the order of tests. please.

[granniesboy]

Will some one please list and explain a little the order that test are done in . As a happy hacker I find it very confusing. Where do you start.

[fleabitten]

Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium, Advanced Medium, Advanced. Not sure whats after that but its v high level. Think its maybe grand prix and then prix st george?

As far as i know you can compete without registering with british dressage at any level (mostly prelim and novice). when you get up the grades its probly more worth affiliating anyway.

i think if you are affiliated you gain points (much like showjumping) and then you know when to move up a level. but it depends on how advanced you are in your training as to what level you are at. anyone can do prelim and with a bit of work can move up to novice and if they are really dedicated and train well they can go further.

[granniesboy]

thats great. thank you. so do the actual tests in each level change and how often. how do you know what you have to do.

[fleabitten]

at each level there are several different tests and theyre numbered, so the idea is the higher you go up the number scale the harder the test will be. well, thats the idea anyway ;D

BD bring out new tests so it might say 2002 or 2009 or something but you dont really need to worry too much about that. when you enter a competition you will be told exactly which test they are marking. it will say the level, the number and the year, so all you have to do is go out and purchase the test with the same level number and year

on the test there is a numbered sequence of movements and you have to carry them out in that order.

to confuse you even more, the pony club, british riding clubs and eventing each have their own separate set of dressage tests but these are only usually used for riding club members competitions, pony club events and eventing comps.
if its a riding centre doing it its usually just british dressage tests. affiliated dressage will of course have british dressage tests.

will see if i can find out more about the other dressage tests