2005 USDF Convention: Competitive Edge

2005 USDF Convention
What the Competitor Should Know to Gain a Competitive Edge

by Jayne Ayers, Maryal Barnett, Janet Brown Foy and Lois Yukins with moderator Marilyn Heath

Jayne Ayers

Judges come up with their scores based on BASICS + CRITERIA +/- MODIFIERS

BASICS are based on gaits, impulsion, submission and the rider.

CRITERIA are outlined by USEF in the DRESSAGE RULE BOOK which is available online. Be sure that you meet the criteria for the test. Don’t just read the test book, but read the actual rules, and make sure that you know what the judge will be looking for!

MODIFERS are things like bend in the corners, shying, stumbling, disturbances on the short side. Riding particularly well improve your score, while problems can lower your store.

How can you improve your score?

Be sure you are familiar with the criteria for the test.
Ride your test accurately. Make sure your geometry is correct, and that your geometry is precise.
Pay attention to basics: ride your horse in a steady, suitable tempo, with sufficient impulsion. Be certain your horse is in self-carriage. Pay attention to submission, attentiveness, confidence, harmony. Strive for balance in transitions. Go for the harmonious picture.

Lois Yukins on The Training Pyramid (a.k.a. The Training Scale)

Rhythm: This means that walk/trot/canter occurs with the correct footfalls/movement of the legs.

Relaxation/Connection refers to the back of the horse, and how the horse wants to use it. The horse should be happy about the rider. It comes from the roundness of the topline.

Impulsion refers to the release of the hindquarters stored energy in an upward and forward direction.

Straightness requires levelness in carriage (no tilting). The horse must be evenly balanced on both sides without stiffness on one side or the other. After the horse is straight and level, the horse is able to come uphill in the front.

Both ends cannot be down at the same time. The horse must be helped to get straight and level first, and then allowed to come uphill in front by asking for more weight carriage on the hind end.

Maryal Barnett: Collective Marks

Judges keep a running tally in their heads throughout the test in order to award collective marks at the end.

Gaits reflects FREEDOM (quality; reach, scope, lack of constriction), REGULARITY (footfalls correct including the moment of suspension in trot and canter). Different judges weigh the gaits differently (i.e., walk=trot=canter, or trot=canter with walk factored in less heavily), but are generally consistent within themselves as to how they judge all the rides they see.

Impulsion is the willingness to carry forward (does not mean to go faster and faster, but rather to move with energy and suspension), with elasticity in steps, suppleness in back and engagement of hindquarters. Note that engagement requires bending of the hindquarters during the STANCE phase.

Submission reflects attention and confidence, as well as harmony between the horse and rider, lightness and ease of movement, acceptance of the bridle, and lightness of the forehand.

Rider reflects rider position, seat and correctness and the effect of the aids (so it is also determined to some extent by how well the test went).

Collective marks can help you figure out how your basics are going, and tell you why you aren’t getting the score you’d like if you are having trouble.