Dressage for those who've never done it questions...

sandi_84

sandi_84

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 November 2011
Messages
4,124
Visit site
Ok so I've never been near dressage before and I come across a lot of "test 30" etc etc on here so I was wondering if someone could explain/point me in the direction of a website that would explain (for dummies!) what the lowest level of dressage is through to the highest and what would be required for the lowest level?
Unfortunately I'll not be competing any time soon as I have no transport and am a bag of nerves in pressure situations but I'd really appreciate someone explaining it for me :o
 
Ditto this above I really want to ride a test but am petrified!!!! Would rather attempt a intermediate XC course lol!!!!!but my aim is to have completed a 'stressage!' Test this summer!!
 
i dont know any websites that explain it but i'll get you started on the levels then some one more knowledgable will hopefully take over in more detail!! but the levels are: Intro (walk trot) only two tests A and B; Prelim basic walk trot and canter; Novice established walk trot and canter begining to show different paces within the gait i.e begining to show medium trot; Elementary novice+ some lateral work halfpass, leg yield and more established collected, mediums(trot) + extended(canters); Medium (i get lost here as not competed at this level) more established than elementary+ other movements inc pirouette in walk; ADV Medium; Advanced;Prix St George; Inter1; Inter2; Grand Prix
 
Prelim: Walk, trot and canter inc 20m circles, serpentines, free walk

Novice: Introducing medium trot and canter, smaller circles, walk to canter transitions, counter canter, rein back

Elementary: more established medium work, starting collected, simple changes, leg yield (but not half pass), 10m circles in canter

Medium: more established collected work, half-pass, shoulder-in, traverse, everything more established and connected

Advanced Medium: Flying changes

And past that i start getting confused, movements are added in up to gp which includes piaffe, passage, collected, medium and extended gaits, pirouettes, counter change of hand, tempi changes

I hope this helps a little! Someone else can probably explain better!
 
Aw thanks guys that was brilliant :D
Do you get example dressage tests online or do you have to pay for them?
 
There is no half pass at elementary level - just leg yield for the lateral work.

Have a look on dressage diagrams - you can download tests from there for a small fee which will give you am idea. Maybe download an intro and a prelim then you can have something to look at and work on as a basic guide.
 
There isnt anywhere you can get the tests for free I'm afraid, you can order them from British Dressage - they sell a pack of the 2 intro tests, all the prelims and novices for about £10 I think and that is really handy, I've got that pack and its so nice to have all the tests for the lower levels!

Alternatively as others have mentioned there is the dressage diagrams website where you can buy them, or some are sold on ebay as well.

'Intro' is just walk and trot, so if you are not comfortable with cantering at the moment this is a good place to start. If you are happy to canter then Prelim is relatively straight forward, just walk trot and canter with some circles, half circles and the odd serpentine.

With all levels of dressage, the tests with the lower numbers are easier than the higher numbers e.g. Prelim 1 is easier than Prelim 19. The higher up you go through that particular level, the more it is supposed to prepare you for the next level.

If you havent got transport then this might be a good idea for you - http://www.interdressage.com/

You basically just get someone to film you, upload your video to Youtube or put it on a disc, and then you are judged by professional judges and you can get prize money and rosettes! And the best part is that if you go wrong you can start again, just delete the first bit of film where it went wrong!

It will give you an idea of how it feels to compete in a dressage competition, plus you will get feedback from the judges so it can help you with things to work on at home when you are schooling.

Modern dressage is loosely based on the German Scales of Training - here is a website that shows you each scale of training. http://www.classicaldressage.co.uk/Training_Scales/training_scales.html

In the walk/trot (Intro) and Prelim levels they are looking for relaxation, rhythm and contact. They will want the horse to be forwards (impulsion) and want to see straightness, but these levels become more important as you move higher up the levels.

At the lower levels (Intro and Prelim) basically you just need to be able to show some suppleness when the horse is bending around circles, good forward paces (i.e. horse is forward going in walk trot and canter depending on what level you are doing but not rushing), relaxation (horse is not tense and rushing) and the beginnings of a round outline. This isnt the horses neck forced into its chest, this is the horse working through its back forward into the contact and makes a soft, round outline.

Youtube is great to watch other people doing the tests - to get you started I'd suggest you search for Intro A and Intro B (there are only 2 walk trot tests), and Prelim 1 and Prelim 4. If you want to get an idea of a more advanced Prelim, then search for Prelim 18 and Prelim 19.

Dont be afraid to have a go - dressage isnt as scary as you think and you will feel good after you have done a test (I dont breathe all the way round in mine!). Try the interdressage first to give you an idea of how well you are doing, they dont use the same 'levels' of dressage as a UK competition would (unaffiliated and affiliated competitions all tend to run using British Dressage tests) but they will give you some feedback from a judge which is always helpful.
 
Some great info from everyone here. Didn't realise about the lower numbers are easier thing! Can i just add that Dressage Anywhere is probably more useful as an online competition site as they use the BD test so great prep for if you go out in the real world. I think that Interdressage make up their own tests.
 
Wow interdressage is a very cool idea! :D
Thanks everyone for all the info, I had a surf about last night and came across some example dressage tests :)
I'd love to be brave enough to do stuff like this but the closest I've come was a couple of gymkhanas when I was younger ha ha! Now I think I'd either have to do the interdressage or spend most of my time at a show trying not to pass out or throw up from nerves ha ha! :rolleyes:
Thanks again guys it was really interesting :D
 
Dont be scared to have a try, I was exactly the same as you - I'd never competed at ANYTHING in my life, apart from a few gymkhanas at my riding school when I was little! So fast forward to the age of 25, I have a lovely horse that I share and I gave dressage a try - the first outing wasnt great, he was a nervous wreck (despite being 14 and a seasoned pro at competitions!) and so was I, we only got 53% at Prelim 1 but I was still pleased that we made it and didnt get any 0's for any movements!

Fast forward 2 months later, we ended up having a try at a novice test (the level above Prelim) 2 weekends ago and we got 65%, 6th place and a lovely pink rosette to go with it!

So if complete novices like me who have never done a competition in our lives, on a giant 17.3 ex hunter can manage a score of 65% at Novice I'm sure you will be great :)

Yes you dont breathe much for the 4-5 minutes of the test, and I dont sleep all that well the night before (feel sick from about 6pm the night before!) but once its over you do feel so proud of yourself and your noble steed that it makes it all worthwhile. I'd definitely encourage you to give interdressage or dressage anywhere a try, and if you can find yourself some transport then just head down to a local unaff dressage comp and see what happens - you have nothing to lose and you will enjoy it once you are there, I promise!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top