| Riders often ask me, "How do I know it's the right time | | | | Instead, knowing that my horse will have to do |
| to move my Training Level dressage horse up to First | | | | 10-meter circles down the road, when he can |
| Level? In this article, I'll give you a way to come up with | | | | comfortably do 20-meter circles, I'd do some 18-meter |
| a logical plan for introducing new work at Training | | | | circles. And then in a few weeks or months, when he |
| Level. | | | | could comfortably do |
| First, I just want to make a general comment. All | | | | 18-meter circles, I'd do 16-meter circles. |
| training should be a systematic progression toward a | | | | Because I look ahead, and I know what is required at |
| desired end result. So you need to be able to see the | | | | First Level, I plan a program where I progressively |
| big picture. | | | | make the arc of my circle tighter and tighter until |
| For example, even at Training Level the quality of your | | | | eventually I can do 10-meter circles easily in the trot. |
| 20-meter circles is going to make it possible to collect | | | | And what I mean by "easily" is that my horse can |
| later down the road. Circles show your horse's ability | | | | handle the arc of that curve without having to find an |
| to bend equally to the left and to the right. So his ability | | | | evasion such as swinging the hindquarters in or out |
| tobend on a large circle makes it easier for him to | | | | from his line of travel. |
| progressively increase his bend from 20 meters to 18, | | | | I'd also see that there are leg yields in the First Level |
| to 15, to 12, to 10. As he becomes flexible enough to | | | | tests. So I think, "My horse has to learn how to move |
| bend along a tighter arc, you're laying a foundation for | | | | away from a leg that's behind the girth". Maybe I |
| advancedlateral work such as shoulder-in, haunches-in, | | | | should incorporate some turns on the forehand into my |
| and half pass. | | | | work at |
| A lot of times people say to me, "Oh well, I am ONLY | | | | Training Level so that I'll be ready to do some leg |
| working at Training Level." You need to understand | | | | yields when the time comes. |
| that the work that is done at Training Level, such as | | | | At First Level, I also have to show lengthenings in the |
| correctly bending on a 20-meter circle, is essential for | | | | trot and in the canter. So I work on developing |
| your horse's systematic progression to the more | | | | elasticity by lengthening and shortening. Even at |
| advanced work. | | | | Training Level, I start to do rubber band exercises. I go |
| So let's look at one way you can plan your program. | | | | a little more forwardfor three or four strides and then |
| Here's what I did. Back in the early 70's, I had to work | | | | come back for three or four strides. And I repeat |
| a lot on my own. So I used the USDF tests as my | | | | that-- three or four strides a little more forward and |
| guideline. I knew those tests were designed with the | | | | three or four strides a little bit back. While doing that I |
| systematicprogression of the dressage horse in mind. I | | | | really focus on maintaining thesame rhythm and the |
| thought, "Well, this is a good place to start since I don't | | | | same tempo in both "gears". |
| have anybody around to tell me what to do." | | | | I also notice that at First Level there is a little counter |
| I'd work on whatever was at Training Level. And even | | | | canter. So I think about incorporating some counter |
| if my horse wasn't ready for the next level, I'd always | | | | canter into my work. I come 1-meter off the rail by the |
| look ahead and read what was in the First Level tests. | | | | time I'm across from B or E. Then by the end of the |
| That way I'd have an idea of what was coming up | | | | long side, I'm back onto the track. I do this pattern so |
| next. | | | | gradually that my horse doesn't even know that I'm |
| Let's say my dressage horse is at Training Level. I | | | | asking for a couple of counter canter steps. |
| polish my 20-meter circles, my basic transitions from | | | | Little by little I come off the rail a bit more. My next |
| gait to gait, and the stretchy circle. That's all great, but I | | | | step is to come one and a half meters off the rail. |
| also look ahead. I see that I'll need to do serpentines, | | | | We're one and a half meters off the rail when we're |
| where I have the complication of changing the bend | | | | across from B or E, and then we arc back to the last |
| from left to right. | | | | letter. |
| I'd also begin to add smaller circles because eventually, | | | | So, I keep polishing the movements at Training Level |
| at First Level, I need to do 10-meter circles in the trot | | | | with my dressage horse, but I always have an eye on |
| and 15-meter circles in the canter. Now that doesn't | | | | what's at First Level and start to incorporate a little bit |
| mean I'm suddenly going to go from 20-meter circles in | | | | of that work as well. |
| the trot to 10-meters. | | | | |