How to Improve Your Scores at
Second Level Dressage
Brenda was looking forward to showing at Second Level. She had taught her horse all the "tricks" that a Second Level horse should know. To her surprise, the judge didn't agree.
She received a very low score, and the judge's comments were full of terms she didn't really understand. What did the judge mean by "lack of impulsion", "needs more uphill carriage", and "insufficient collection"?
She received a very low score, and the judge's comments were full of terms she didn't really understand. What did the judge mean by "lack of impulsion", "needs more uphill carriage", and "insufficient collection"?
Many people watch a 2nd Level dressage test and come away thinking it is all about teaching the horse fancy tricks. It isn't. The "fancy tricks" that they see the horse performing are actually movements designed to reshape and condition a horse's body and improve his way of going. A horse will score poorly if he trails his haunches and pulls himself along with his front legs while performing shoulder-in or travers rather than carrying more weight in his hindquarters and driving the movement from his powerful haunches.
The secret: Second level riders typically lose points for insufficient collection and lack of clarity in transitions. |
Collection is introduced at Second Level, which means that the horse is now expected to carry more weight in his hindquarters. This gives him a more "uphill" carriage. This is usually the first thing people notice about the horses at this level. Their necks are more arched, their head carriage is higher, their bodies appear "shorter" from poll to croup, and their hind legs appear to be more "under the belly."
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The horse goes from looking like this...
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to looking like this.
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The collective movements in Second Level dressage tests include shoulder-in, travers, and rein-back. (Renvers was moved to Third Level in the 2015 USEF tests because it is believed that horses are better able to perform this movement when they have achieve the self-carriage required at Third Level.)
Before we get to how to improve your scores, let's see what a great Second Level Test looks like. I've chosen a YouTube video of a lovely horse-rider pair who execute their Second Level Test with ease, harmony, and clarity of movements. Even though Savaroth is a big warmblood with flashy movement who has been bred for the sport, Training through 2nd Level dressage can be used to improve any horse's strength, agility, and way of going. Your horse can do this, no matter what age or breed.
Before we get to how to improve your scores, let's see what a great Second Level Test looks like. I've chosen a YouTube video of a lovely horse-rider pair who execute their Second Level Test with ease, harmony, and clarity of movements. Even though Savaroth is a big warmblood with flashy movement who has been bred for the sport, Training through 2nd Level dressage can be used to improve any horse's strength, agility, and way of going. Your horse can do this, no matter what age or breed.
Now for the nitty-gritty details that can win you or cost you major points.
1. IMPROVE YOUR HORSE'S STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE BY SCHOOLING COLLECTION IN LONGER SEGMENTS.
At Second Level, the horse is expected to be balanced and strong enough to perform a full diagonal or long side of the movements. Including shoulder-in and travers in your training routine is an excellent way of improving your horse's strength, agility, and collection. More on how to ride shoulder-in can be found here. More on travers can be found here. And more about how these movements improve collection can be found here.
2. PERFECT YOUR HALF-HALT SO YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR HORSE'S COLLECTION.
Second Level Directives now include the words “engagement” and “uphill balance.” This means that it is essential that your horse's hindquarters are weighted and active in every movement.
The way to shift your horse's weight back onto the haunches is through the half-halt. Do not guess at how to do this. It is the cornerstone of every collective movement, and if you are not clear about how to perform an effective half-halt, every single movement you ride from here on out will be poorly executed. The canter and trot that brought you big scores at First Level will bring you mediocre scores at Second Level because the judge expects to see more collection and brilliance in your horse's gaits. More on how to perform the perfect half-halt here. You can find valuable tips for improving your half-halt here.
1. IMPROVE YOUR HORSE'S STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE BY SCHOOLING COLLECTION IN LONGER SEGMENTS.
At Second Level, the horse is expected to be balanced and strong enough to perform a full diagonal or long side of the movements. Including shoulder-in and travers in your training routine is an excellent way of improving your horse's strength, agility, and collection. More on how to ride shoulder-in can be found here. More on travers can be found here. And more about how these movements improve collection can be found here.
2. PERFECT YOUR HALF-HALT SO YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR HORSE'S COLLECTION.
Second Level Directives now include the words “engagement” and “uphill balance.” This means that it is essential that your horse's hindquarters are weighted and active in every movement.
