That cool that this is your opinion…I am sure my friend in Germany will appreciate it, that she is on a very advanced level 😀
And just to clarify… I have ridden L-Dressur in Germany as well as 2nd level here. I have also ridden M-Dressur in Germany and 3rd level here… And maybe we should now discuss what level you guys think this test is?? I am really interested?? don’t forget there are also levels in Germany just like here. And there are movements required just like here 😀. And we already know that there are average riders like Cantering Carot and advanced riders like this guy in the video just like here…
as I said before I did not put a lot of thought into the video, which I found by chance, I was simply impressed by the beautiful canter entry, I am sure I would struggle to do it that beautiful although I did get some nice scores for mine in the past and the extremely controlled ride… Not sure if he would do it like that in a real show, but as a demonstration it was beautiful!!
Just because someone made an organizational chart that looks nice, doesn’t mean L in Germany is a direct correlation to 2nd in the USA.
Also, in comparison to the chart shared above, the video has half-pass at the trot (2:40-2:50, 3:10-3:20) which the chart says is introduced at M - Medium test.
Based on when that chart says the movements are introduced, they’re really hard to compare because many movements are introduced at very different times in comparison to other movements. For instance, shoulder-in isn’t introduced until M, at the same time as half-pass, in Germany, but in the USA shoulder-in comes in at 2nd and half-pass at 3rd. Germany appears to skip a walk half-turn-on-the-haunches and goes right to a walk pirouette, whereas USA has turn-on-the-haunches in 2nd+3rd and walk pirouette in 4th.
I’d wager:
E = Intro
A = Training/First/Second
L = Second/Third/Fourth
M = Third
S Advanced = Fourth
I am still pretty new to dressage, but the horse/rider in the video are very obviously well past a Second Level pair.
11 Likes
Germany has L* and L**, this is a one star test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL31xYHoUB0
In Austria e.g. we have L/M as a “class in between” and then LP, these are tests to qualify for M-dressage. L** is meant to be “on the road to M”.
4 Likes
This could be a half way decent discussion if you lost the back handed insults, snark, and superior attitude. Seriously. There are plenty of people here with international experience and knowledge. There are also many willing to learn.
If you read the other replies, many are discussing that this level, L level, falls between levels in America. It is not a direct comparison to 2nd level, or 3rd level exactly. The German levels are different. That is understood. No one is forgetting that Germany also has levels. I don’t know which posts you are reading, but I’m seeing people discussing how Germany and America both have levels, but we cannot say level L directly correlates to level 2 or what have you. I don’t know why you are constantly insulting others intelligence.
We can agree that the demonstration was nice and done by a skilled rider. Also, good for you for having successful competitions? Many of us here have also competed up the levels, or have been successful at our chosen level. I don’t care to hold Germany on a pedestal, or give the impression it is better than America, because that is not constructive in the least. The same goes trying to define what level this test is. There is not an exact American equivalent. That’s fine. The countries don’t need to have the exact same structure.
I can appreciate if you simply want to provide another perspective, or bring an international element to the discussion, but don’t look down upon others, make accusations, or discredit them. It just makes the conversation sour.
”‹”‹”‹”‹
More advanced than second level in the USA, yes. Which is why it’s not a second level test, it’s a L-dressur test. 
Your insistence on using incorrect terminology and claiming it’s second level is what’s preventing people from simply watching and appreciating a lovely ride. Had you said “Look at this lovely ride, L-dressur level” rather than using incorrect terminology all this debate would have had no reason to start.
21 Likes
Nobody forces anybody to watch anything… I guess people have priorities…for some it seems to be important to focus on other things than on a ride… can’t help it… for me it continues to be a second level test, because it’s neither 1st level nor 3rd level but something in between, but if it is important for you to insist that it’s not second level that’s fine… and BTW it’s not a Dressur L test… it’s a L-Dressur 😀
Just asking would anybody be interested to see this test ridden by a regular AA?? I found one on YouTube and she won her class and this is not supposed to be a critique anyhow… but it was inreresting to see the difference in the rides…
I would. 
2 Likes
There are many L** L10 on YT, easy to find?
2 Likes
I agree, I picked this one… I think it’s a nice ride but not as controlled as the one I originally showed… and I apologize, somehow this test is a bit different but same movements… And as I said I still suspect that the horse and rider in my first video are more advanced then 2nd level… enjoy!! https://youtu.be/FhkuZRO4uFg
1 Like
The rider’s seat is exemplary. The horse is nicely forward, and even though ridden in a double bridle, the horse did not look “held together” and was basically in front of the vertical. You may nit-pick to details but overall a very nice pair.
3 Likes
Silly nit-picky question, but is the first one a demonstration of the test rather than actual competition? I noticed that the horse was wearing wraps on all 4 legs, and bell boots, which would not be allowed in competition in the USA.
1 Like
Yes, you are right. I think the first video showed a demonstration how this test should be ridden.
IMO this rider would ride different in a show then he did in the video. Everything was over extremly controlled… I think he just wanted to ride 100% correct without mistakes…
This.
5 Likes
😀. And yet the question remains, what level is it?? Because if you go up the levels in the different countries…it is 2nd level in Germany 😀. They have 4 levels just like the US until you reach FEI…
Manni, for better or worse this is a US-oriented forum. You’re very knowledgeable about the German system, but you can’t assume that your audience is. Go ahead and translate “L-Dressur” as second level if you think that’s the best way to do it, but there has to be a footnote there providing context for that translation. Because it’s clearly not a one-to-one correspondence. Without that, well, you’ve seen what’s happened. There’s a bunch of very confused readers looking at that test going “well that’s not 2nd level” when they were either unaware that there was ambiguity in the translation in the first place, or they knew what the original term was, and were confused by the choice of translation itself.
9 Likes
For the love of all that’s holy, why keep asking? Over the course of the past week you’ve received no fewer than half a dozen answers to this question, all in general agreement that the German and US levels are not equivalent in content, regardless of how many levels the sport is organized into below FEI in various countries.
Given your history of arguing energetically that German dressage systems are different and superior to American dressage, I’m amazed that you’re now on a quest to get a largely American audience to get behind a false equivalency between components of the sport’s organization in the two countries.
L-Dressur and USEF 2nd Level are not equivalent. Go back to post 6 and reread the thread if you’re still uncertain why that is.
20 Likes
It’s amazing to read all your knowledable comments… Another test… what level is that?? https://youtu.be/npmWdUbQPlI
Intro
Training
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Funny, I count six USA levels. Even if you don’t include Jntro as an official level, there’s still five.
8 Likes
