I ponder why judges use this term and what exactly it means. I used to think it was about how an up transition was executed, but then I recently saw it in a trot movement.
If you’ve seen that term on a test, what movement was it describing and what did it mean to you in the context of your ride? (Or if you’re a judge, when do you use it and what are you trying to tell the rider? Or if you’ve been a scribe what was the movement to which it applied?)
TIA
“Flowing,” literally. It’s a good thing.
I wonder if the judge was saying “fluid” and the scribe mis-heard? Otherwise, seems like a strange word choice.
It’s used all the time in discussing language proficiency. There it means you can speak very well and almost like a native speaker. It’s good thing.
I would expect it to be used in the context of a test that flows smoothly from one part to another seamlessly and with precision. Dressage tests are judged movement by movement, but fluent would be, to me, something I would expect to see in the collective remarks.
I’m with you on what the judge meant; maybe misspoke, maybe misheard.
I’ve seen judges use this term.
From the USDF Glossary of Judging Terms:
Fluent/Fluency: Flowing or moving smoothly and easily. Same as fluid.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Definitely not misheard (or mis-written) … As I scribe, I asked the first few times I heard it because I was familiar with the term in language skills. I thought it was a strange use of the word when “fluid” was appropriate and a more commonly used word. I suppose fluent implies some demonstration of skill. 
Thanks for the official reference OverTheHedge!
I asked at the L program as well because I thought the word was being used weird/wrong by candidates, but it’s not. Fluid/Fluent/Flowing are all the same. It seemed to be used when the rider executed something challenging in a very smooth, pleasing to the eye, harmonious, sort of way. It was used a lot during the discussion of simple changes.
This.
It can be used for any given movement and not necessarily in the collective.
« + fluent » can also be used when the movement is correct but could flow more.
The term makes me cringe a little because I think it should be “fluid.” It’s actually one of my secret pet peeves :lol:
It is used in the movement directives often. The pirouettes, half passes just off the top of my head talk about fluency. I think of it as polished, confident execution of the movement.
I mean, if you’re fluent in a language it means you know all the words you need to express what you’re trying to say and you can put them together in a grammatically correct way. Your sentences flow from one to another without stumbling or obvious errors.
That’s what the word means, so when applied to a dressage test it means the same thing.
Same. It’s terminology used in official capacity, but I think it seems pretentious and fluid would work better.
IME “fluent” in the remarks can be used to imply more apparent proficiency/competence than just “fluid” (even if the glossary says they’re equivalent) - there’s an implication that the judge has perceived that the fluidity seen is the norm for the pair rather than an exception, requiring visible preparation, etc.
I’ve “liked” every post that is against the use of “fluent.”
Words mean things. “Fluent” for “fluid” in this context reminds me of “utilized” when “used” is more appropriate. (“Utilized” actually means misappropriated, like “utilized the shoe as a hammer,” but it’s come to mean “fancy word for used.”)
My favourite example of the badtardized word becoming the norm is my hubby’s (now shared) pet peeve. “Presently” coming to mean “happening now” (instead of “soon”) and “momentarily” coming to mean “soon” (instead of occurring for just a moment).
Captain of the plane announces, “We’ll be in the air momentarily.” Hubby, “[deep sigh] I hope he means ‘presently’.”
I think I love you.
I have always felt fluent means more than fluid.
There is understanding and skill within the movement, it flowed, it was well positioned and seamless.
It is presented with good ring craft and was presented seamlessly from the movement proceeding to the movement following
I’ve been taken aback by the flight attendant announcing that “we’ll be on the ground shortly”. :eek: May as well add “one way or another”.
Not committing to much…
Yes, to me fluid is a quality of movement, flowing would refer more to connected movements, and fluent would mean execution of a movement or movements with mastery.
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