The way to shift your horse's weight back onto the haunches is through the half-halt. Do not guess at how to do this. It is the cornerstone of every collective movement, and if you are not clear about how to perform an effective half-halt, every single movement you ride from here on out will be poorly executed. The canter and trot that brought you big scores at First Level will bring you mediocre scores at Second Level because the judge expects to see more collection and brilliance in your horse's gaits. More on how to perform the perfect half-halt here. You can find valuable tips for improving your half-halt here.
3. MAKE SURE YOUR SIMPLE CHANGES HAPPEN EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO AND YOUR SERPENTINES REALLY ARE THREE HALF-TWENTY METER CIRCLES.
Every time you cross the centerline, you perform a simple change of lead, that is, you bring your horse to a walk and ask for canter again. You MUST be sure that the simple change occurs exactly where it is supposed to happen--at the centerline. For the serpentine, you must be sure that your horse does not lose balance or rhythm as he rides through the counter canter segment of the serpentine.
Every time you cross the centerline, you perform a simple change of lead, that is, you bring your horse to a walk and ask for canter again. You MUST be sure that the simple change occurs exactly where it is supposed to happen--at the centerline. For the serpentine, you must be sure that your horse does not lose balance or rhythm as he rides through the counter canter segment of the serpentine.

SERPENTINES: Serpentines MUST be three smoothly connected 10-meter half-circles. The problem is that even at second level, many riders still don't have a clear image in their minds of the geometry of the arena. As a result, their serpentines end up being 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.
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.
4. CLEAR TRANSITIONS, HALTS, AND REIN BACKS.
Judges look for clarity in these things. When you transition from medium trot (or canter) to collected trot (or canter), the change should be immediate and clear. The same goes for transitions from medium to extended trot or canter. This means your horse has to be attentive to your aids. Practice these transitions until your horse clearly understands what your aids means—what you are asking for. And ALWAYS prepare your horse for the transition by doing a half-halt. The half-halt means "Pay attention, something is going to happen now." It produces the collection you need for the collected gaits, and gathers up power in the haunches that you release to produce a brilliant extension.
When performing rein back, make sure that you come to a complete halt and that your horse is balanced. Then squeeze your hands gently while you apply pressure with both legs to ask your horse to step back. Make sure your horse takes 3-4 CLEAR steps back, halt, then resume the test.
Judges look for clarity in these things. When you transition from medium trot (or canter) to collected trot (or canter), the change should be immediate and clear. The same goes for transitions from medium to extended trot or canter. This means your horse has to be attentive to your aids. Practice these transitions until your horse clearly understands what your aids means—what you are asking for. And ALWAYS prepare your horse for the transition by doing a half-halt. The half-halt means "Pay attention, something is going to happen now." It produces the collection you need for the collected gaits, and gathers up power in the haunches that you release to produce a brilliant extension.
When performing rein back, make sure that you come to a complete halt and that your horse is balanced. Then squeeze your hands gently while you apply pressure with both legs to ask your horse to step back. Make sure your horse takes 3-4 CLEAR steps back, halt, then resume the test.
5. TURN ON THE HAUNCHES
When doing turn on the haunches, your horse’s hind legs can travel on a 1-meter circle. More than that and it’s a turn around the middle, not haunches; less than that and it’s a pirouette. Be sure to begin the turn before the letter.
When doing turn on the haunches, your horse’s hind legs can travel on a 1-meter circle. More than that and it’s a turn around the middle, not haunches; less than that and it’s a pirouette. Be sure to begin the turn before the letter.
The 2023 USEF Dressage Tests can be found here.
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins March 25, 2016; Updated June 3, 2024
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
How to develop elastic rein contact
Get Fit To Ride!
Opening Photo Credit: File:Horse in Dressage Competition.JPG, From Wikimedia Commons
Second Photo Credit: Dressage USEF Training Level Test 2 - ID 42153398 © Dennis Donohue | Dreamstime.com
Happy riding!
Copyright Denise Cummins March 25, 2016; Updated June 3, 2024
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
How to develop elastic rein contact
Get Fit To Ride!
Opening Photo Credit: File:Horse in Dressage Competition.JPG, From Wikimedia Commons
Second Photo Credit: Dressage USEF Training Level Test 2 - ID 42153398 © Dennis Donohue | Dreamstime.com
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