DRESSAGE TESTS IN AUSTRALIA

Dressage tests up to Prix St Georges can be different in every country. Each National Federation designs and names its own tests but basically they are all quite similar in their aims and requirements. (To compare Australia, USA and Germany, see the table below).
Prix St Georges, Intermediare 1, Intemediare 2 and Grand Prix are all identical throughout the world. These are recognised as FEI levels. The FEI is the international organisation for dressage (Federation Equestre Internationale).

The 2009 EA tests are different from the previous EFA tests. They are now essentially the same as the American ones, whereas previously the EFA test were developed in Australia. The EFA tests were numbered as Preliminary 1.1, 1.2 etc. The new tests are 1A, 1B etc.
There are four tests at each level up to and including Elementary, and three tests at Medium and Advanced.

The most obvious difference is the two new movements: leg yield, appearing at Novice level, and renvers which comes in at Elementary level. However, there are more subtle and very important differences in every test, and these will require learning and practising before actually being performed in competition.
Every test now has directive ideas for each movement, and the majority of these begin with the requirement for the quality of the movement, transition or pace.
The purpose of each level is stated at the top of each test, giving the rider an idea of what the judges will be looking for. For example, the purpose of Preliminary is to confirm that the horse’s muscles are supple and loose and that it moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm, accepting contact with the bit. This indicates the quality required at this level. Note that suppleness is mentioned first, which implies that suppleness is the first and most important requirement for a dressage horse. Intervals between movements are shorter.

Preliminary
Purpose: to confirm that the horse’s muscles are supple and loose and that it moves freely forward in a clear and steady rhythm accepting contact with the bit.
Introduce canter, canter half 20m circle, allow horse to stretch forward and down, trot loop, transitions at markers.
1A: Canter-trot transitions are at end of the circle, between the centreline and the long side. Previously they were after reaching the long side, and going straight.
1B: Canter-trot transitions on the long side, after the circle. Free walk loop FXM.
1C: Circle at A, developing canter in the first quarter of the circle. Additional scores for the transition and the circle. Then EB half circle with transition to trot near centreline. Medium walk on short diagonal (KB), then on long side (BM), and trot at M. Trot circle allowing horse to stretch forward and down. Halt at G.
1D: Trot loop MXF, emphasizing change of bend.

 Novice
Purpose: to confirm that the horse has developed thrust (pushing power) and achieved a degree of balance and throughness.
Introduce 15m circle in canter, lengthened trot/canter, change of lead through trot, 10m circle at trot, counter canter.
2A: KXM lengthen stride (Diagonal). 3 loop serpentine (x2). 15m circle at E. Canter MXK, trot X. Canter 15m circle. CHEG sitting trot.
2B: D-R leg yield right (towards long side, x2). HK lengthen stride in canter (long side). 15m circle at C. Halt 5 seconds. SHC medium walk (around corner). MF Lengthen stride at canter.
2C: VI leg yield (towards centre line). Change canter lead through trot.
2D: Trot 10m circle at L. XM Leg yield (steeper). Canter 15m circle at A. Canter loop HXK loop. Change rein ME canter, trot I (short diagonal). V 20m circle.

 Elementary
Purpose: To confirm that the horse accepts more weight on the hindquarters (collection), shows the uphill tendency required at the medium paces and is reliably on the bit. A greater degree of straightness, bending, suppleness, throughness, balance and self-carriage is required.
Introduce 10m circle at canter, medium paces, shoulder-in, simple change, reinback, Travers. Turn on the haunches, Renvers.
3A: Enter collected trot. Medium trot sitting. Shoulder-in (x2). M trot circle 10m. Reinback (x2). 3 loop serpentine no lead change. Collected canter. Simple change between quarterline and long side (x2). V trot 10m circle. Medium canter. Sitting trot.
3B: Travers. Walk-canter. Canter 10m circle V (x2). EXB Simple change at X. Counter canter EH.
3C: Travers (x2). Half turn on haunches. Medium canter. Simple change to counter canter.
3D: Shoulder in-Renvers (x2). 3 loop serpentine with changes. Scores for each change. Canter 10m circle at L, simple change at X, canter 10m circle at I.

 Medium
Purpose: To confirm that the horse demonstrates increased engagement in each movement, especially medium and extended paces and in the transitions to/from the collected movements. Rhythm, suppleness, acceptance of bit, throughness, balance, impulsion, straightness and collection. There must be a clear distinction within the paces.
Introduce trot 8m circle, extended paces, half pass at trot and canter, single flying change, rein release at canter (first inside, then both), counter change of hand at trot, walk pirouettes..
4A: Shoulder-in – half pass LS (towards long side). Extended walk (x2). Flying change VR between centre line and long side (x2). Inside rein release 4-5 strides at canter. Extended canter. Extended trot.
4B: Half pass BG (towards centre line). Half Pass DR.
4C: Give both reins 4-5 canter strides.

 Advanced
Purpose: to confirm that the horse has acquired a high degree of suppleness, impulsion throughness, plus a clear uphill balance and lightness while always remaining reliably on the bit and that its movements are straight, energetic and cadenced with the transitions precise and smooth.
Introduce collected walk/canter, very collected canter, counter change hand in trot, working pirouettes, tempi changes.
5A: Medium trot HXF, collected 6-7 strides over X. Trot half pass right then left. C circle 20m, 5-6 strides very collected canter between quarter lines (x2). Canter KLB, flying change L, BIH change at I (x2).
5B: FX Half pass (x2), X circle 8m, XG shoulder-in. Extended-collected trot (x2). Canter RV, Half pirouette between X and V (x2). 3 changes every 4th. Extended to collected canter. Extended to collected walk (x2).
5C: DX shoulder-in right, XG shoulder-in left. FX half pass left, XM half pass left (x2). 3 changes every 3rd. Collected-extended walk (x2). DB half pass right (x2). Reinback 4 steps.

Different national test levels compared

Australia

USA

Germany

Preliminary

Training level

E

Novice

Level 1

A

Elementary

Level 2

L

Medium

Level 3

M

Advanced

Level 4

S

FEI

Level 5

FEI

How dressage is scored

Individual dressage tests are scored using a numerical system from 0 through 10. Scores in the 5-8 range are most frequently seen. Scores higher than 9 or lower than 4 are seldom given. Each individual movement is scored using the numerical system, and some are given coefficients, which multiply the numerical score by two. Overall impressions are scored in the section entitled "Collective Marks." The number of points possible is divided the number of points received, yielding a percentage that is used to rank the horse & rider combinations in the class.

The method of marking is always the same in every country:

10

Excellent

9

Very good

8

Good

7

Fairly good

6

Satisfactory

5

Sufficient

4

Insufficient

3

Fairly bad

2

Bad

1

Very bad

0

Not performed

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