Skill Level Tests

BEGINNER

Must ride a "horse of sound mind"

Understand the tradition of elegance of side saddle riding: i.e.: upright posture, wonderful smile (no smoking or gum chewing while mounted)

Can walk and halt while maintaining correct position

Is learning to apply "purchase" while riding

Understands and can apply emergency grip

Rider is to perform movements on the right rein, as they are announced:

1. Horse must stand quietly to be mounted

2. Demonstrate transitions of halt to walk to halt the length of a given area described by the judge

3. Turn a large circle on the right rein

Rider will be judged on body position, aids and hand position.

ADVACED BEGINNER

Walk/ Gait while maintaining proper position

Does not lean on horse's mouth to maintain balance

Is learning and using "purchase" when riding

Can keep right shoulder back when riding in a straight line or bending on the right rein

Rider is to perform movements on the right rein, as they are announced:

1. Straight line at walk and gait

2. 20-meter circle (right rein) in gait

3. Demonstrate transitions to and from halt, walk and gait

4. Back three steps (rein back)

Rider will be judged on body position, aids, hand position, and performance.

BEGINNER INTERMEDIATE

Has a horse that does not kick or bite other horses while performing close-order drill

Walk/ Gait. Rider understands how to get, and keep, the horse in gait

Rider can do aforementioned gaits on both reins while making 20-meter circles and serpentines

Can demonstrate knowledge and application of aids for the half halt, and for transitions to and from halt and walk and gait

Can ride and maintain position at the walk/gait (on right rein) without the stirrup

Knows basic drill movements, has knowledge and use of spacing and alignment

Has begun work on barrida

General understanding of lateral movements

Perform the following movements in gait on the right rein, as they are announced. May have 2 optional movements:

1. 20-meter circle

2. Serpentine (shallow)

3. Straight line forward

4. Straight line backward five steps

5. Transitions to and from halt, walk and gait

6. Alignment and spacing in barrida, required for drill team

Rider will be judged on body position, aids, hand position, and performance of required movements.

ADVANCED INTERMEDIATE

Can walk/gait while in correct position, on both reins, while performing circles, half circles, serpentines and straight lines

Has knowledge of and can use leg, seat and rein aids

Can perform turn on forehand, turn on haunches, and leg yield in both directions

Can keep the horse in gait throughout entire drill if necessary

Understands and uses half-halts, impulsion, and collection

Has sympathetic and independent hands

Has thorough ability to perform barrida with other riders

Can maintain spacing and alignment within the drill

Is in the process of learning competition drills

Has a horse of reasonable talent and attitude, willing to perform close-order drills

Perform the following movements as they are announced. May have 2 optional movements (i.e. riders are currently perfecting that movement):

1. 20-meter circle, both directions

2. 10-meter circle, both directions

3. Tear drop (half circle change of rein)

4. Serpentine (large loops)

5. Straight line

6. Turn on forehand, right rein

7. Turn on haunches, right rein

8. Leg yield, both directions

9. Rein back seven steps

Rider will be judged on body position, aids, hand position, and performance.

ADVANCED

Has a horse of advanced drill level

Understands teamwork and is willing to work within a team

Has independent hands and seat

Thorough understanding of leg, seat, and rein aids

Thorough understanding and ability to use half-halts, impulsion, and collection

Knows the aids for and can perform turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, and rein back

Able to perform lateral movements, both directions

Can ride and maintain position at all gaits without stirrup

Can participate in advanced competition drills

Able to advise a beginner on the choice of sidesaddle and what to avoid

Discuss and demonstrate how to introduce a horse to being ridden under side saddle and be able to school and improve horse in their work as a drill-team mount

Perform a program of your choosing showing the following movements in gait. Two movements may be optional (rider is improving those movements):

1. Straight line

2. Shoulder in and leg yield in both directions

3. Extended gait

4. Collected gait

5. Turn on the forehand and turn on the haunches (both reins)

6. Rein back 15 steps

Rider will be judged on ability to perform movements to the standard drill-team participation.