The tests - Preparatory to Advanced

Preparatory Tests - these have all been reworked but one of the main points is to look closely at the tests and read the purpose! The purpose is to “introduce the rider and/or the horse to the sport of dressage, confirming that they are beginning to develop an understanding of correct dressage basis. The horse should be ridden freely forward in a steady tempo and a clear rhythm, accepting contact with the bit and an understanding of test accuracy and geometry should be demonstrated.”

It then lists what the test introduces, such as free walk, medium walk, working trot rising, 20-metre circle and halts through the walk. This follows with instructions, which helps the rider, trainer, coach and judge know what is expected. By reading the purpose, introduces and instructions on the top of the test and then looking at the numbered moments - and the description of what to perform as well as the directive ideas, which are showing what the judge is looking for within the required movement - gives the rider the insight of how they are actually able to successfully ride the test.

Preliminary tests have a minor change in number 1, no change to test 2 itself but there is wording changes in the directives regarding the overtrack in the walk (showing the importance of correct paces and basics), but in test 3 the serpentine has been changed to a 10 metre loop to X. As jacqui said “interestingly, the tests with the significant changes from what I’m hearing are actually a bit easier to learn for riders than the tests with minor ones - so do take care to note the small changes!”

Novice Tests - in the first Novice test, they removed the lengthening of the stride at the canter whilst the second test changed the turn before the leg yield sections to focus on rider preparation and horse straightness before the sideways movement. Test number three is a new test with changes to the directives, with this aiming to test the horse and rider’s readiness for elementary. jacqui stated “you know, all of these reasons we do a test, isn’t just to steer the horse through the test”… “It’s there to build the horse’s confidence, to build a rider’s confidence and understanding”.. “the horse needs to show that they are on the bit, whereas previously the verbiage was accepting the contact, now it’s very much the horse needs to be on the bit”.

Elementary tests - these start with the removal of the simple change, being replaced with a canter-to-trot transition and then to walk but keeping the walk-to-canter transitions in the first test. Test number two has been reworked so it is basically a new test. However in test three, there is no actual changes to the pattern itself - just using different terminology from “shorten the walk’ to “collect”.

A note on elementary from jacqui is “there seems to be a trend where riders are being encouraged to skip elementary, and I know why this happens”yes when a horse is starting to learn flying changes suddenly it is almost impossible to do anything else and counter canter near impossible! “Foundational requirements as you continue to move through to Advanced so anything you skip now is just going to have a compounding effect down the track”...

“So if you hear yourself saying, I’m going to skip a level, you need to ask yourself, well, what is it that’s so difficult … why am I avoiding it and what should I be doing about it?”

Medium Tests - there are no real changes to the patterns in the Medium level but again the verbiage or directives - changing from ‘shortened’ to ‘collected walk’ to try and encourage riders to keep the purity of the walk and not slow down trying to shorten the strides. As well as this, jacqui’s main comment on the medium level was “the flying changes are a really, really important foundation”… “showing that both horse and rider understand the preparation, understand the aid and then can show the balance after the change as well”. The addition of coefficients for the flying changes starts with test 1.

Advanced tests - these start with number 1 being totally reworked so this is a new test, number two a change in having extended canter before the quarter pirouettes and the coefficients have moved. Number three test is also a new test - having removed the half 10-metre circles and placing the counter canter after the half pirouettes with the flying change to help prepare horses training programs, it’s going to highlight where you might need to address some things in your training, video your test”.. put the same type of pressure and expectation in place, wear the same boots, have the same saddle cloth and bridle you know.”

Take Home Notes

Finally, some important notes from jacqui to take home - “read the purpose, confirm the purpose, it’s not just the pattern, it’s the basics, again, the directives, understand them and you’ll know what the judges are looking for.” EquiDirectory, an online horse business directory and marketplace, is the creator of the eDressage test diagram booklet for Preparatory to Advanced tests. This eDressage test booklet is available for only $15.99 and shows three different ways of reading the tests, one as a visual diagram of the test, the second written as caller notes and the third is the official EA test form making this a very useful and informative document to have on your phone, tablet or computer. You will also get free access to the webinar with jacqui when you download the eDresasge test booklet. Download yours from www. equidirectory.net and click on the store.