Dressage - Freestyle

There are some Dressage classes labeled as FS followed by a number and a descriptive word. These tests are created by the rider, they have minimum requirements (demands) that must be included in the riders creation however, the riders creation can include extra elements.

FS1 – Free Style Performance

Requirements: Number of elements minimum 10, maximum 14. The program of the test shall be created by the rider. The test is to be submitted in writing on the required forms before the start of the competition to the competition secretary.

Music: Suitable music is to be provided by the rider. Multiple pieces of music are only allowed when a representative of the rider is available to play the music in the right order on the equipment provided by the organiser of the competition.

Minimum demands

  • Medium walk
  • Tölt
  • Slow or medium speed canter
  • Transitions of the gaits and speed
  • Change of rein
  • Bending
  • Halt
  • Salute

 

Possible elements besides the minimum demands

  • Trot
  • Leg yielding or shoulder in
  • Rein back
  • Turn on the haunches
  • Change of canter via walk, trot or tölt.

Any test element will only be rated once per rein. The salute is an exception.

FS2 – Riding in the dressage arena

Requirements: Number of elements minimum 8, maximum 12. Length of test about 5 minutes. The rider shall create the program of the test. The test (including diagrams) is to be submitted in writing on the required forms before the start of the competition to the competition secretary. 

Music: Suitable music is to be provided by the rider. Multiple pieces of music are only allowed when a representative of the rider is available to play the music in the right order on the equipment provided by the organiser of the competition.

The ridden dressage elements should be chosen out of the following examples:

  • Halt from walking and/or trot/tölt
  • Move off into walk and/or trot/tölt
  • Serpentine loops, circle change of rein from circle to circle – walk, trot or tölt
  • Figure of eight in walk or trot/tölt
  • Canter right and left around the outside/or circle
  • Turn on the forehand
  • Leg-yielding (walk) at any place
  • Change of gait (tölt-trot-tölt) at any place

Each element can only be shown once, with the exception of:

  • Canter right and left
  • Leg-yielding right and left
  • Turn on the forehand right/left

FS3 – In-hand showing in the dressage arena

Free choice of presentation. The horse is shown from the ground.

Requirements: Number of elements minimum 5, maximum 8. Length of test about 5 minutes. The program of the test shall be created by the rider. The test (including diagrams) is to be submitted in writing on the required forms before the start of the competition to the competition secretary.

Possible elements:

  • Training on the ground
  • Lunging the horse
  • Lunging with 2 reins
  • Free dressage “from the ground”
  • Driving from the ground
  • Long reins
  • Without reins or lunge contact

Other elements which can be done without riding the horse are allowed.

Restrictions

It is allowed to show the horse without any equipment. Clothing of the rider should correspond with the test.

Music

Suitable music is to be provided by the rider. Multiple pieces of music are only allowed when a representative of the rider is available to play the music in the right order on the equipment provided by the organiser of the competition.

Further descriptions of classes can be found on the FEIF website: www.feif.org/sport-dept/tests