EE equitation tests. Some Initial Ideas

[Camacoona]

So these were the ideas from a few months ago:
(Sorry am only copying and pasting so I don't know how it will look!)
Ideas for the Baroque Equitation type classes:
•   Taken from the American Classical Riders Association.
-   To qualify to compete at a certain level, riders must be tested to see if the necessary training is in place.  Such tests are a ‘qualification’ in their own right and in the long term could count towards championships, gaining points/awards and so on.  Different ‘awards’ are gained at each level… such as medals at higher levels, trophies at lower levels
-   Possibly 2 or 3 tests at each level both in-hand and ridden. 
-   Competitions could be done live ie as normal dressage competitions and there can be a  ‘video’ competition also.
-   In the competitions rosettes are awarded.
-   Should/could we consider a non-placing ‘exhibition’ where each rider can gain awards depending on the level they have achieved?  ie. A bronze, silver, gold medal for tests of certain percentages?  This way riders can compete against themselves rather than others.

Off the top of my head:
•   Rather than thinking of it as a sport, how could we foster the philosophy of equitation as art?
-award ‘prizes’ for %’s gained rather than placing.  Such a    50-55% blue rosette
                        55-60% Red Rosette
                        60-63% Bronze Medal
                        63.1-67% Silver Medal
                        Over 67% Gold Medal
-   Change mark system and criteria- create and use different rules and criteria for paces, movements and rider marks. Become our own FEI!
-   Give rider/handler/trainer marks for ever movement; this may be easier if it is a video competition.  Maybe some classes can have a horse judge and a rider judge.

-   Train Judges, recognise trainers and promote riding establishments that can educate in ‘baroque riding’ or whatever term will be used. I know this will be built in with EET’s but may be extended to specialists.

[Camacoona]

I think I posted that a few months ago,

[Camacoona]

OK Ideas for ridden levels (Again I think I posted this on here somewhere way back when!)
Ridden training tests:

Level 1
-walk and working trot
-transitions between walk and halt and walk and trot.
- Lateral engaging steps off the ¾ line onto the track in walk (using bend of the line in legyield type steps?)
20m Circles, Loops in off the track, ½ 15 metre circles coming back to the track.
-As above plus

Level 2
-Rein back out of halt.
- Basic balancé exercise walk- halt- rein back- walk
-Engaging steps move towards shoulder in in walk.
-20m 15m circles, serpentine , ½ 10 m circles coming back to the track

Level 3
- As above plus trot and walk to canter transitions.
Shoulder in, in walk and trot.
More advanced Balancé including transitions from rein back into a more collected trot.
Direct transitions halt to shortened collected trot, rein back to shortened collected trot.
20m 15m and 10m circles, serpentine, ½ 10 m circles coming back to the track and inverse.

Level 4
-  As above plus Counter canter
Travers, Renvers and half pass in walk and shortened collected trot.
Walk pirouette
Jambette of the foreleg
20m 15m and 10m circles, serpentine, ½ 10 m circles coming back to the track and inverse.

Level 5
- As Above plus lateral work of the canter.
Polka and Spanish walk (polka would shot trainer’s control over the steps rather than the horse going hell for leather at stamping at every stride,  what do you think?)
Half steps of piaffe within the balancé exercises.
20m 15m and 10m circles, serpentine, ½ 10 m circles coming back to the track and inverse.
Combined lateral work… ie shoulder-in to travers… renvers to shoulder-in etc.

Level 6
Canter flying changes, large working pirouettes?
Piaffe
1 or 2 steps of trot with extra cadence and expression towards Passage.
Would you include a rock back exercise? If you would, should it be sooner?
Need for higher levels for full passage… full canter pirouettes etc?

[Camacoona]

In-Hand

Level !
-walk .
-transitions between walk and halt.
- Large Girravolta around a 15 metre circle.
-Lateral engaging steps out of large girravolta (ie taking a diagonal line or moving  down a straight line in the arena.

