QueenT
Well-Known Member
Does someone know of a website/link with a one-page overview of BD levels and possible descriptions of the new “thing” at each level? I can only find all the super-detailed stuff, not an overview... thanks!
BD levels overview?
- Thread starter QueenT
- Start date
daffy44
Well-Known Member
I dont know if there is one, but I can have a go at it for you, with the disclaimer that I may well forget something!
Prelim: Basic walk, trot and canter, big circles and straight lines, concentration on rhythm and a nice way of going.
Novice: Same as prelim, but first addition of some lengthened strides in trot and canter, and slightly more complicated figures, walk to canter, very early start of some counter canter.
Elementary: Beginnings of collection, but only enough to do the movements, not collection in its own right, first appearance of basic lateral work eg leg yielding, some reinback, also a little more counter canter, smaller circles, and the first time you see simple changes, although judges can be a little lenient with them.
Medium: More demanding now, much more lateral work, shoulder in and half passes, walk pirouettes, proper mediums and extensions from marker to marker, no more "show some lengthened strides", no more lenience with sloppy simple changes, everything needs to be sharper, better balance, more on your aids.
Advanced Medium: Similar to medium, but the first time we ask for flying changes in a test, just think medium with better balance and engagement, and single flying changes.
Advanced: There to prepare you for the FEI level tests that come next, so the first few tempi changes, even though not as many as there are in the FEI tests, working pirouettes in canter, its to check you are ready for the next level up.
Pre Saint Georges: The first of the FEI tests, so better everything, balance, collection etc, half canter pirouettes, four and three time tempi changes, change of hand in canter half passes.
Inter 1: Full canter pirouettes for the first time, three and two tempi changes, first canter zig zag (but counting metres, not strides), first trot shoulder in not on the wall, reappearance of the canter-trot transition.
Inter 2: There to prepare you for the Grand Prix, first time asking for canter pirouettes on the centre line, one tempi changes, piaffe and passage, steeper canter half passes. Fewer one tempis than in the GP, and piaffe allowed to travel forward a bit more, but its real function is to set you up for the GP.
Grand Prix: Everything! Everything at speed, the time to prepare for movements is massively reduced, and you do piaffe, passage, canter pirouettes on the centre line, canter zig zag counting strides, canter-trot transition, walk-passage transition., and much steeper trot half passes.
Grand Prix Special: Everything with knobs on, even harder than the GP, less time to think, more things to do, more transitions, but conversely depending on the horse may suit some horses better than the GP, depending on their individual strengths and weakness.
I hope that helps, and I'm sure I'll remember something I've forgotten, but thats an broad over view.
Prelim: Basic walk, trot and canter, big circles and straight lines, concentration on rhythm and a nice way of going.
Novice: Same as prelim, but first addition of some lengthened strides in trot and canter, and slightly more complicated figures, walk to canter, very early start of some counter canter.
Elementary: Beginnings of collection, but only enough to do the movements, not collection in its own right, first appearance of basic lateral work eg leg yielding, some reinback, also a little more counter canter, smaller circles, and the first time you see simple changes, although judges can be a little lenient with them.
Medium: More demanding now, much more lateral work, shoulder in and half passes, walk pirouettes, proper mediums and extensions from marker to marker, no more "show some lengthened strides", no more lenience with sloppy simple changes, everything needs to be sharper, better balance, more on your aids.
Advanced Medium: Similar to medium, but the first time we ask for flying changes in a test, just think medium with better balance and engagement, and single flying changes.
Advanced: There to prepare you for the FEI level tests that come next, so the first few tempi changes, even though not as many as there are in the FEI tests, working pirouettes in canter, its to check you are ready for the next level up.
Pre Saint Georges: The first of the FEI tests, so better everything, balance, collection etc, half canter pirouettes, four and three time tempi changes, change of hand in canter half passes.
Inter 1: Full canter pirouettes for the first time, three and two tempi changes, first canter zig zag (but counting metres, not strides), first trot shoulder in not on the wall, reappearance of the canter-trot transition.
Inter 2: There to prepare you for the Grand Prix, first time asking for canter pirouettes on the centre line, one tempi changes, piaffe and passage, steeper canter half passes. Fewer one tempis than in the GP, and piaffe allowed to travel forward a bit more, but its real function is to set you up for the GP.
Grand Prix: Everything! Everything at speed, the time to prepare for movements is massively reduced, and you do piaffe, passage, canter pirouettes on the centre line, canter zig zag counting strides, canter-trot transition, walk-passage transition., and much steeper trot half passes.
Grand Prix Special: Everything with knobs on, even harder than the GP, less time to think, more things to do, more transitions, but conversely depending on the horse may suit some horses better than the GP, depending on their individual strengths and weakness.
I hope that helps, and I'm sure I'll remember something I've forgotten, but thats an broad over view.
QueenT
Well-Known Member
Thanks! Just what I needed, screen shot now!
daffy44
Well-Known Member
My pleasure, I hope its what you wanted.
Surbie
Well-Known Member
That's really handy, thank you for that.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
"Everything, with knobs on"
I love that ?
For first timers there are also intro classes before prelim, which are just walk and trot, but tbh the school figures are harder than prelims.
I love that ?
For first timers there are also intro classes before prelim, which are just walk and trot, but tbh the school figures are harder than prelims.
daffy44
Well-Known Member
No problem, happy to help.
daffy44
Well-Known Member
I dont know how else to describe the GPS!
Thank you, I knew I'd forget something, I forgot a whole level!! I'm really sorry Intro people, if I had remembered, I would have written exactly what MP said.
FestiveFuzz
Well-Known Member
I always found these rather handy
JulesRules
Well-Known Member
The step up from intro to Prelim as well as canter work includes trot to halt in Prelim. ( Intro it's trot, walk, halt)
Roxylola
Well-Known Member
Transitions can be progressive at prelim and elementary they just allow you a few steps of walk in between rather than setting it out as walk at x halt at G
Maesto's Girl
Well-Known Member
For transitions as you go up the levels, the upwards (so trot to canter for example) need to be on the button, but the downwards can have a couple of strides grace. Was told this by my instructor (BD judge) as I moved from novice to elementary and struggled with canter to walk. Another tip I got from a clinic with a dressage rider was add a couple of strides of walk before the halt on the centre line at the lower levels. Helps with the overall appearance and relaxation at early training