Dressage question

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bhpride

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What are the required movements for Medium dressage and is a particular type of horse required for it once you've achieved Elementary standard schooling? Could a well put together 14.2 with good paces be capable of that type of work or would that be completely silly and unthinkable?

Am aiming for Elementary standard schooling - no interest in competing but that's the best way I can describe what I'm aiming for but am wondering what to do/options once I've achieved that aim, I'd definetly want to go furthur as I love schooling and a challenge. Would I need a horse rather than pony? Not seeing the instructor for a few weeks so thought I'd ask here,
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thank you
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Nope no reason why a 14.2 couldn't do it. I know some fabby native types that are competing medium +

Basically you need to show a greater level of collection and medium/extension. Aswell as movements such as half pass and shoulder in
 
Last time I watched some Medium tests, one of the best performances of the day was by a pony about 14hh, so don't let size be a barrier to good training.

I'm starting some Medium work with my mare - haven't been brave enough to buy all of the tests, but the ones I have read so far include more collected work, half pass in trot and canter, shoulder in, simple changes in less sympathetic places than in Elem tests (IYSWIM), extended trot (as opposed to medium) and more extended walk.

There might be more, but that's something to be getting on with, anyway!
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What are the required movements for Medium dressage

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Shoulder in in trot, half pass in trot and canter, walk pirouettes, extended walk, trot and canter, travers in trot. But basically you have to show much more collection and self carriage in all the movements than at elementary, as well as being able to do the movements themselves.


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and is a particular type of horse required for it once you've achieved Elementary standard schooling? Could a well put together 14.2 with good paces be capable of that type of work or would that be completely silly and unthinkable?

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Absolutely an ordinary horse can learn to do all of this. If the horse has three naturally decent paces and has been well schooled according to the scales of training there is no reason why Medium isn't possible. I think the big stumbling block is that a lot of horses are not taught to go with enough self carriage and pushing from behind in order to do the lateral work correctly. Get that, and the rest should come.
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no reason what so ever that a 14.2 could not do it, my friends ex showjumper (148cm) went all the way to medium and he only started learning the moves at 14!

My trainer used to ride a Highland cross, took her all the way to Int I, she stopped and bought a WB as her piaffe didn't get good marks, mainly because the judge was looking for elevation you would see in a 16.2+ and expecting a 15 to give the same were her elevation was perfect (Ferdi's own words) but just didn't look as good
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don't see why not, frank is competing unaff elem (occaionally when they happen round here) and he only started dressage at age 14 (he is 16 now) our main issue is getting counter canter established better as he has mostly jumped so thinks I'm wrong!

Medium dressage includes in addition to elem
half-pass, travers, extended walk (this is most unlikely on Frank!) , half pirouettes in walk and rein-back straight into canter.


there might be some others I lifted this from another site.
 
WOW thank you everyone
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The movements sound great and it's a relief to know Tia could be capable of that level eventually, I'm having to teach her everything right now as I bought her unschooled but it's fun even if it takes a long time, I have a great dressage instructor who I can't live without sorting my riding out lol.

Feel quite excited now, is great to have a plan and something to aim for esp if I don't need some big Warmblood to progress
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But basically you have to show much more collection and self carriage in all the movements than at elementary, as well as being able to do the movements themselves.

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Yes this has been the main concentration in the past couple of months, she's definetly holding herself in the outline with a consistent unfirm contact and using her backend in walk and trot so to speak - I can drop the contact completely and she'll stay in the same shape for example which I guess is a good sign. Establishing the canter and leg yielding 100% both reins is next biggie. A lot to do!

I've got photos to develop on Friday which I'm going to post asap, hopefully they'll be improvement in her topline as she lost it all when she lost weight - she was very fat when I bought her so fingers crossed when i post those.
 
There is absolutely no reason why a pony would not be capable of doing the movements required at a slightly higher level. I did dressage on a 13,2 New forest pony and he did amazingly well and when I sold him and moved to Spain, he carried on up the levels, being on BYRDS teams and all sorts.

In dressage, the most important thing is rythm and self carriage. That is the basis of all what the judge is looking for, can the horse keep self carriage and rythm in all movements. The other things then go on top to take your marks from 6 to 7 and above.
 
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