I’ll be riding training level at a show this weekend and just found out they are using CADORA tests. Training level test C has two movements that say:
Btw K&F Half-circle left returning to the track at H
and
Btw F&K Half-circle right returning to the track at M.
Does anyone have experience with this test or know how to ride this figure? No size is given for the half circle.
Thank you!
Training level would never have a circle smaller than 20m.
Reading this test you would ride like this: enter at A, X halt salute, proceed, at C track left, shallow loop H-X-K…once you hit K, you pass A, then at F, you go back across the diagonal to H at which point you are changing directions and are now tracking right.
Between H and C, pick up your right lead canter, make a 20m circle beginning at C, stay in canter until you complete the circle, come up the long side to B, and you make your down transition between B & F.
By time time you reach F your transition needs to be completed, you ride past A, to K go across the diagonal to M, at which point you are now tracking left.
Pick up your left lead canter between M & C. 20m circle begins at C. After your circle continue to canter up the long side to E. Down transition between E & K. Continue on K-A-F.
At F, make a shallow loop from F to X to M.
Continue to C, at which you will make a 20m stretchy circle. Before you get back to C, pick up your reins.
At H, walk. H-E Medium walk. E-F (short diagonal) free walk. F - A (change of direction here) Medium walk.
At A, pick up a trot again,turn down centerline, X halt salute.
Does that help? I find it very helpful to draw an arena, then draw my test. Then some of these movements make more sense.
I’ve found that on youtube: http://youtu.be/ICaIkZU8zcs
Basically, she just kinda cut her corners from K to F (F to K) and went straight to the rail after.
Makes sense….but why wouldn’t they just say to change rein across the diagonal because isn’t that really what you are doing? and K to F is not a true “half circle”, its too shallow is it not?
I have shown this test a few times, and do well on the half circles. To do them accurately they cannot be 20 meters, as K is 6 meters from the end of the ring. So if you start your half circle at K, it is more like a 12 meter circle. I don’t really worry about being exact, I just try to keep it round, and not go straight along the short end. You will NOT get to F on the half circle from K, and judges have never expected it (I have done that test under 5 different judges).
Note that it say Between, and not AT.
the other trick with that test is the final transition to trot up centerline. Ask for the trot once your horse’s head is aimed at C and use the upward to straighten the horse down the centerline. I see people asking too soon (when the horse’s nose is at C) and it messes up the transition and the turn.
I asked two judges for advice on this move and got two different answers. The more senior judge said to ride it like a 12m circle / teardrop shape. The more junior judge - who actually judges schooling shows using the Cadora tests - said to ride it as if you were on a circle with K, A and F being the tangent points where you touch the wall. Is that actually round and it is a true 1/2 circle? Nope.
I watched people in the same class do it both ways last year and one didn’t seem to be scored higher than the other. My guess is that the judges don’t have a clue what it means either because the movement, as written, makes no sense, esepcially at Training Level.
OK this was bugging me so much - and I have to ride this test at least twice more this summer - so I emailed Don Barnes for an official answer. Here it is:
“If you notice, there is no size mentioned for the half-circle which means you can make it any size you want; the original intent of the movement was (as you mention) a teardrop.”
@bigMama Bumping this thread! How did you get marked on this? I’m riding this this weekend and was like WTH is this movement :lol:
Also planning on turning down the centreline and then trotting for the final movement, is that correct?
Wow, it was so long ago I can’t even remember! I thought they took that movement out but I guess not. And yes for the final centreline I would make the turn first and then trot
Test was revised apparently.
Oh it was clarified to show it was basically just going across the diagonal after the short end.
Another training level CADORA test question. During test C, they ask for trot at A at the same time as turn down the centre line. Do you make the turn at a walk then ask for a trot? Ask for a trot while making the turn? Trot then turn?
I just realized this thread is a little old. Oh well!
Both would be correct.
IMMHO, those tests should be reviewed and ridden by professional before being written… They should be clear to understand and do.
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