Riders compete in dressage training show
Judging is made according to the accuracy of the rider’s movements as well as the horse’s obedience throughout the test.
The Honeydew Equestrian Centre (HEC) held a dressage test for horse riders on Sunday, June 13. Stable manager and instructor at HEC, Martinique van der Westhuizen said for dressage tests, riders know which tests they will be doing beforehand as prescribed by Dressage South Africa. “Each test is set to best show the rider and the horse’s level of training, with each movement being marked out of 10. For children, the test is ridden in a 20m x 40m arena, while young riders and adults compete in a 20m x 60m arena.”
Every level of dressage is catered for and starts at the preliminary level. Each level involves progressively more difficult movements, with the highest level being the grand prix.
Martinique explained that letters around the edge of the arena are set to specific intervals which allow riders to show the movements required in the tests more accurately. “You can either learn the test by heart or, in the lower levels, you can have someone call the test movements out as you ride them.”
Judging is done according to the accuracy of the rider’s movements as well as the horse’s obedience throughout the test. The rider with the highest score for that test wins the class.
