United States Dressage Federation Instructor Certification (Levels 1-4)

Gripping the pommel allows the rider to stabilize their torso without gripping with the legs, encouraging the hip angle to relax and absorb the motion. Gripping with the knees acts as a pivot point that exacerbates bouncing, leaning too far back compromises balance, and altering the horse’s equipment does not address the rider’s biomechanical fault.

In the Training Scale, rhythm and impulsion must be maintained during lateral work; if lost, the rider must ride forward to re-establish the basics before asking for collection again. Increasing the angle, pulling the inside rein, or dropping to a walk will only create more restriction and further destroy the forward tendency.

The Training Scale is interconnected; connection (contact) is the result of the horse’s forward energy (impulsion) flowing through a supple back into the rider’s receiving hands. Connection is not created by pulling backward, nor is impulsion reserved only for upper-level horses.

A late behind flying change is typically caused by a lack of forward, uphill jump in the canter or a restrictive hand that blocks the new inside hind leg from coming through. Applying the outside leg behind the girth is the correct aid, and extending the canter or blaming an inside weight shift misunderstands the biomechanics of the movement.

In the half-pass, the inside leg stays at the girth to create bend, maintain forward momentum, and prevent the horse from falling inward off the line of travel. The outside leg is responsible for pushing the horse sideways, and a passive inside leg results in a loss of bend and forwardness.

Falling through the outside shoulder means the horse is out of balance and running through the outside aids; a half-halt on the outside rein combined with a guarding outside leg rebalances the horse. Pushing faster, crossing the inside rein, or dropping the outside contact will only exacerbate the loss of balance and straightness.

Hopping behind in a pirouette indicates a loss of the clear 3-beat canter rhythm due to a lack of forward impulsion and carrying power. The rider must ride out to restore the jump and rhythm; pulling the inside rein or halting will further destroy the forward energy required for collection.

Sliding side reins allow for more adjustability and encourage the horse to seek the contact forward and down, which is essential for warming up and loosening the back muscles. Fixed side reins do not offer this same longitudinal flexibility, and equipment that forces the head down or attaches to the longe line is unsafe or counterproductive.

Connection (being ‘on the bit’) comes from back-to-front riding; redirecting the student to transitions improves impulsion and suppleness, naturally creating connection while diffusing frustration. See-sawing the bit, using draw reins, or ignoring the student’s frustration are poor teaching methods that violate classical dressage principles.

A 15-meter circle starting at E (which is on the track) will travel 15 meters across the arena. Since the centerline is 10 meters away, the circle crosses the centerline by 5 meters, and goes 7.5 meters on either side of E longitudinally. Touching B would make it a 20-meter circle.

In travers, the outside leg behind the girth is the displacing aid responsible for bringing the haunches in, while the inside leg maintains forward impulsion and bend. Pulling the inside rein or shifting weight to the outside seat bone will unbalance the horse and block the movement.

Durchlässigkeit refers to the horse being ‘through’—where energy flows without restriction through a supple, connected horse, allowing aids to go through seamlessly. It is a holistic state of the entire horse, not just the jaw/poll, lateral crossing, or tempo.

Pinching with the knee creates a pivot point; as the rider’s upper body pitches forward, the lower leg mechanically swings backward. Too long stirrups usually cause the leg to reach forward, and pushing weight into the heels generally stabilizes the leg rather than throwing it backward.

Leading with the haunches in a half-pass means the displacing aid (outside leg) is overpowering the bending and forward aids (inside leg and rein). The inside leg must maintain the forward momentum and bend to keep the shoulders correctly aligned slightly ahead of the haunches.

Lengthening of stride is an introductory extension where the horse covers more ground and lengthens its frame, but without the prerequisite collection and uphill thrust that defines the medium gaits introduced at Second Level. Neither movement should alter the tempo, nor should the horse be behind the vertical.

Safety in a group setting is paramount. Having the spooking rider circle redirects the horse’s attention and re-establishes control, while halting other riders prevents a chain reaction. Forcing a frightened horse into a corner with a whip or dismounting in a volatile situation increases the risk of injury.

Swinging in the tempi changes is almost always caused by the rider throwing their weight or upper body side-to-side, which unbalances the horse. The rider should remain centered and quiet, changing only the leg aids. Still hands are correct, and extending the canter will not fix a balance issue.

The half-halt is a momentary closing of the seat, legs, and hands to rebalance the horse, shift weight to the hindquarters, and gain attention. It is never a backward pull, a complete dropping of contact, or a literal half-stride of walk.

Jogging in a downward transition to walk indicates a lack of balance and preparation; the horse fell onto the forehand because the rider did not use half-halts to shift the weight back. Rigid backward contact causes tension (also leading to jogging), and waiting 3-5 strides is the correct requirement for a simple change.

Longeing exercises like arm circles teach the rider to maintain a deep, balanced seat independent of what their arms or torso are doing. It prevents the rider from balancing on the reins or gripping with the knees, leading to an independent, following seat.