Is this normal?

[Keket]

I'm new to dressage and unfamiliar with tests and difficulty levels. But this year I'm doing 4-H dressage. My trainer and I feel like it's a good way to introduce Coquette and me to showing because dressage is just you and a judge and you don't have to worry about horses boxing you in like you would for other showing classes.

I've just gotten the tests that 4-H will be using for this year, the Cadora Training Level Test B and First Level Test B. The First Level test is meant to be one step up from Training Level, but seems much harder. :eek:

The Training Level test simply wants free walk, medium walk, working trot, working canter and the only figures are a 20M circle in trot and canter and a loop in free walk.

The First Level test calls for: Free walk, medium walk, working trot, working canter; Extensions in the trot and canter; 10M half circles; leg yields from X-M/H; 1/4 line loops in counter-canter; Give and take of the reins at working trot

:eek: I thought the levels were more gradual then this!

[Pink's lady]

Dunno that seems farly gradual to me.

The training level is really basic stuff - all three paces under control and steering. The next stage up from that would be to start to introduce basical lateral work (i.e leg yeilding) and a little change within a pace (so medium trot) and a bit more bending (counter canter) and starting to show a bit more self collection (give and re-take the reins). Which the first level does nicely. Almost ANY ridden horse could manage the training level test albeit badly. And most horses with a little schooling could manage a first level test althogh it would take more schooling to become any good at it.

I don't know how the Us versions work but the UK one's have various different tests within the same level, numbered up the way - as you go up the numbers the tests become more technical although they don't include new movements

[KateWooten]

Yes, that sounds about right. You have a training level test..... and a first level test, and first level is much harder - training level isn't really dressage yet. Perhaps you should get hold of all the training level tests. I know I will be sitting at training level for the whole of this year at least with the youngsters, and the stiff old lady.

[Roheryn]

I think that where I live most people start off with Introductory Levels A & B, which are walk-trot. I think Training Level comes right after that, but I'm not sure if there's something in between. Training Level has 4(?) tests of its own.

[Luv 2 Trot]

If you think thats crazy, have you seen the FEI young horse tests? The 4 and 5yo tests are around Training level and the 6yo test is 3rd level stuff! :eek: Its crazy!

[Skyhuntress]

I honestly don't know why you would be attemping 1st level yet when you and Coquette don't have a solid foundation in dressage.

Maybe it's because we're lucky enough to have all of our shows (and schooling shows) judged by S rated judges around here, but even in training level, the horse is expected to go on the bit w/t/c - completely (otherwise you go into Intro tests or don't show until you can). It always amazes me to see videos of people who are doing Training Level (or the british equivalent) because it is NOTHING like what the nazi-type judges around here expect.

But anyways, unless you'll get lenient judging, I don't think its fair to expect you or Coquette to do 1st level.

[Roheryn]

Then there's the idea about dressage being just you, your horse, and a judge, and what you posted about other showing classes where you

"have to worry about horses boxing you in ..."

One advantage those classes have over dressage is that you aren't the only one in the arena and so the judge can't be watching just you every second. Hopefully if you and your horse do something wrong it's done at one of those seconds when the judge doesn't happen to be looking at you. You don't want to hide behind other horses, because you do want the judge to see you, but some things you or your horse may not do as well as other things might not show up as obviously with other horses and riders in the arena.

Just a thought ... :)

[Skyhuntress]

Then there's the idea about dressage being just you, your horse, and a judge, and what you posted about other showing classes where you



One advantage those classes have over dressage is that you aren't the only one in the arena and so the judge can't be watching just you every second. Hopefully if you and your horse do something wrong it's done at one of those seconds when the judge doesn't happen to be looking at you. You don't want to hide behind other horses, because you do want the judge to see you, but some things you or your horse may not do as well as other things might not show up as obviously with other horses and riders in the arena.

Just a thought ... :)

Hah, valid point ;) You wouldn't believe how many times I've gone "Damn! I hope the judge didn't see that!" only to stop and realize that of course she did, I'm the only one in the arena!