<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="65001"%> First Level Dressage
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First Level Dressage

First Level Dressage continues to develop the horse's suppleness by adding lengthening of stride, 15m circles, 3 loop serpentines and leg yielding. These movements are also excellent indicators of the development of the horse's balance and throughness, as well as his ability for forward movement through thrust (i.e. - lengthening of stride). Here is where they develop the necessary skills, training and musculature to perform the advanced level movements of the higher levels.

First Level is comprised of 4 tests. Rider's may also choose to perform a Musical Freestyle at this level. These tests include walk, trot and canter work. They also contain leg yielding, 3 loop serpentines and smaller circles demonstrate the horse's balance and reponsiveness. These movements also illustrate the advancement of the horse's suppleness from the training level. The horse and rider must demonstrate their ability to effectively perform these movements because they are the pre-cursor to the shoulder-in, travers, rein-back, simple lead changes, shortening of stride and collection required at Level 2. Each first level test is shown below next to its corresponding video clip.

Required movements for first level dressage include:
Medium walk
Free Walk
Trot - sitting and rising 20 meter circles & changing of rein across the diagonal, working & lengthening of stride, 1/2 circle 10m, 3 loop serpentine, leg yield
Canter - 20 meter circles and half circles, 15m circle, working & lengthening of stride
Halts - trot to halt

Freestyle Requirements - maximum of 5 minutes in length
Total of 240 points (120 pts each for technical & artistic marks)
Walk - 20m minimum continuous freewalk
Trot - 10m circle - must be performed on each rein
Leg-Yield in trot - must be performed on each rein
Lengthen Stride in Trot - sitting or rising.
Canter - 15m circle - must be performed on each rein
Lengthen Stride in Canter


First Level Dressage Video Clips & Tests
(These tests are based on the 2007 USDF Dressage Tests.)

Video Clips
First Level Tests

First Level Dressage - Test 1


First Level Dressage - Test 1
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)

1
A - Enter working trot
X - Halt, Salute
Proceed Working Trot
2
C - Track Left
E-X - Half Circle 10m returning to track at H
3
B-X - Half Circle 10m returning to track at M
4

HXF - Lengthen stride in trot, rising or sitting
F - Working trot sitting

5
A-C - 3 loop serpentine width of arena
6
C - Medium Walk
7
M-E - Free Walk
8
E-F- Medium Walk
9
Transition from free walk to meduim walk at E
10
F - Working Trot
A - Working Canter Right Lead
11
E - Circle Right 15m
12
MXK - Change Rein
X - Working Trot
13
K - Working Canter Left Lead
14
B - Circle Left 15m
15
HXF - Change Rein
X - Working Trot
16
KXM - Lengthen Stride in Trot - Rising or sitting
M - Working Trot Sitting
17
C - Circle Left 20m Rising Trot, allowing the horse to stretch forward and downward
Before C - Shorten the Reins
C - Working Trot Sitting
18
E - Half Circle 10m to X
X - Straight Ahead
G - Halt, Salute

Leave Arena at A in walk on a long rein

First Level Dressage - Test 2

First Level Dressage - Test 2
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)

1
A - Enter working trot
X - Halt, Salute
Proceed Working Trot
2
C - Track Right
B - Turn Right
E - Turn Left
3
A - Down Centerline
D-R - Leg Yield Right
4
M - Working Canter Left Lead
5
C - Circle Left 15m
6
H-K - Lengthen Stride in Canter
7
Between K&A - Develop Working Canter
8

FXH - Change Rein
X - Working Trot

9
MXK - Lengthen Stride in Trot, Rising or Sitting
K - Working Trot Sitting
10
A - Halt, 5 seconds, proceed medium walk
11
F-S - Free Walk
12
SHC - Medium Walk
13
Transition from Free Walk to Medium Walk at S
14
C - Working Trot
15
B - Circle Right 20m Rising Trot, allowing the hrose to stretch forward and downward
Before B - Shorten the Reins
B - Working Trot Sitting
16
A - Down Centerline
D-S - Leg Yield Left
17
H - Working Canter Right Lead
18
C - Circle Right 15m
19

M-F - Lengthen Stride in Canter

20
Between F&A - Develop Working Canter
21
KXM - Change Rein
X - Working Trot
22
HXF - Lengthen Stride in Trot - Riding or Sitting
F - Working Trot Sitting
23
A - Down Centerline
X -
Halt, Salute

Leave Arena at A in walk on a long rein

First Level Dressage - Test 3

First Level Dressage - Test 3
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)

1
A - Enter working trot
X - Halt, Salute
Proceed Working Trot
2
C - Track Left
E-X - Half Circle Left 10m

3

X-B - Half Circle Right 10m

4

V-I - Leg Yield Right

5

C - Track Right
MXK - Lengthen Stride in Trot, Rising or Sitting
K - Working Trot Sitting

6

P-I - Leg Yield Left

7
C- Track Left
HXF - Lengthen Stride in Trot, Rising or Sitting
F - Working Trot
8
A - Halt, 5 Seconds,
Proceed Medium Walk
A-K - Medium Walk
9
K-B - Free Walk

10

B-H - Medium Walk

11

Transition from Free Walk to Medium Walk at B

12

H - Working trot
C- Working Canter Right Lead

13

R - Circle Left 15m

14

R-F- Lengthen Stride in Canter

15
F - Working Canter
16
KXM - Change Rein, at X Change of Lead Through Trot
17
S - Circle Left 15m
18
S-K - Lengthen Stride in Canter
19
K - Working Canter
20
FXH - Change Rein
X - Working Trot
21

B - Half Circle 10m to X
X - Straight Ahead
G - Halt, Salute

Leave Arena at A in walk on a long rein

First Level Dressage - Test 4

First Level Dressage - Test 4
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)

1
A - Enter working trot
X - Halt, Salute
Proceed Working Trot
2
C - Track Right
MXK - Lengthen Stride in Trot, Rising or Sitting
K - Working Trot

3

A - Down Centerline
L - Circle Left 10m

4

 

X-M - Leg Yield Right

5

HXF - Lengthen Stride in Trot, Rising or Sitting
F - Working Trot

6

A - Down Centerline
L - Circle Right 10m

7

X-H - Leg Yield Left

8
C - Medium Walk
9
M-V - Free Walk
V-K - Medium Walk

10

Transition from Free Walk to Medium Walk at V

11

K - Working Trot
A - Working Canter Left Lead

12

A - Circle Left 15m

13

F-M - Lengthen Stride in Canter

14

M- Working Canter

15
HXK - One Loop Maintaining Left Lead
16
FXH - Change Rein
X - Change Lead Through Trot
17
C - Circle Right 15m
18
M-F - Lengthen Stride in Canter
19
F - Working Canter
20
KXH - One loop maintaining the Right Lead
21
M-E - Change Rein
I - Working Trot
22
V - Circle Left 20m Rising Trot, Allowing the Horse to stretch forward and downward
Before V - Shorten Reins
V - Working Trot Sitting
23
A - Down Centerline
X - Halt, Salute

Leave Arena at A in walk on a long rein

First Level Dressage - Musical Freestyle

 

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