How to be level headed about your level!!
Since the horseshow season is upon us, I decided that it would be a perfect time to discuss just how all this fits into your training of your horse. I have listed all of the requirements of each of our national levels below and it is a good idea for you to look at them. Be honest with yourself and see if you have confirmed the level that you are showing at. If you have not then you cannot go to the shows with the idea of winning…that would be a huge training mistake and would encourage you to make huge faux pas in your training just in pursuit of a bit of satin and silver. Go to shows of course! Even if you are not quite “ready” it is ok as long as you always respect your horse and its current ability. For those of you with a less strong constitution, you should only go if you are schooling one level ABOVE the level you are showing. Either way, showing is a great way to break up the boredom or test your skills. Just be level headed about it all…
TRAINING LEVEL
To confirm that the horse’s muscles are supple and loose, and that it moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, accepting contact with the bit.
Training Level Movements:
20m circles at trot and canter
Diagonal lines
Corners and turns
Centerline
Medium and Free walk
Working trot and canter
Simple transitions gait to gait
Stretch down in working trot
FIRST LEVEL
To confirm that the horse, in addition to the requirements of Training Level, has developed thrust (pushing power) and achieved a degree of balance and throughness.
First Level Movements:
All previous
15m circles at trot
10m circles at canter
Leg yield
Counter canter loops
Trot to halt to trot
Lengthening stride in trot and canter
SECOND LEVEL
To confirm that the horse, having demonstrated that it has achieved the thrust (pushing power) required at First Level, now shows that through additional training it accepts more weight on the hindquarters (collection), shows the thrust required at medium paces, and is reliably on the bit.
Second Level Movements:
All previous
Collected trot and canter
Shortening stride in walk
Medium trot and canter
Shoulder-in
Travers
Renvers
Turn on the haunches
Rein back
Counter canter
Simple changes (canter/walk/canter)
10m circles at canter
Collected trot – halt – collected trot
THIRD LEVEL
To confirm that the horse has achieved the requirements of Second Level. It now demonstrates at each movement, especially the medium and extended paces and in the transitions to and from collected movements, rhythm, suppleness, acceptance of the bit, throughness, impulsion, straightness and collection. There must be a clear distinction between the paces.
Third Level:
All previous
Extended trot and canter
Extended walk
Half pass at trot and canter
Single flying change of lead
Rein release in collected canter
FOURTH LEVEL
To confirm that the horse has achieved the requirements of Third Level. These tests are of medium difficulty, designed to confirm that the horse has acquired a high degree of suppleness, impulsion, throughness, balance, and lightness while always remaining reliably on the bit, and that its movements are straight, energetic, and cadenced with the transitions precise and smooth.
Fourth Level:
All previous
Collected canter – halt – collected trot
Counter change of hand in trot half pass
Counter change of hand in shoulder-in
Collected walk
Walk pirouette
Half pirouette in canter
Tempi changes every 4th stride
Tempi changes every 3rd stride
Medium canter – collected canter – flying change
Return to SCHEDULES
