International dressage query - US equivalent of Medium level?

K

katelarge

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 September 2005
Messages
749
Visit site
Hi peeps! Very quick one - I am working on a book proposal and one of things I have to address is making it working internationally. I've been looking up the US Dressage Federation, but it's not entirely clear how their levels correspond to yours. They have Training, then First, Second, Third and Fourth levels.

My question is - which level is equivalent to Medium in the UK? From what I've read I think it's Third Level, with Fourth correspding to Advanced - and then of course if goes to the FEI levels after Advanced, which are the same everyehere.

All input welcome!
 
Assuming you've seen this http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsdisciplines/discipline/alldressage/dressageTestMov.aspx They're old tests, no longer in use, but not a great deal has changed.

From what I can tell there is not a direct equivalent, in part because at each level in North America the tests get progressively harder from 1 to 4 so not every test at every level contains exactly the same movements. Fourth Level, Test 4 is the last National level below PSG so that gives you an idea. This person gives quite a good explanation http://www.horsehero.com/2309/30635

Annoyingly for research purposes, you need to be a member of USEF/EC to see current tests on line.

Out of curiosity, may I ask your potential topic? PM if you'd rather. Or tell me to mind my own business.
smile.gif
 
There is no exact equivalent though Third level is roughly our Medium however it also includes single flying changes which our Medium doesn't.

At the same time it is not quite as difficult as our Advanced Mediums (which do have the flying changes) as they don't have the 8m circles, entry in canter etc etc like our AMs do.
 
This is actually very interesting, I was wondering similar things..they don't seem to correspond exactly. I think their first level is similar to Novice over here (being south africa). So it would make sense that it works up following the usual progression from there..but again, there are little differences in the movements required, and sometimes the US seems to have 'in between' kinda tests, comapred to our levels at least..if that makes sense?

Might be interested to know though, in SA we have an 'Elementary-Medium' level, which is like a bridge between the two. However, our flying changes come in from elementary medium, and 8m circles are from Medium level.
 
The US and Canada, not that long ago, had similar levels to the system here (the UK) and the one it sounds like is still in use in SA, Australia etc. The levels used to be Preliminary (the tougher tests at this level contained the long lost turn on the forehand!
smile.gif
), Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced. I'm not really old enough to remember in detail but the very first test sheet I have was of a Preliminary test and it seemed MUCH longer and more complicated than the bottom tests now. However, I also have contemporary photos and we certainly weren't, on average, making a better job of it!
laugh.gif


Canada only adopted the USDF tests in 2003 (for all sorts of reasons that caused all sorts of fuss that people promptly got over as soon as it was done) and now uses the First to Fourth Level tests. The point of that system is to make each test within each level a small step up, with exercises that lead on to similar questions at the next level, so the "gap" between tests is the same. So there is, theoretically, a larger step up between First Level Test 1 and First Level Test 4, than between First Test 4 and Second Test 1. Most shows offer two consecutive tests at each level and the bigger shows, which almost always run multiple days, will offer all four over the show (Now often broken down into Amateur, Junior and Open classes) as well as often offering a "Test of Choice" class at each level, too. You can only enter consecutive levels, so you can do one at First and one at Second, say, but not one at First, one at Third. There are also limits to how many tests you can do at one show but it's now something insane like 4 a day (so each of the two offered at each level over two levels, or both the Open and Amateur classes at one level), which no one ever actually does. There are also standardised Walk-Trot tests now and even quite highly rated shows offer them. I reserve the right to remain silent on the subject.
smile.gif
 
Thanks you lot! I think I will use Third Level as a rough correspondent for the US/Canadian markets. Need to check the rest of Europe.

TarrSteps, I will PM you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top