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
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)
|
A - Enter working trot
X - Halt, Salute
Proceed Working Trot |
|
C - Track Left
E-X - Half Circle 10m returning to track at H |
|
B-X - Half Circle 10m returning to track at M |
|
HXF - Lengthen stride in trot, rising or sitting
F - Working trot sitting |
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A-C - 3 loop serpentine width of arena |
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C - Medium Walk |
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M-E - Free Walk |
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E-F- Medium Walk |
|
Transition from free walk to meduim walk at E |
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F - Working Trot
A - Working Canter Right Lead |
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E - Circle Right 15m |
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MXK - Change Rein
X - Working Trot |
|
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
|
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First Level Dressage - Test 2
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)
|
A - Enter working trot
X - Halt, Salute
Proceed Working Trot |
|
C - Track Right
B - Turn Right
E - Turn Left |
|
A - Down Centerline
D-R - Leg Yield Right |
|
M - Working Canter Left Lead |
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C - Circle Left 15m |
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H-K - Lengthen Stride in Canter |
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Between K&A - Develop Working Canter |
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FXH - Change Rein
X - Working Trot |
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MXK - Lengthen Stride in Trot, Rising or Sitting
K - Working Trot Sitting |
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A - Halt, 5 seconds, proceed medium walk |
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F-S - Free Walk |
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SHC - Medium Walk |
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Transition from Free Walk to Medium Walk at S |
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C - Working Trot |
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B - Circle Right 20m Rising Trot, allowing the hrose to stretch forward and downward
Before B - Shorten the Reins
B - Working Trot Sitting |
|
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
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)
|
A - Enter working trot
X - Halt, Salute
Proceed Working Trot |
|
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 |
|
P-I - Leg Yield Left |
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C- Track Left
HXF - Lengthen Stride in Trot, Rising or Sitting
F - Working Trot |
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A - Halt, 5 Seconds,
Proceed Medium Walk
A-K - Medium Walk |
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K-B - Free Walk |
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B-H - Medium Walk |
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Transition from Free Walk to Medium Walk at B |
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H - Working trot
C- Working Canter Right Lead |
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R - Circle Left 15m |
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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
(2007 USDF Dressage Test)
|
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 |
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