Choreography Basics An excerpt from the recently published book Freestyle: The Ultimate Guide to Riding, Training, and Competing to Music

Amy Jordan and I discuss potential movements we might use in her Freestyle. Creating your choreography first allows you to create the best routine for you and your horse. Photo by Kimberly Chason

An excerpt from the recently published book Freestyle: The Ultimate Guide to Riding, Training, and Competing to Music by Sandra Beaulieu Choreography Basics

Choreography requires as much creative thinking as does your music choices. This part can be a lot of fun for those who enjoy drawing floorplans and piecing together puzzles. If you start to get overwhelmed at the thought of creating a routine, there are a few ways to make the process a lot easier.

Routine First I recommend that riders new to Freestyle design create a routine first, and then add the music to it. This allows you to concentrate on the routine without getting overwhelmed. Starting with choreography helps you focus on your horse’s strengths such as gaits, straightness, ride-ability, etc. Use the movements to prepare your horse for success and give you confidence as a rider.

Put Your Best Foot Forward When you plan your opening centerline, begin by entering the arena from your horse’s “better side.” Most horses have a shoulder they tend to lean toward, and they may drift that way on the centerline. Practice entering the ring from both directions, and choose the direction that is easier for you to maintain balance and straightness. You have a choice to enter the arena at the walk or trot/jog through Third Level and Level 3. When you reach Fourth Level or Level 4 you may also choose to canter/lope up the centerline. Most riders choose to trot/jog to begin with energy and to help the horse focus. However, you can also choose the walk if that would help your horse stay relaxed and balanced. A walk entrance can be dramatic if it matches the music. I sometimes include transitions on my centerline, for example, by starting at the walk to the music and then trotting when the music changes. A transition can help the horse settle and balance.

Make a Good First Impression When you begin your choreography, you can choose to mix up the order of the gaits to better suit your horse. I recommend starting and ending your Freestyle with a movement of strength for a good first and last impression. Try to sandwich your horse’s weaker movements in the middle of the test so that you can leave the judge with a good feeling. For example, if your horse has a strong trot/jog, begin your Freestyle with a movement like the lengthened trot/jog and immediately transition to the canter/lope. Ride the rest of your trot work at the end so that is what the judge remembers. This also bodes well for your Choreography score, since it does not follow the same trot, walk, canter sequence as a test. General Tips for Choreography: • Enter the arena from your good side or your best lead (when entering at the canter/lope is allowed). • Highlight your best movements at the beginning and the end for a strong first and last impression. • Showcase your most difficult transitions and movements closer to the judge to demonstrate confidence. • Choose whether you want to begin your canter/lope work on your horse’s good lead to gain confidence or start with the more difficult lead to get it over with! Reprinted with permission of Trafalgar Square Books. Freestyle is available to order publisher direct at www.HorseandRiderBooks.com

I work with a client on some choreography, using my Blank Arena Diagram Sheets to draw out the movements. You can download this page from the Freestyle book resources page at beginthedance.com. Photo by Kimberly Chason