The USEA Eventing By The Levels Handbook

65 Rider Skills Required at this level The coach should confirm the rider's understanding of and ability to perform all skills identified under Starter through Preliminary Level Dressage Skills. At the Intermediate Level, the rider should consistently produce in their horse the correct rhythm/tempo, main- tain relaxation/suppleness, and create an active, elastic connection while riding with an increased degree of straightness and collection. Intermediate level riders should ride effectively, with correctness and feel such that they reliably elicit the correct response from the horse: • Throughout all required test movements and supporting school movements. • Through all transitions between and within the gaits, into and out of lateral work, and between all required move- ments. • Demonstrating a clear understanding of the difference be- tween the working, collected and medium gaits. • With precise accuracy, while maintaining uphill balance and consistent connection. • Using correct positioning of the horse in preparation for the lateral movements, and specifically, employs correct positioning and use of aids in the execution of the shoul- der-in, haunches-in and half-pass. The Intermediate level rider should consistently employ the appropriate use and timing of the half-halt, the lateral movements, the counter-canter, and all transitions as part of their dressage training regime to both strengthen and supple their horses. These routine exercises should include all the required and school movements from previous levels, as well as the required movements for the Intermediate level: • Shoulder-in on the center line, with transition to half-pass. • Collection and extension in three gaits. • Correct and accurate walk to canter and canter to walk transitions. • Correct, accurate, and balanced simple change of lead. • A half-turn on the haunches in both directions. • Accurate and balanced counter-canter movements includ- ing three serpentine loops in a standard arena. Exercises and Concepts The coach should confirm the rider's understanding of and ability to perform all exercises identified under Starter through Preliminary Level Dressage Exercises and Concepts. As stated above under Rider Skills, the Intermediate rider should have a vast repertoire of exercises and movements which improve the horse's strength, balance, suppleness, understanding, rideability, and quality of the gaits. Additionally, the rider should have a clear understanding of the role of each movement and transition in improving their horse. At this level, the frequency and quality of transitions with- in and between the gaits as well as between movements is imperative in any training program: • Highly accurate and balanced transitions between and within gaits at specific letters and on the center line: • Medium walk to extended walk to medium walk, • Medium trot to extended trot to medium trot, • Collected canter to medium or extended canter to col- lected canter, • Halt to collected trot, • Collected trot to halt, • Walk to collected canter, • Collected canter to walk. • Accurate and straight simple changes of lead, on the diag- onal line, quarter line, and centerline. • Smooth and balanced transitions from one lateral move- ment to another, and at increasing levels of frequency as skills develop, including: • Shoulder-in to half-pass, • Half-pass to shoulder-in, • Half-pass wall to centerline and centerline to wall, • 90- and 180-degree walking turns on the haunches. In preparation for the next level, and supplemental to the required canter skills for jumping: • Preparation for and development of the flying lead change.

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