Level 2
-As above plus
-Girravolta around tighter circles 5m to 10 metres max.
-Rein back out of halt.
- Basic balancé exercise walk- halt- rein back- walk
-Engaging steps move towards shoulder in.

Level 3
- As above plus shortened trot.
Shoulder in, in walk and shortened trot.
More advanced Balancé including transitions from rein back into shortened trot.
Direct transitions halt to shortened collected trot, rein back to shortened collected trot.
Raising the foreleg

Level 4
-  As above plus
Travers, Renvers and half pass in walk and shortened collected trot.
Walk pirouette
Jambette of the foreleg
Do you think counted walk could be included here?

Level 5
- As Above plus
Polka and Spanish walk (polka would shot trainer’s control over the steps rather than the horse going hell for leather at stamping at every stride,  what do you think?)
Half steps of piaffe within the balancé exercises.

Level 6
- As above plus
Piaffe
1 or 2 steps of trot with extra cadence and expression towards Passage.
Would you include a rock back exercise? If you would, should it be sooner?

[winnieandben]

For me personally I think there is quite a big leap between level 1 / 2 and then 3 onwards I couldnt see me and my horse progressing above level 2.

It would make more sense for me to see more lower levels introducing more lateral work as it moves up but still staying in walk.

Things I work on in walk only with my horse are Leg yield, girravolta, shoulder fore / shoulder in / rein back / turn on the forehand (dont know if that is used in classical??) turn on the haunches.

Same with ridden maybe a few more lover levels introducing more lateral work without shortening / collecting the trot????

Hope it is OK for me to put my thoughts forward. 

I agree with not making it a competition and awarding percentages so not competing against each other.

[Trudi]

I love the idea of awarding percentages as I'm not interested in winning just in being guided along towards a goal  I am brain dead tonight but the levels sound fine on first read, Janet I think you'd be surprised where it took you and Jinx and I reckon you're more than capable of advancing through the levels given time. I'd also love to train to judge at some point as I gave up BD judge training when I came to France.
I hope this takes off as it really promotes correct training, great stuff and thanks for all the hard work Omar.

[catkin]

I like the percentages idea

One thing that would put me off is the inclusion of jambette and spanish walk. I know they are classical exercises but I am very reluctant to teach them to a pony who can get a bit over 'enthusiastic' (any of you with a welshie will know what I mean!!!!!!)

[Bradders]

Numpty question alert - what is girravolta?

[Camacoona]

Hope it is OK for me to put my thoughts forward. 

  Thats why I've put this up, I need feedback to see what people want and what they will support! Its great to get the feedback.

I was thinking of maybe putting in another level or two at the lower end to encourage people and so not to overface horses and riders.  Keep the feedback comeing 

[Camacoona]

One thing that would put me off is the inclusion of jambette and spanish walk. I know they are classical exercises but I am very reluctant to teach them to a pony who can get a bit over 'enthusiastic' (any of you with a welshie will know what I mean!!!!!!)

What we could do is have some tests with it and some without so those who want to can persue that line while those who don't still have scope to progress. 

[Camacoona]

Numpty question alert - what is girravolta?

Rather like a large turn around the forehand or a shoulder-in on the circle.  The turn around the forehand is kept in a small space, while  the shoulder-in around a circle tends to happen on a large circle.

[Bradders]

Thank you!

[crdodgeon]

I also like the idea of percentages 
I have to admit that I'm pondlife in terms of ability, dear gods, I can't even navigate a bloomin' circle (I fail to 'see' the shape, so it's just me) but these seemed well structured and would definitely feel like something that it would be feasible to aim for. A step at a time 

Something more at the lower levels would be good, but wonderful to see what could be aimed for 

[winnieandben]

 


Trudi, you would make a great judge 

Catkin    My horse may not have any welsh breeding but I dont want to teach her Jambette either, she already throws in the front leg strikes when she gets too excited or opinionated and doesnt need any encouragement 

[Heather]

Charlotte, a 20m circle is one of the hardest things of all to ride really accurately!!

Omar, great feedback coming in here!