Second level test 3 experiences from those who have ridden it

[netg]

I am showing second level test three next weekend for the first time. Do you have any tips for riding the test, any gotchas or unexpected moments as you’re riding it?

My horse is VERY ready for the level. We now have confirmed changes, and may find that they show up at unplanned moments in the show, so I’ll be ready to fix leads when they do. Otherwise, every movement in the test is pretty easy for her if her rider doesn’t screw up - so I am asking for actual tips on how the test itself rides, not trying to get a horse ready for it.

My first show at second level was 2-1, and my horse was in the middle of spring heat issues and energy issues from the batch of hay we had. I basically didn’t get to learn anything about riding second level because I was dealing with behavior issues, though got 7s for all movements which had good behavior, and received comments from the judge indicating a recognition my horse was ready for the level, just not that day.

From playing with pieces of the test, I see the medium canters before the serpentine as a VERY GOOD thing. They will really help me get her energy level up in her collected canter, and when her canter has more jump the serpentines are easier - and when I am doing less requesting that energy during the serpentines, fewer unintended changes of lead happen. Overall, it feels like a long test but one which really flows - but when I get to a show, I’m not sure if the same will be true, so I’m looking for experiences riding it.

[DressageD1va]

Staying on course is a feat in itself.
keeping the energy level up is another. I find that with those longer medium lines it’s easy for the horse flatten out or get running. Depending on the type of horse I’ll either do a second medium aid in the middle of the diagonal or a mini 1/2 half there.
dobt forget the transitions get scored too. Show clear collection before and after every medium.
good luck!!!

[atr]

I think 2.3 is a well designed test. It’s a test without being confusing, and flows logically (test 2 is incomprehensible to me, test 1 is a nice test.)

My experience has been that test 3 gets marked much more “exactingly” than test 1. Which it should be. So, no blind eye to a hint of a trot step in the simple changes, for instance.

But, my biggest tip is for the CC serpentines–they will really nail you for poor geometry, you have to ride them as 3x 20 meter half circles, being perpendicular to the judge as you cross centerline, no sneaking in a diagonal line there…

I’m riding it on Sunday. Spooky judges boxes at this venue that I have not much chance to examine beforehand, so we shall see!

[atr]

Oh, yes, those are long-assed mediums, particularly if you don’t ride in a full sized arena regularly!

[Samantha37]

@atr

My experience has been that test 3 gets marked much more “exactingly” than test 1. Which it should be. So, no blind eye to a hint of a trot step in the simple changes, for instance.

But, my biggest tip is for the CC serpentines–they will really nail you for poor geometry, you have to ride them as 3x 20 meter half circles, being perpendicular to the judge as you cross centerline, no sneaking in a diagonal line there…

Totally agree with this. I struggled with the counter canter serpentine geometry. I actually still find it stupid hard- not the counter canter, but literally the geometry. I don’t know why! I kept riding into my first corner after the serpentine was supposed to start and into the corner before the serpentine was supposed to end and I got pretty bad marks for that. It took like 3 shows before a judge pointed out exactly what I was doing wrong - I couldn’t figure it out, as stupid as that sounds.

[netg]

My trainer just set up the outside rails of the dressage arena in the big arena at his new place, and I am concerned about my geometry - I realized my loops were more like 12m when I was practicing. At least I need to make my geometry easier on myself, not harder!

That corner vs first/last loop thing is a great tip to remember - I was trying to make myself remember that today, but will keep it in mind at the show, too!

Our canter/walk and walk/canter should be pretty spot on. Our turn on the haunches are fairly green - that will be my most expected score hit. She can do them absolutely beautifully, but I expect in a show environment they won’t be great. I will focus on maintaining walk quality between and out of them and not letting her get tense or start piaffing…

Luckily we have done a fair amount of galloping in the desert, so the long medium cantrers should give me more opportunity to get her hind end really working without having to worry too much about her flattening out. The medium trots will be more of a challenge - she’s developing a really beautiful one with potential to extend, but she easily gets tight in the back and rushing because she tries too hard and flattens out.

[hoopoe]

agree with the geometry of the serpentine, any serpentine, people throw away points

in the walk 1/2 turns be sure to have march and show a clear shorten of stride. dont race thru it, but keep your rhythm and don’t get stuck in that shortening. dont get sucked in to making it too small, it is not a halfP.

[Dutchmare433]

-Make big differences into and out of mediums.
-Be clear to show what is a corner and what is part of the serpentine for the canter serpentines.
-Be very clear into and out of the SI and HI. (THIS is the start of my HI, and THIS is me straightening and going into the corner.

It’s really not so bad, I actually liked riding this version of 2-3, despite my general dislike of 2nd level.

I think I might start my own thread about tips for 4-3, ugh.

[netg]

@Dutchmare433

-Make big differences into and out of mediums.
-Be clear to show what is a corner and what is part of the serpentine for the canter serpentines.
-Be very clear into and out of the SI and HI. (THIS is the start of my HI, and THIS is me straightening and going into the corner.

It’s really not so bad, I actually liked riding this version of 2-3, despite my general dislike of 2nd level.

I think I might start my own thread about tips for 4-3, ugh.

Thanks!

So far I actually quite like it. The fact it’s long and going to be VERY hot at the show has me thinking it’s good I held off on showing second as long as I did - she could do the work last year, but I wasn’t convinced she could maintain it for a test. Now, I’m hoping her extra energy at shows makes it easier for me.

