Barbara Lawson and her Lusitano gelding Dom Do Nico, Introductory level dressage trial.
Photo courtesy of Michael T. Photography
inexperienced horses to enter the sport
and gain experience in the competition
environment. Judges look for things
such as the ability to maintain
straightness down centerline;
consistent and correct bending in
circles; balance, straightness and
immobility in the halt; straight, smooth
reinback; and correct shape and size of
movements such as 20 meter circles
and 10 meter half circles. They also look
for impulsion and submission in the
horse and the quality of the horse’s
gaits.
As riders move up to the Novice A level,
canter circles are introduced and
proper bend is evaluated not only in the
circles but also in a shallow serpentine
down the long side of the court, moving
from the rail to the quarter line, then
back to the rail, once in each direction.
Novice B introduces some lateral
movements in walk, lead changes
through the trot, as well as a quarter turn
on the haunches (ridden the same way
as a walk pirouette, but with the back
legs moving in a slightly larger circle
during the movement).
Intermediate A continues to refine and
elevate the expectations, with lateral
movement at trot added and several
simple lead changes through the walk,
as well as a medium trot across the
diagonal and transitions between
collected and medium canter. The
movement to Intermediate B is clearly
marked by the advancement from
simple changes of lead to flying lead
changes in the canter as well as the
change from a walk turn on the
haunches to a proper walk pirouette.
The Advanced level ratchets up the
difficulty by requiring these same
advanced movements be completed
entirely with only one hand on the reins,
regardless of type of bit and bridle used.
At the Master’s level, one-handed riding
is still required, but riders also add an
artistic element as they ride the
dressage test to music of their choice
and organize where in the dressage
court they perform each movement (the
Master’s test specifies the movements
that must be ridden and the order in
which they must be completed, but the
rider choreographs the actual
placement and timing of each.
The expectations outlined in each
level’s Dressage tests carry over into the
Ease of Handling trial. Introductory