circles can be amazingly elusive if you are not familiar with the dimensions of the dressage court. And with the addition of a change of rein across the diagonal, that pretty much sums up your movements at Training Level. I enthusiastically encourage you to practice, practice, and practice them.
And then, the transitions…
Schooling the transitions on a regular basis is imperative to having success in riding these tests, as the quality of the transition predetermines the quality of the gait following. By making it a habit to expect clean and balanced transitions from your horse (and yourself) you are setting a precedent for training the forthcoming levels.
When teaching, I try to explain transitions as a process. For instance, at training level your downward transitions start with the first half-halt in preparation, but may take as many as six (sometimes even more) strides to actually complete in a balanced way. As the horse becomes increasingly fit and well trained and works up the levels, that process takes fewer and fewer strides to the point at the FEI levels it appears that it is done on spot.
The upward transitions are less this way, but the energy that is required to make the transition up must already exist in the preceding gait. Think of it this way, whether the transition up or down, that the transition should appear as if the horse did the next logical thing, without strain or loosing his balance.
Until next month (and First Level) ….
Happy Riding!
JW