Freestyle for the uninitiated
A guide for Spectators and Supporters.
The sport of pure dressage test a rider’s ability to forma partnership with their horse and to work in harmony to perform a series of movements or patterns which are graded by a judge on a scale of 0-10.
Each movement is assessed against a set of directives determined by the level of the test. Each competitor’s marks are expressed as a percentage. The competitor with the highest percentage wins the class.
The test may be performed in either a short arena measuring 20x40m or a long arena measuring 20x60m.
Test are created and distributed by British Dressage each year. Every movement begins at a specified marker. Riders must familiarise themselves with the test so that they can produce a fluent performance.
Freestyle test give competitors the chance to bring a touch of individuality to the arena!
Whilst there are compulsory elements to include and a time limit for the performance competitors have more of a “free rein”! Compulsory movements are specified on the test sheet and each movement is graded out of ten as in pure dressage to give a mark for technical execution.
At entry level spectators can expect to see combinations enter the arena at walk or trot often with entrance music that hints at the style of performance to come. Having halted and saluted the judge the test is deemed to have begun. Though not marked the type of entrance the competitor makes will count as a first impression and hopefully attract the judge’s attention. Most competitors will move off in trot (a two beat pace) and show the compulsory trot movements early on so the judge may award the first few marks.
At entry-level two 15m diameter circles need to be shown, one on each rein or more simply one in each direction. Riders also need to demonstrate some medium trot strides where the horse lengthens its stride whilst maintaining the rhythm. These can be shown across the diagonal of the arena or on a half 20m circle.
The trot also offers a chance to show creativity by including movements that show off the horse’s paces and personality and demonstrate to the judge that the rider has planned their floor plan.
Artistic marks will be awarded by the judge for the rhythm and energy of the horse or more simply the quality and regularity of its paces. Then the harmony between horse and rider is graded. There is a mark for choreography and a further mark for music choice and interpretation.
The four artistic marks at entry level carry a co-efficient of three so for example a score of 9/10 for music will add an impressive 27 marks to the total giving a real boost to the final percentage.
A movement favoured at first level is a serpentine. If this is accurately ridden and the horse maintains an even trot rhythm this can add variety to the test. It is important that combinations are not seen to be riding round and round the arena with no school figures (circles/serpentines etc) included as this would attract a low mark for choreography.
Riders could choose to include ½ circles of 10 or 20-metre diameter. Other popular choices are loops and inclines.
Riders must show their horses walk and judges look for a regular four beat rhythm. Riders need to show medium walk and free walk on a long rein where the horse is encouraged to stretch its head and neck forward, lengthen its steps to cover more ground and maintain a regular rhythm whilst on a long rein. This is a test of the rider’s ability to offer the horse the freedom to stretch with the horse showing it’s training by maintaining the walk even though the rider has less influence through the reins.
The free walk will demonstrate to a judge the level of relaxation, harmony and trust between horse and rider.
The third element of the test is the canter work. Canter is a three beat pace. Canter work must include 2 x 20m circles one on each rein. So on the left rein the left foreleg leads and on the right rein the right foreleg leads. As in the trot work some medium strides need to be shown.
At first level riders must change the canter direction through trot. There are many places to show this. More established combinations might demonstrate some counter canter strides where the horse will lead with the right foreleg leading whilst on the left rein and vice versa before returning to trot to pick up the new canter lead.
To conclude the test the rider must once again ride to a halt in front of the judge and salute hopefully at the end of the music routine (practice is required…) The judge will be looking for a straight, square halt that is to say that the halt is on the center line and the front and hind feet are level.
Freestyle dressage to music is spectator friendly and great fun for competitors, both horse and rider enjoy the challenge and horses often have as clear a preference for the style of music as the rider.
Freestyle Dressage Team