View and print the 2022 USEF Beginner Novice Test B here: https://useventing.com/resources/documents/2022-USEF-BEGINNER-NOVICE-TEST-B-WEB.pdf
The tips in this post are from a Dressage Test Playbook in the Ride iQ mobile app.
Peter is a renowned dressage judge and has judged at some of the world's most prestigious events including the 2022 World Eventing Championships in Italy. He has been to the Olympics Games as both an event rider and as a team coach. Peter is ICP Level IV certified and he is a Ride iQ coach.
Go around the arena clockwise. This will help get the horse supple and ready to track right.
For the centerline:
The first time the judge sees the horse from the side will be when you turn right at C. That will show them the quality of the trot.
✍️ TAKE NOTE: You receive just one score for these two movements.
This is a good place to ask for the canter (thank you, test designers!). The corner prepares you to make a nice balanced transition.
The mark you get here is only for the transition.
"We're going to be judging the balance of the canter, but most importantly, the rhythm." -PG
⚠️ WARNING: If you make the transition close to E, your horse will likely get more on the forehand or out of balance because you've been cantering on a straight line.
This is a nice place to ask for the downward transition.
"I wouldn't make the transition at H or at C, but absolutely in the middle of those two letters. The fact that we have bend in the horse's neck is going to encourage them to be soft in the hand in that down transition." -PG
"I advise everyone to have a person on the ground when practicing the free walk at home. It's amazing how many times we see a free walk where the neck is not down and forward, but actually curling behind. This will lead to a severe reduction in your score. Ask the person on the ground to tell you when the horse's nose is in front of the vertical for the free walk." -PG
A corner is a nice place to transition from free walk to medium walk. Transitioning in the turn with bend reduces the chance that the horse will get tense.
There is very little time to get ready for the working trot at F.
✍️ TAKE NOTE: You receive just one score for these two movements.
You did this movement in the opposite direction already. Remember:
The transition in the corner will help keep your horse balanced.
"For me, this is a happiness mark. Was it a pleasant test to watch? Did the rider show the gaits to the full potential? The rider should show off the freedom of the horse's gaits through their ringmanship. Round off the corners and show the quality of the gaits." -PG
💡 YOU READ THAT RIGHT! Round off the corners rather than going too deep. Doing so will show off your horse's gaits and prevent them from getting "stuck" in the corners.
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