The tests I’m looking at from USEF don’t specify if they are to be ridden sitting or posting. I understand that 2nd Level starts the mandatory sitting of the trot but my question is - am I allowed to post the medium trot? It doesn’t say one way or the other on the test itself.
TIA!
[QUOTE=Samantha37;8533347]
The tests I’m looking at from USEF don’t specify if they are to be ridden sitting or posting. I understand that 2nd Level starts the mandatory sitting of the trot but my question is - am I allowed to post the medium trot? It doesn’t say one way or the other on the test itself.
TIA![/QUOTE]
it will specify posting if you need to post, otherwise sitting in all the work.
Does it say anything about sitting/posting at the top of the test? In the past, there’s been verbiage on 2nd level tests that states all trot work is done sitting unless specified otherwise.
[QUOTE=SillyHorse;8533373]
Does it say anything about sitting/posting at the top of the test? In the past, there’s been verbiage on 2nd level tests that states all trot work is done sitting unless specified otherwise.[/QUOTE]
Nope!
https://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/dressage/tests/2015secondLevelTest1.pdf
Page 8 of the rule book:
- All trot work is executed “sitting”, unless otherwise indicated in the test
Thank you! I was digging through USDF and USEF websites and getting very frustrated.
I just thought it was very strange that there was no verbiage about it on the actual test
I also think that’s weird. I think (can’t guarantee it) that’s a change from previous years but I could be wrong.
[QUOTE=cnm161;8533415]
I also think that’s weird. I think (can’t guarantee it) that’s a change from previous years but I could be wrong.[/QUOTE]
Agree–I think it used to specify “all trot work done sitting unless specified” on each test sheet. If I was new to dressage this would be terribly confusing!
I’m a firm believer in going to the rule book, but I have to say think it’s petty to have stopped putting that verbiage on the tests.
[QUOTE=SillyHorse;8533658]
I’m a firm believer in going to the rule book, but I have to say think it’s petty to have stopped putting that verbiage on the tests.[/QUOTE]
Nothing has been removed. The USEF second level tests did not include this verbiage in the past.
The language is still included on the training and first-level tests, where posting is allowed. No posting in second level.
And in years past, First Level was primarily sitting, except for lengthenings. 
Bumping this thread because I just got nailed on this at a show yesterday. I have posted at Second Level all season and no one (judges OR all my trainers and instructors who are paid to know better) ever caught this error. Since there is no directive at the top of the test about it, I had no idea.
Have you spoke to your trainer about this? How many lessons do you take per week/month? What level is your trainer?
What kind of scores did you get throughout the season? In general and for rider? Are these schooling shows or rated ones?
As a competitor, it is still your job to read the rules carefully and go through your test in details.
It’s like the law, you can’t say you don’t know it.
As far as the judges are concerned, they might have thought your sitting trot was just awfully bouncy… :lol:
As a scribe, I’ve seen quite a few riders where we could not really distinguish if it was sitting or rising trot… It happens, and judges try not to be too…mean/harsh with some physical « limitations » at the lower levels.
And then there are people who have such body control that they can post so minimally that it looks like sitting trot.
This is an old trick that any equitation rider from the h/j camp worth their salt can do. Harder to do with a long dressage iron but I had one very hot horse that I would use this on to help control the tempo.
Interesting! I was wondering if this was a possibility. I’ve certainly played with the fine line between posting and sitting just for fun (along with the fine line between posting and two point) in both jump and dressage saddles. I have never tried it on a horse with a true big trot though.
In the end it’s worthwhile to learn how to really sit and be able to use your seat - but it can be a useful skill in some cases.
Yes, it’s interesting how sitting the trot gets easier as the trot improves but also something happens to your own body over time in a good way 
and you just sit. I’m not sure how to make that progress go faster for a rider though. Also I have a horse with soft gaits so quite aware none of this may apply when I finally get it together to do the dressage schoolmaster lessons!
It’s interesting to see this thread bumped up, especially for that reason.
My horse’s trot is hugely different now than it was 2 years ago when I posted this. Like Scribbler says- it gets easier as the trot improves!
This was basically how I was taught to “sit” the trot as a h/j kid. Boy, did that make actually learning to sit IN the saddle tough later.
And yes, the better the horse is using him/her-self during the trot, the easier it gets, although some will still be harder to sit than others.
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