Introductory Level

Horses must be at least three years of age. This level is made to provide an opportunity for horses and riders to learn about dressage. Riders at this level must be able to demonstrate elementary skills, correct geometry, and the effectiveness of the rider. Riders must be able to perform the basic walk, trot, and canter gaits and change rein.

Training Level

Horses must be at least three years of age. Building upon the basics of the introductory level, training level begins to place more emphasis on the horse’s gaits and that they move freely in a steady rhythm while accepting contact with the bit. This can include shallow loops at the canter, stretch circles at the trot, and canter to trot changes across a diagonal.

First Level

Horses must be at least four years of age. At this level your horse must have thrust, power in their hind end, and start to achieve thoroughness in their back. This is the last of the more basic levels. Riders and horses must be able to perform 10m circles at trot, 15m circles at canter, lengthen the stride in trot and canter, leg yield, and counter canter.

Second level

Horses must be at least five years of age. Second level is where things begin to pick up now that you’ve demonstrated understanding of the basics. There’s a lot more power in the hind quarters required at second level due to the need to perform collection, medium paces, Travers, simple changes, 10m canter circles, and half turn on haunches. Additionally, a greater degree of straightness, suppleness, and self-carriage is expected at this level.

Third level

Horses must be at least six years of age. At this point, your horse should know the basics and have an established uphill balance in their work. Now they must begin to perform increased engagement in their movement as well as more refined transitions between collected, medium, and extended gaits. Third level introduces extended gaits, flying changes, half pass at trot, Renvers, and half pass at canter.

Fourth level

Horses must be at least seven years of age. At this level you will see collected walk, collected canter, walk pirouettes, multiple flying changes, tempi changes every fourth stride, and partial pirouettes in canter.

Prix St.Georges

Horses must be at least seven years of age. Prix St. Georges is the first level tested in international show arenas. Double bridles are required from this point forward. Very few new movements are added. New movemnets include volte (eight meter circle) and halt from collected canter.

Intermediate I

Horses must be at least seven years of age. New movements include five-step rein back, zig-zag half pass, two-time tempi changes, and the full pirouette.

Intermediate A

Horses must be at least eight years of age. New movemenets are the piaffe,piaffe from the passage (seven to ten piaffe steps, allowing for half steps two meters forward.), and seven one-time tempi changes.

Intermediate B

Horses must be at least eight years of age. Half passes in Intermediate B consist of four half-passes on either side of center line, the first and last consisting of four strides and the others of 8. Riders will also perform 9 one-time tempi changes.

Intermediate II

Horses must be at least eight years of age. The Piaffe segment will consist of eight to ten steps, with a margin of one meter forward permitted. Riders will perform eleven one-time tempi changes

Grand Prix

Horses must be at least eight years of age. This is the highest level of dressage, horses should have all movements polished to perfection! Piaffe will be twelve to fifteen steps, nine two-time Tempi Changes will be performed in addition to fifteen One-Time Tempi Changes. Five Half-Passes will be performed in a zig zag beginning on the centerline. The first and last half-passes will consist of three strides, and the others will be six strides.

Horses in italics are not eligable for awards and incentives.