36/ JANUARY 2014 THE RIDER Palm Partnership Training™ Building a Partnership with your Horse


Dressage Training for All Breeds and for All Disciplines, Part 5


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By Lynn Palm It is now time to take


all the skills we have learned in this series of article and ride Training Level Test 1. I realize that many of you will never take these skills to a dres- sage show. However, it always is fun to test new knowledge to a set stan- dard, and you can learn to ride a test for that reason alone. We will assume that the


test is being ridden in a standard arena (large): Seg- ment 1 asks for you to enter at “A” at the working trot and at “X” halt and salute and then proceed at the working trot. It is best to practice entering the arena from both the left and right, but select the one from which you hit the center line most squarely when riding a test before a judge. The judge is looking for straightness on the cen- terline and through up and down transitions and the quality of halt (balanced and immobile) and trot (rhythmic, correct, and bal- anced). If the comment is “fairly straight and bal- anced,” you may receive a


numerical score of 7, but if it is “halt crooked and not sustained (halts only briefly)” then you probably wouldn’t score any better than a 4. Do not forget that the upward transition from the halt to the trot is just as important as the downward one from trot through walk to halt. Segment 2 is, after pro-


ceeding from halt at work- ing trot, at “C” to track left at working trot and begin- ning at “E” circle left 20 meters. The judge is look- ing for the quality of the turn at “C.” To get the highest scores, you must maintain rhythm at the trot, and your horse must have a correct bend as you turn. If your horse is balanced as you turn, you will have a very east time of keeping the rhythm at the trot. The judge will reward round corners and a correct bend throughout the circle. Segment 3 asks for a


left lead canter depart between “K” and “A.” The judge will be looking for the calmness and smooth- ness of the departure as well as the quality of the canter. Controlling your balanced canter transition


in the turn, will allow you to have the correct timing of your aids to go in a straight line to “B.” Your circle must have the correct bend, maintain a steady rhythm, and be very accu- rate to 20 meters. Segment 4 asks for a 20


meter circle at “B” at the canter. Again, the quality of the canter is judged as is the roundness of the circle. Segment 5 is a down-


ward transition from the canter to the working trot between the centerline and “B.” Remember the center- line of the arena is the imaginary line from “A” to “C.” This transition gives you lots of time to keep your horse from falling in or out of the curve and to keep him balanced. Move into your posting trot immediately when the horse transitions to a trot. This will help you stay in balance and quickly gain the rhythm of the trot. The balance and the smooth- ness of the transition are judged as is the quality of the trot. For example, points will be deducted if your horse in on his fore- hand during the transition. Segment 6 is a down-


ward transition from work- ing trot to a medium walk at “C” and continuing through “H.” The medium walk is a hard movement to create and maintain. The trot and canter are easier to keep in a steady speed and rhythm because you have forward motion to help you. Keep your seat and legs moving and your elbows elastic so that your contact remains light. Again, the quality of the transition and the gait are judged. At “H,” you will begin


Segment 7 which is a free walk from “H” through “X” to “F.” It is very important to have good scores in the free walk because your score is mul- tiplied by two. As you begin to change rein through the diagonal of the ring, you should loosen the reins to the buckle and keep both hands on the reins. You want to really swing your seat in rhythm with the walk, keep the horse forward and straight with both leg aids, and keep your elbows moving to the rhythm of the walk. The horse must stretch the head and neck outward and down to get full stretch of the back muscles. At “F,” you should gather your reins and regain a light contact. The medium walk should keep the same long, forward reaching strides as the free walk. Straightness, quality of the walks, and transitions are all impor- tant. In the next article, we


will conclude the test and this series. In the mean- time, my visual series, “Dressage Principles for the Western or English Horse and Rider,” will enhance this series. You can learn about it and other fine training products and about our courses at www.lynnpalm.com, or call us at 800-503-2824.


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