I was reading my Dressage Today and Hilda Gurney brought up the differences between Training and First and Second Level etc. She mentioned the big difference between Training and First Level is that First Level you have to sit the trot. Now there are points on the test that say sitting trot and there are points on the test that say rising trot. But sometimes it just says working trot. First Level test one says enter working trot halt, salute, proceed working trot. So does this mean that you should be sitting or can you rise?
And if you are doing Training Level when it says working trot do you rise or sit?
I am confused!
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At first level, you must sit unless the specific movement in the test tells you to post.
Usually the only rising trot in First would be lengthening or stretchy circle.
At training itâs optional.
At First Level, the top of the actual test sheet says
âAll trot sitting unless stated otherwiseâ
At Trianing Level, the top of the actual test says
âAll trot work may be ridden sitting or rising unless statedâ
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Sitting at 1st level is the biggest hold up for many riders. I wish USEF would pass the rule that you can post at 1st level. There are many riders who can ride a good 1st level test posting, but canât control their bodies YET at sitting trot thru the whole test.
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why is it sitting for the whole test? is there a point like to make it harder to move up?
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[QUOTE=Janet;4059743]
At First Level, the top of the actual test sheet says
âAll trot sitting unless stated otherwiseâ
At Trianing Level, the top of the actual test says
âAll trot work may be ridden sitting or rising unless statedâ[/QUOTE]
Thanks!
I printed off of USEF site and it says nothing about sittting. Only at times it says sitting or rising during the test.
Sitting the trot effectively is important as you move further along in lateral movements and collection, as youâll need to be using your seat and leg in all stages of the gait (at least, thatâs my observation).
Iâm also facing that big hurdle between TL and 1st, and it IS daunting, but Iâve also experienced situations trying to school 1st level movements in the rising trot that bring home why itâs necessary to learn to sit well.
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[QUOTE=monty;4059779]
why is it sitting for the whole test? is there a point like to make it harder to move up?[/QUOTE]I donât know. I see no point in sitting at the 1st level. Sitting a trot is only needed when there are lateral movements, lots of changes of directions and collection that rider needs to affect with her close to the horse seat. 1st level there is only Leg Yields that can be ridden while posting as well.
May be at some point sitting at 1st level will be optional. I think itâll be better for our horses.
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[QUOTE=monty;4059786]
Thanks!
I printed off of USEF site and it says nothing about sittting. Only at times it says sitting or rising during the test.[/QUOTE]
You need to get the actual test sheets not just the movements. The actual test sheets say exactly what Janet said.
Different perspective. My understanding of the requirement for sitting is that it is related to the HORSE, not the rider.
âFIRST LEVEL. To confirm that the horse, in addition to the requirements of Training Level, has
developed thrust (pushing power) and achieved a degree of balance and throughness.â
One of the ways to demonstrate that the horse has developed âa degree of throughnessâ is that the horse can maintain its balance and rhythm in the sitting trot.
As a RIDER, I have not problem at all sitting the trot on an experienced horse. But when I am riding a green horse, I post until the HORSE is âreadyâ for sitting trot.
If the HORSE isnât ready for sitting trot, the HORSE isnât ready for First Level.
Therefor I think that changing the âsitting trotâ requirement for First Level would be a bad idea.
Remember, the progression of the levels is defined in terms of the HORSE, not the RIDER.
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Oh, I thought there was SI at 1st level⊠but youâre right, SI isnât until 2nd level is it?
In that case, I agree with you. Unless itâs just to demonstrate that the horse is developing the carrying power in the trot?
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The actual test sheets are also available on the USEF web site, but you need to log on with your USEF number.
YES! Yes! Yes!
The levels are defined in terms of the HORSEâS development, not the RIDERâS
[QUOTE=Janet;4059872]
If the HORSE isnât ready for sitting trot, the HORSE isnât ready for First Level.[/QUOTE]
Really? So you will not do any 1st level exercise posting unless your horse can take your sitting trot? You donât think that horse can have a thrusting power developed while rider is posting?
PS: âcarrying powerâ is not required at 1st level. That would be at 2nd level.
Youâre confused with the definition of âWorking Trotâ. A working trot is just a forward going, balanced, supple trot. A bit more energetic than your average trot and has nothing to do with the rider
In First Level you are required to sit the trot unless the test states otherwise. You may sit or rise in Training level. 
I REALLY think it depends on the horse. Even when he is through and over his back, my horse is a HUGE mover and hard to sit, esp. at the lengthenings. I have successfully shown 4th Level, so I can sit the trot. Nonetheless, it is definitely to my horseâs benefit for me to post the trot in the 1st level lengthenings.
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If the horse isnât ready for sitting trot, itâs not ready to be TESTED at 1st level. I do lots of 3rd and 4th level exercises with my horse, but heâs certainly not ready to be tested at those levels.
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Complete non sequitor.
Yes, I do PLENTY of 1st (and 2nd, and even 3rd) level EXERCISES (posting or sitting) before my horse is ready to perform and be judged at First Level.
(Several decades ago I made the mistake if thinking that, becuase my horse was easily doing all the 2nd level movements, he was ready to do a 2nd level test. Boy did the judge rip me a new one!)
Even my Intro Level just-turned-4 yo, who is not yet consistent in his canter transitions, does leg yields at walk and trotâŠ
And I have discovered that the horses I ride (not warmbloods) need to have the beginnings of âcollected trotâ (as an exercise) before they can demonstrate a good âtrot lengtheningâ, even though the lengthening comes first in the test progression.
Yes, the horse can DEVLEOP âthrusting powerâ while posting. But the âworking trot sittingâ DEMONSTRATES the âthroughnessâ.
Yes, I will post for the First Level lengthenings, where permitted, on most horses.
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good post Janet.
In the 90âs at one point you had to sit the trot in TR 3&4, That was difficult. Sitting the trot at First Level is the only way you are going to really get the use of your back and seat to help with the start of collection. I learned all of this the hard way when I tried to show a horse First Level that was not through his back enough and I had no right being at a show with this horse as I would get him stuck because I was very uneducated on the âwhyâsâ of the levels. I too was ripped a new one:lol:
I teach some low level lessons and I have a couple of students making their First Level debut this year because they worked hard on their position, getting the horse through and forward without interfering by not being able to sit the trot. It has given them a great appreciation for influencing the horse with the seat.
I also have a couple of horses who are not built for the work, they do just TR Level and thatâs ok, I donât try to get students to sit their trots because it is not going to be the trot they need to learn to manage.
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