@celine.eq2023 I just came back from coaching at a Zone Finals this weekend, so I thought I’d give you some examples of tests that were used.
First, if your zone is like ours, we had 14 riders in each class. That’s a decent sized flat class, depending on the size of the ring you are in. Only beginner WTC was split to canter. Be sure you get seen, try to stay slightly off the rail in front of the judge if possible, but do not get stuck in a circle in the middle of the ring. Keep up with the flow of traffic. If you are constantly being passed, you’re going to slow and not going to get noticed, in addition to causing a traffic jam for other riders. If you’re constantly passing others, you’re going too fast and going to be noticed for the wrong thing.
The first day was team flat classes, and our judge didn’t test any classes. He was excellent, and knew that the horses all had to do three days of work and said he didn’t need to work them harder than necessary.
The second day included some individual classes. Novice Flat was tested without stirrups at the trot
I believe the Intermediate Flat switched horses. One of the intermediate flat classes was asked to leave the line in the left lead canter and demonstrate two simple lead changes on the quarter line in front of the judge.
Open Flat (Team) had an excellent test. Riders left the line up tracking right in a canter, hand galloped the long side in front of the judge, halted under a sign at the end of the ring, returned to the right lead canter and demonstrated two simple lead changes on the long side opposite the judge.
Things to note with this - the winner REALLY hand galloped. The whole crowd went “ooohh” as he stepped into it. The hard part of the test was getting the horse to halt again at the end after the gallop. The best simple lead changes were done through the walk, but whether you do them through the walk or the trot, be sure they match. One rider did one in walk and one in trot. It also can be a tricky test because you don’t know if your horse picks up the counter lead easily. There was one horse that did the lead change test in two classes and never once picked up the counter canter.
Over fences, the open team class was asked to return without irons, trot in and canter out of a line that they had previous cantered, walk when they desired and then canter on the left lead to a jump that was on the right lead diagonal. Trotting in should add one more step than you did at the canter. One rider added two steps because the horse got backwards on her. Asking for the left lead didn’t specifically call for a counter canter, but that’s what the judge was looking for.
The third day was all individual classes and each one had a test (except one, which had a very clear winner and the rest all had major errors).
The middle school novice flat class was given their test specifically by the judge (not read over the loud speaker). They rode a figure eight at one end of the ring. The first loop to the right was done in a sitting trot, the first loop to the left was done in rising trot. The second loop to the right was done in right lead canter, the second loop to the left was done in left lead canter. Be sure to halt in the middle to start your figure eight, ride straight to a spot on the fence ( not a diagonal), make your transitions happen at that spot where you halted, and finish your figure eight with a halt. I can tell you he was looking at the riders coming up on the correct diagonal from sitting to rising trot, and for the riders to not be looking down to check their leads.
Open flat tested without stirrups and in the counter canter.
Over fences testing on the last day included
Intermediate - trot directly out of the line to a fence, canter a roll back, show a halt in a specified location, canter directly to another jump shortly after the halt. Be sure you know your fence numbers!
Open had to canter in and trot out of a line, then hand gallop a fence. The trot out was difficult, I think only two out of the five actually got it done.
Also, @mroades may not care about riders coming up on the correct diagonal, but I cannot tell you how many times I heard it discussed with the riders over the weekend.
Hope this helps to prepare you for some examples of testing you might see done
if that’s what it takes to GET you eating)