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Rider Skills
The coach should confirm the rider's understanding
of and ability to perform all skills identified under
Starter through Intermediate Dressage Skills.
At the Advanced 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 impulsion and straightness in
the collected, medium, and extended gaits.
Advanced level riders should ride effectively, with
correctness and feel. They should reliably elicit
the correct response from the horse:
• Utilizing the correct application of the aids for the half-
halt, for the lateral work and for transitions between and
within the gaits to produce a horse who is working har-
moniously with the rider, without the use of harsh bits or
auxiliary aids.
• Throughout all required test movements and supporting
school movements, including travers, renvers, shoulder-in,
half-pass in trot and canter, counter-canter, flying changes
of lead, the half pirouette in walk, rein back to collected
trot and rein back to collected canter.
• Through all transitions between and within the gaits, in-
cluding between collection and extension in walk, trot,
and canter, into and out of lateral work, and between all
required movements.
• While executing the movements and transitions with pre-
cise accuracy, maintaining uphill balance and consistent
connection.
• Using the correct positioning of the horse in preparation
for all lateral movements.
• Such that the horse understands, learns, and can reliably
reproduce the movements as part of their established skill
set.