[AZ_TD]

@Dutchmare433

-Make big differences into and out of mediums.
-Be clear to show what is a corner and what is part of the serpentine for the canter serpentines.
-Be very clear into and out of the SI and HI. (THIS is the start of my HI, and THIS is me straightening and going into the corner.

It’s really not so bad, I actually liked riding this version of 2-3, despite my general dislike of 2nd level.

I think I might start my own thread about tips for 4-3, ugh.

I am hoping they will change 4-3 for 2019!

[dotneko]

I see a lot of points given away in this test. Remember the shoulder in should have bend and angle, but the haunches need to be under control. The first half step of the 10 meter circle is your shoulder in. If you allow your shoulder in to be to like leg yield, your 10 meter circle will have the haunches swing out rather than bend.
The last half step of your 10 meter circle is haunches in.

The halt needs to be square and immobile. Count to 4 and then start the rein back. Too many times I see riders just halt and immediately rein back.

Keep the activity in the half turns. Better too large and active then pivoting because you made it too small and blocked the walk. Please show me the difference between your medium walk and free walk. Your free walk must stretch.

The canter depart happens at K. He needs to be on the aids in the depart. You can hide a few sins with your back to me. That walk-canter depart is worth the same as the whole medium canter. Let me repeat that for emphasis - that walk-canter depart is worth the same as the whole medium canter. Make it count.

Again, show a clear distinction between your medium and collected canter. Don’t just ‘coast’ the corner.

There are no corners in serpentines. Yes, I can tell when you are cheating and making your true loops a bit small to make your counter canter loop bigger and easier.

Simple changes have no trot steps.

Again, the transition to trot at K is worth the same as the entire medium canter. It is at K. I cant really see your half halt aid there. With one judge there is room for fudging the aid since you are going away from me.

This test is on the cusp of third level. You should be showing some self carriage - your horse cannot be on the forehand and execute those transitions easily.

Lol - oh, and have fun!

[netg]

Thanks! So many helpful things to remember there!

And I’ll remember the transition is AT K. That’s a fun one, because my mare actually LOVES getting back to the canter after the walk work.

[Magicboy]

Really collect through the corners before the medium trot and canter…plan your transition back down, too

[lorilu]

Since your horse already knows changes, be sure you don’t turn your head and look “around” the CC portion of the serpentine. That might change your balance just enough to encourage a change. Remember that in CC the horse is STILL bent around the inside leg - NOT counter flexed. It’s a fine balance.

And here is a trick for finding the distances. When you first get to see the arena, count the rails down the long side. Divide into 60. That tells you how long each rail is. Now you can calculate just where that 20M half circle crosses the CL and where you should be looking straight at when you cross the CL in the Serps.

Do be straight out of the corner before your SI that starts at K or F. Do straighten your travers before the corner. But at E and B, no need to straighten before or after the circles.

The “free walk” does not require loose reins. Don’t let him fall on his FH.

And that canter depart at K? Be sure she doesn’t anticipate and jig. (Or, like my Bravo, put in a little piaffe as I collect the walk… his version of “let me show off”! LOL)

have a great ride!!!

[lorilu]

@Dutchmare433

I think I might start my own thread about tips for 4-3, ugh.

Great idea!!!

[atr]

Even having shown this several times, these are most useful reminders!

Dotneko, I have a dumb question that I keep forgetting to ask… with the SI to 10 meter circle to HI, do you straighten out a stride at the end of the SI and then do the 10 meter circle, then straighten a stride and then do the HI. or do you flow the two movements in and out of the 10 meter circle using the correct bend that you already (with any luck) have?

Did that make any sense at all?

Also, while the free walk must have a stretch, is it OK for it to be a more horizontal stretch? My lovely boy gets a bit tense in the show ring is inclined to curl if I ask him to stretch downward, but has a nice swinging free walk with a just below horizontal, natural head carriage.

[J-Lu]

I suggest thinking about riding each movement as preparation for the next movement, and understanding/embracing why the test is written the way that it is. Ride the movements in this context. I think this is more important as you go up the levels.

[dotneko]

@atr

Even having shown this several times, these are most useful reminders!

Dotneko, I have a dumb question that I keep forgetting to ask… with the SI to 10 meter circle to HI, do you straighten out a stride at the end of the SI and then do the 10 meter circle, then straighten a stride and then do the HI. or do you flow the two movements in and out of the 10 meter circle using the correct bend that you already (with any luck) have?

Did that make any sense at all?

Also, while the free walk must have a stretch, is it OK for it to be a more horizontal stretch? My lovely boy gets a bit tense in the show ring is inclined to curl if I ask him to stretch downward, but has a nice swinging free walk with a just below horizontal, natural head carriage.

https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/F3p8pgrWgAo/dr-dressage-division#page=13

No - don’t straighten when it is followed by a circle or a turn left or right (as in second 1), yes straighten on centerline and in actual arena corners.
As to the walk, it depends on how ‘horizontal’ your stretch is. Second level? I want to see a clear willingness to stretch out and down. I might say ‘good march and reach but needs to stretch down more’ and give you a 7.5. If you want a 9 or 10, the stretch needs to be there.

[atr]

Thank you!

[slp2]

Thank you! How timely, since I am riding this test tomorrow!