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Improving Your Mark in Dressage

The word dressage comes from a French word meaning training. Dressage is not a mystery, but rather a systematic training program which helps all horses to perform at the best of their ability and therefore remain in a strong working condition for the maximum amount of time.

Riders should never feel intimidated by ‘dressage’ but rather view the dressage test as a moment where their training can be evaluated against ‘perfection’ (10). Seldom if ever will someone get a 10 for a movement in their test, and certainly no one has ever gotten a 10 for every movement!

However, it is possible to ride a test to make full use of the arena, school movements and transitions. It is your job as a rider to NOT TO LOSE ANY MORE MARKS THAN NECESSARY. The writer of the dressage test is helping the judge sort out an order in the class. It is your job to not let the judge see a fault for as long as possible. You will then GAIN THE MOST MARKS.

Judging is Different than Teaching

In the competition you are judged against perfection. It can be helpful to memorize the words that go along with the marks and to read the judges directives for each movement.

• 10 = Excellent
• 9 = Very Good
• 8 = Good
• 7 = Fairly Good
• 6 = Satisfactory
• 5 = Sufficient
• 4 = Insufficient
• 3 = Fairly Bad
• 2 = Bad
• 1 = Very Bad
• 0 = Not Performed

In teaching and schooling you may be deliberately going with insufficient impulsion. You may decide that to maintain the quality of the stride you make a circle or turn wide, or a transition too progressive. You may have in mind a certain series of movements but the horse gets tense and worried so you don’t perform your complete sequence. After all if you were jumping would you continue to approach a four foot wall if you felt your horse were unbalanced? No. You would circle away and come again.

Let me give you a scenario. You are on a very nervous horse. The dressage test asks you to show some lengthened strides across the diagonal and then make a turn down the center line to finish. You are great at lengthened strides. In fact the horse is able to show more. You set off across the diagonal in a good medium trot. This gives you an ‘eight’. Now you have to collect for the corner and ride a turn down the center. You overshot and are unbalanced. It was ‘insufficient’. You got a four. Now you have to halt! You pull back and brace against your horse as he charges down to the judge. The halt is ‘fairly bad’ and you get a 3.
Total score = 15

Let’s look at the same horse, with a better competition rider. You are asked for a few medium steps which are ‘satisfactory’, and the judge gives you a six. However, you can balance easily for the corner and ride a ‘fairly good’ turn to the center line. That movement was worth a seven. Now in this halt the horse is not charging down on the judge. You gradually slow down and ride a progressive transition. Your halt is ‘satisfactory’ so the judge awards you a six.
Total score = 19

The second test did not show much medium, but the rider linked the movements together in a way that was relaxed and rhythmical. Which horse would you have put first?

The Ride Around the Arena

This will be the first impression for the judge. Although technically you are not judged until you enter the arena, the judge cannot help form on opinion if you show something that is not good! Many people just keep trotting round the arena waiting for the entry signal. You are allowed to walk or canter.

• If there is room you can ride some circles at A, however ride the circle to meet the tangent line to your entry. 

• If the horse is lazy ride a few steps of canter, making the transition into canter away from the judge.

• If the horse is hurried ride a progressive halt transition as you move away from the judge.

The Entry, Halt and Move Off

Plan which is the best side to enter, remembering it is always matter to enter from the widest angle and come uphill if possible. See which side your horse is straighter - that’s what the judge sees, and is judging as you come down the center line. The judge does not see impulsion at this moment, therefore if you get a better halt from a slower pace or a slightly to progressive transition, that’s the one to use. After all did you ever get “too progressive into halt” or “halt rather abrupt, horse above the bit?

• Check the entry to see if it is easier left or right.

• Make the halt progressive.

• Take time to salute with confidence.

• Progressively move off in a straight line.

The Turn at C

This turn can be hard. You are right beside the judge. They can see you lose rhythm and fall around the corner! Therefore make the corner easy and smooth. Start the turn as you get to G and think of leg yielding around the corner.

• Use a weight aid to make the turn smooth.

• Keep the inside rein soft.

• Make sure the horse is on the outside rein.

Going Large

Although going large means the corners should be deeper than when you are riding a circle at A or C, it is vital to maintain the rhythm. Try to show some difference between the going large and the circle, particularly at the end of the arena beside the judge.

• Ride the rhythm.

The Movements

The movements need to be accurate. Everything that starts or finishes on the track or is ridden in the half nearest the judge needs to be the exact size. If you ride a turn to the center line that goes past the center the judge will see the mistake. However, a circle that is relaxed and rhythmical will get a higher mark than a circle of the correct size where the horse is unbalanced.

• Learn exactly how to ride the movements.

• Walk the movement to see exactly where you should be.

• Pay attention to how movements go together.

• Know where the marks are given.

The Transitions

Transitions should be progressive. Gradually the progression will get quicker. You will get a better mark for a transition which is forward and late than a transition which is accurate but of poor quality. Accuracy can always be improved. However if there is no quality to the transitions the horse will never improve.

• Learn which movement the transition is being marked in.

• Use weight aids as much as possible.

• Make sure you allow the horse to step forwards into the new pace.

The Free Walk

Often people forget about the free walk thinking that it is a rest time. Look at the marks that you can earn. Be accurate and maintain the rhythm. If you need to give a leg aid, use the leg away from the judge.

• Sit all and move with your horse.

• Begin to gather the horse up into a medium walk prior to the corner.

The Lengthened, Medium and Extended Paces

There are two transitions: one into the pace and one returning to the original pace. The judge is looking for the rhythm and balance so make sure the amount you ask for is no more than the horse can show without losing his balance.

• Build your pace through the corner.

• Show the increased length from the quarter marker to after X.

• Re-balance to ride your corner.

The Final Halt and Leaving the Arena

Regardless of how the test has gone there are marks here so don’t stop riding until you are out of the arena. When you leave the arena think about your position, if you want to dismount ride a good transition dismount and clap your horse. Some judges mark your riding at this stage!

• Make the transition smooth and straight.

• Salute with a confident smile.

When Things Go Wrong!

Notice I said "when" not "if". You will always make a mistake. Try to focus on the next movement and the10 marks that it holds. When you use a caller, make sure you practice. There is nothing worse than someone who is calling movements late.

• If your horse is not listening, use the stick to re-enforce the leg aid.

• If the horse becomes flustered by the canter, take a moment to relax him/her and move on to the next 10 marks.

I rode a horse in a Second Level test at an affiliated competition. The classes were full and the standard was high. The horse got tense through the canter movements, and started to put in changes. Instead of getting cross or trying to ride through rough transitions with a tense horse. I stopped for a moment, smiled to the judges, stroked the horse, and picked up the canter to finish the test. I lost the least number of marks possible. However, even more importantly the horse realized there was no need to get tense. We were competing the following day, doing the same test again.  The horse won. He went on with his owner to have a very successful season.  

What Works Best for You?

Good preparation is the key to a successful dressage test. Discuss your program with your trainer and make a plan for the session. You should be working a level above the level you compete at.  Remember that horses are very aware of your mental or physical tension, give yourself time and don’t be too hard on yourself. Think of a positive outcome.  Tell yourself to do something rather than not do something e.g; Sit up - rather than I must not tip forwards. I need to ride the rhythm - instead of I must not lose the rhythm. I need to keep the contact - rather than I must not lose the contact. Try it and you will see it works!

• Have a clear goal for the day.

• Visualize yourself riding a smooth test.

• Breathe evenly.

Have fun- enjoy your test!