Driving Your Test

Thank you Linda Willis

Wait until called by the Dressage Steward and then listen carefully to any directions s/he gives you.

Most often you are permitted to drive around the outside perimeter of your arena once the preceding competitor completes his/her final salute.

Once the bell is rung you have 90 seconds to begin your test. If you have difficulty hearing, ask the steward to give you a hand signal when the bell is rung.

Make a nice wide arc to get a nice straight entry @ A. Occasionally you may have to enter from inside the arena because the opening is not at A.

Transitions are made when the horse’s nose is at the designated point; i.e., halt @ X means the horse’s nose should be directly over X when you become fully motionless.

Proceed up the centerline, establish your halt, put the reins in one hand and salute the judge.

Ladies – raise your whip to chest height perpendicular to the ground (not in front of your face) or extend your whip to the side horizontal to the ground. In both instances nod to the judge who will acknowledge you. Don’t forget to SMILE & BREATHE!!!

Gents - remove your hat and gracefully extend it at a 45 degree angle.

X may be marked with paint, shavings or lime or not @ all. Put this stuff on the ground at home to get your horse used to stepping on/over them.

ACCURACY is probably the single most important influence on your score. Transitions must be at the letter, you need to be straight on the sidelines and bending in the corner and on circles.

Don’t practice the test repeatedly with your horse….they quickly learn to anticipate. Practice just the elements with your horse and practice the pattern on your own two feet.

Know where each movement begins/ends. If you go off course, the judge will ring a bell. If that happens you should stop where you are and let the officials tell you where you were wrong and how to begin again. Don’t let a single mistake ruin your whole test….it’s only 10 points out of 160. Don’t fret, it happens to everyone….just continue as though nothing happened.

Demonstrative corrections such as yelling, swearing, whipping or jerking the reins harshly are not appropriate during the test - practice and correct your horse @ home.

Be sure to note which movements get double scores – pay particular attention to them. Most often the lengthening of stride is doubled.

LEAVE THE ARENA AT A WORKING TROT unless otherwise directed on the test.

A LOW SCORE IS GOOD. Points earned are mathematically converted to a penalty score so that all tests carry the same weight in the overall score.