Third Level Dressage

Third level dressage adds the half pass and flying lead change elements to its tests. This level is used to determine the horse's ability to perform the medium and extended paces required at second level. The transistion to and from collected gaits is equally important at third level. Furthermore, the horse is judged on suppleness, rhythm, throughness, impulsion, straightness and acceptance of the bit.

Third Level is comprised of 3 tests. The Musical Freestyle is also performed at this level. These tests include walk, trot and canter work. The half pass and flying lead changes are also added at this level. Each third level test is shown below next to its corresponding video clip.

Required movements for third level dressage include:
Trot - Medium, Extended & Collected, Half Pass, Shoulder In
Walk - Medium, Free and Shorten Stride, 1/2 Turn on Haunches
Canter - Medium & Collected, Counter-Canter & Flying Lead Changes
Halts - collected 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 extended
Trot Half Pass
Extended Trot
Shoulder-In - must be performed on each rein
Canter Half Pass - must be performed on each rein
Counter Canter - must be performed on each rein
Flying Change of Lead - must be performed on each rein
Extended Canter

New 2011 USEF Tests
Videos coming soon

Test 1

Test 2

Test 3

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

Video Clips

Third Level Tests

Third Level Dressage - Test 1
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Third Level Dressage - Test 1

1	A - Enter Collected trot X - Halt, Salute Proceed Collected Trot
2	C - Track Left S-V - Shoulder-In Left
3	V-L - Half Circle 10m L-S - Half Pass Left
4	R-P - Shoulder-In Right
5	P-L - Half Circle 10m L-R - Half Pass Right
6	HXF - Medium Trot F - Collected Trot
7	A - Halt, Rein Back 4 Steps Proceed Medium Walk
8	K-R - Extended Walk
9	R - Medium Walk M - Turn Left Between G&H - Shorten Stride, Half Turn on Haunches Left Proceed Medium Walk
10	Between G&M - Shorten Stride, Half Turn on Haunches Right Proceed Medium Walk H - Track Right H-C - Medium Walk
11	Medium Walk RMG(H)G(M)GHC
12	Before C - Shorten the Stride in Walk C - Collected Canter Right Lead
13	M-E - Medium Canter F - Collected Canter
14	V - Circle Right 10m
15	V-R - Change Rein, Flying Change between Centerline and R
16	C - Circle Left 20m, showing a clear release of inside rein for 4-5 strides over centerline
17	H-K - Entended Canter K - Collected Canter
18	Transitions at H & K
19	P - Circle Left 10m
20	P-S - Change Rein, Flying Change between Centerline and S
21	C - Collected Trot
22	MXK - Extended Trot K - Collected Trot
23	A - Down Centerline X - Halt, Salute

Leave Arena at A in walk on a long rein

Third Level Dressage - Test 2

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Third Level Dressage - Test 2

1	A - Enter Collected trot X - Halt, Salute Proceed Collected Trot
2	C - Track Right MXK - Medium Trot K - Collected Trot
3	F-B - Shoulder-In Left
4	B-G- Half Pass Left G - Straight Ahead C - Track Left
5	HXF - Extended Trot F - Collected Trot
6	Transitions at H & F
7	K-E - Shoulder-In Right
8	E-G - Half Pass Right G - Straight Ahead
9	C - Track Right Before M - Medium Walk
10	M - Turn Right Between G&H - Shorten Stride in Walk and Half Turn on the Haunched Right, Proceed Medium Walk
11	Between G&M - Shorten Stride in Walk and Half Turn on the Haunched Right, Proceed Medium Walk H - Turn Left H-S - Medium Walk
12	Medium Walk MG(H)G(M)GHS
13	S-P - Extended Walk P-F - Medium Walk
14	Before F - Shorten the Stride in Walk F - Collected Canter Right Lead
15	A - Down Centerline D-R - Half Pass Right
16	Between R & M - Flying Change of Lead
17	H-K - Medium Canter K - Collected Canter
18	A - Down Centerline D-S - Half Pass Left
19	Between S & H - Flying Change of Lead
20	C - Circle Right 20m, Showing a Clear Release of Inside Rein for 4-5 Strides over Centerline
21	M-F - Extended Canter F - Collected Canter
22	Transitions at M & F
23	A - Down Centerline L - Collected Trot
24	X - Halt, Salute

Leave Arena at A in walk on a long rein

Third Level Dressage - Test 3

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Third Level Dressage - Test 3

1	A - Enter Collected trot X - Halt, Salute Proceed Collected Trot
2	C - Track Left HXF - Medium Trot F - Collected Trot
3	K-E - Shoulder-In Right
4	E-X - Half Circle Right 10m X-B - Half Circle Left 10m
5	B-G - Half Pass Left C - Track Right
6	MXK - Extended Trot K - Collected Trot
7	Transitions at M & K
8	A - Halt, rein Back 4 Steps, Proceed Collected Trot
9	F-B - Shoulder-In Left
10	B-X - Half Circle Left 10m X-E - Half Circle Right 10m
11	E-G- Half Pass Right C - Turn Left
12	Between C&H - Medium Walk H - Turn Left
13	Between G&M - Shorten the Stride and Half Turn on the Haunches Left, Proceed Medium Walk
14	Between G&H - Shorten the Stride and Half Turn on the Haunches Right, Proceed Medium Walk M - Turn Right
15	Medium Walk - HG(M)G(H)GMR
16	R-V - Extended Walk V-K - Medium Walk
17	K - Collected Canter Left Lead
18	A - Down Centerline L-S - Half Pass Left S-H - Counter Canter
19	H - Flying Change of Lead
20	M-F - Medium Canter F - Collected Canter
21	A - Down Centerline L-R - Half Pass Right R-M - Counter Canter
22	M - Flying Change of Lead
23	C - Circle Left 20m, Clearly Giving Both Reins for 4-5 Strides Over Centerline
24	H-K - Extended Canter K - Collected Canter
25	Transitions H & K
26	A - Down Centerline L - Collected Trot
27	X - Halt, Salute

Leave Arena at A in walk on a long rein

Third Level Dressage - Musical Freestyle

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Third Level Dressage