[LadyDulcinea]

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a website that would tell me what the different levels of dressage are and what different things the horse has to know for each level. Also, if anyone on here shows in dressage, I would love to hear how the shows work...pretty much anything about them. I'm curious. Thanks in advance!

[Threedaychick]

www.usdf.org
The United States Dressage Federation, should have tests, levels, news and results from competitions, etc. etc.
I do eventing, but show in the occasional dressage show for practice, anything in particular you would like to know?

[Morgan 1]

Ask Dancinglite. She is the expert on Dressage

[SweetSavannah]

well im in australia so it might be different...

you have...
Preparatory - just walk, trot (rising), halt
Preliminary - walk, trot (rising), canter, halt
Novice - walk, trot (sitting) lengthen in trot (rising or sitting), canter, halt
Elementary - walk, trot (sitting), canter, halt, rein back, shoulder in (shoulders come off the track), simple change (change of direction in canter through the trot), travers.
Medium -walk, trot (sitting), canter, halt, rein back, shoulder in (shoulders come off the track), simple change (change of direction in canter through the trot), travers, walk pirouette, flying change in canter, half pass, counter canter.
Advance - walk, trot (sitting), canter, halt, rein back, shoulder in (shoulders come off the track), simple change (change of direction in canter through the trot), travers, walk pirouette, flying change in canter, half pass, counter canter, extended trot, flying changes in canter every 3rd/4th stride, half canter pirouette.

[LadyDulcinea]

Thanks SweetSavannah! That at least gave me some idea. I'm not sure if it's the same here as it is there, but I'm still working on that. Thanks for your reply!!

[my_cadbury]

Wow eileen!! Thanks for the advice on that one! It makes me feel slightly better about learning dressage with cadbury, cos i was thinking when i start eventing that i am going to have to know how to half pass, shoulder in, etc etc, but i only want to do grade five, so i think we will get there one day! You have given me faith! That was really good advice. Anyways, the other day when jess was riding him, he did a half pass without even meaning too!! Lol! So we will get there!!

[LadyDulcinea]

I'm just bumping this back up here. I was hoping Dancinglite would see it and have something to add. (I don't actually know who that is I'm ashamed to admit ), but one of the posts in here said she is an expert on dressage!

[Dancinglite]

Canadian and US dressage test are the same so if you go to this link ( scroll down) you will see all the tests from training to grand prix. The directives ( what is required are also there). They can be copied from this site.

http://www.dressagecanada.org/dcp.asp?pageid=68

As far as the shows, I would contact a dressage show organizer in your area to get more info. I have organized and run several shows from schooling to "A" level and there is WAY WAY to much info to list on this board. Believe me it can be a real headache balancing competitor scheduling complaints to the " I just knew it would rain and everything is scheduled for outside" problems.

[LadyDulcinea]

Thanks Dancinglite! That website is very helpful. I just have one more question...what does it mean when it says track left or track right? I know what everything else is, but am not sure on that. I may actually know what it is and I just call it something else.

[Kiwi Pony]

Track left means to turn to the left, so that your left side is to the inside. You find it in dressage tests when you are heading towards the arena edge, e.g. when you are heading down the centre line, or are riding from B to E (across the arena), and it is telling you which way to go when you reach the end or side. E.g. Lots of dressage tests start off - A: Enter at working trot. X:halt, salute, proceed at working trot. C: track right. Which mean you ride down the centre line of the arena and turn right at the end. Hope that's not too confusing :-)