Dressage tests first level: How to improve your scores at first level dressage.DRESSAGE TESTS FIRST LEVEL How do you improve your scores? The short answer to this is that circles get smaller so accuracy becomes more important. TRANSITIONS: Foy stresses that First Level riders should begin thinking about the quality of transitions in and out of every movement. For example, there should be a clear transition from working to extended trot or canter. The best way to do this is to begin setting up your transitions well before the letter at which the transition occurs. For example, downward canter transitions should be developed 12 meters before the letter at which the transition should occur. CHANGE OF CANTER LEAD THROUGH TROT: Foy advises riders to make sure your horse is straight, trot 3-5 steps centered over X, then canter, making sure your horse’s nose and should touch the letter at the other end. LEG YIELD: Make sure your horse is straight before you begin leg yield and don’t start leg yield until your horse’s nose hits G (or D). You want the maximum number of crossings possible.10-meter half-circles and Serpentines: Even at first level, many riders still have no idea how a dressage arena divides up geometrically. So their 10-meter half-circles end up being the wrong size or uneven sizes, and their serpentines end up being too flat or asymmetrical. Often, riders here are still using RSVP in the middle of the dressage arena as guides, so the middle half-circle in their serpentines are enormous while the top and bottom half-circles are tiny. A serpentine is comprised of 3 ten-meter half-circles, and the horse must change the bend in his body as he prepares to change direction.
Here are more tips and techniques for getting circles and half-circles correct.
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