Dressage Guide

Show off the beauty and elegance of your silent bond with your animal with dressage.

The word dressage is simply French for training. As an equestrian competition it is at it's most basic level, a test of the horse's training and willingness to work with a rider. In the case of pony play the idea is very similar, it is the test of the pony's training and responsiveness to his/her trainer.

Dressage Necessities

This section is quoted from Zobo Shephard's "(READ ME SECOND) Dressage Necessities" SL Dressage Society notecard from 2013 and needs some updates. We could just explain WHY those items are needed and then link to the appropriate pages of the sNr Staff Handbook. Some of those in turn would need to be updated to include relevant information (shout range whips, walking backwards etc).

Bow HUD

Everyone will need a bow hud.
There are several dressage huds out there, and these can add to the performance of your dressage routine, however, for class purposes, we only require a bow animation. Any other dressage hud is optional and up to the individual. Here is the good news. Thanks to our friend, Lerim Asbrink, there is a free bow hud included in this packet. (Lermis Bow Hud)

Signal Whip

Trainers & Owners will need a whip capable of not only making an audible sound, but also the ability to be read in local chat. Here is the good news. We have a free one included in this packet. (*WHIP KIRI) It’s real easy…just wear the whip, wear the hud, push the buttons on the hud.

Pony AO

Ponies have the hard part. Since we are coming together to learn and perform Dressage correctly, ponies will have to be able to walk backward. For the level at which we plan to train and compete, the old trick of the fake backward walk is unacceptable. To my knowledge there are two different ways this can be done. If anyone knows of other ways, please let me know and I will add them to this note.

1. Morbid Play (MP) Hooves and AO have the ability to walk backward.
2. Netsui also sells an AO that can be placed into any modifiable hoof and will give you the ability to walk backward.

Ponies will also be expected to wear a Bridle, harness, and Tail at all times. Bits are optional as this is a class and communication is key, so ponies will have the option of speaking during class time if they wish.

Silent Dressage

I couldn't find a good description of silent dressage, all written rules seem to assume that the readers already know what we are talking about.

About this Guide

This guide is a general introduction to silent dressage and a training guide. It is not a rule set. It does not recommend or favour a particular style. If you take a look at the various rules listed in the reference section at the end, you will probably be able to find something to back up or contradict any possible style or variation. Different stables and trainers have developed their own styles over time, sometimes within, sometimes against the rules they claim to obey. Some of these styles may be older than the written rules. If you use dressage as way to train your pony, to spend time with your pony, all styles are equally valid, or your own style is the only correct one. Either the glass is half full or half empty.

Field

Definitions

• Field (Arena)

  The whole field, defined by the painted outline, including all elements and the Signs (which are outside the usable area).

• Pattern (Course)

  The figures as they are outlined on the field.

• Marker (Dot)

  The highlighted start- and endpoints of the patterns.

• Sign

  The signs with the letters A to J that line the field.

• Near End

  The small side of the field with the 'A' marker

• Far End

  The small side of the field near the slalom poles.

TODO

1. Needs picture and description.
2. We would need to either define the whole field or leave the measurements completely out. Only defining the length of the lines as in the old rules is not really helpful.

Routine

A complete performance consisting of entry, five behaviours and exit is called a routine.

Assembly

The handler and pony take position outside the field near the 'A' sign.

In the rule examples you can find calls for the pony standing left of the trainer or right of the trainer. Both stand near the A sign or on opposing sides. Equal distance to the sign and border, or pony behind and to the side of the trainer. Whichever way you decide to do it, you will do it right for some and wrong for others.

When I lead a pony to the field on reins, it almost naturally results in the pony standing behind me on the side I hold the reins.

Bonus points if the pony assumes a ready pose.

Dressage Order

During competitions and tests the trainer will receive the dressage order once the team is assembled and ready. This can be in the form of a notecard or a dedicated HUD. The dressage order will outline in which order the behaviours have to be completed.

• Example notecard here

Entry

The trainer and pony both step onto the field.

Option A: The handler signals and both enter the arena at the same time. Option B: The handler enters the arena and signals for the pony to follow.

They stop between the outline and the figure 8. The pony will perform a salute by bowing or curtsying, this salute is undirected (i.e. the pony will not turn to the handler, judges or audience).

Behaviours

The handler guides the pony from pattern to pattern to perform the behaviours in the order specified in the dressage order.

Exit

Once all behaviours are finished the trainer will return to the point on the field where they entered. The pony will walk over when ready and stand to the trainer’s right or left side. The trainer will signal the pony to bow to the judges. Then both trainer and pony will turn around and exit the field.

Option A: Pony and handler salute and exit at the same absolute positions they had on entry. Option B: The Pony salutes on the same position relative to the handler as on entry. When the trainer turns to leave the field the pony walks a small circle to keep the relative position to the handler.

Command

The handler commands the pony through the routine silently, that is without using verbal instructions.

Position

The main form of command a handler uses during a routine is their position on the field.

The pony will start the next behaviour from the marker the handler is closest to. If there is more than one direction to do the pattern the pony will start the way the handler is facing or away from the handler (which ideally should be the same).

Signals

Whip signals and such. Timing.

References

Sasaya Rothschild's Dressage (1 + 2) 2007-01-13
(FFF) Dressage Instructions 11/17/08 V2 by Button Wright, Izumi Vought and Heidi Carpenter
Ariel Erlanger's Silent Dressage Rules and Information from 2012
Safra Nitely's Silent Dressage with Travers from 2012
Mikky Heron's Dressage Rules from 2014
SL Dressage Society Rules and Policies

Flower Dressage

The drama.

References

The Pony Flower (one of the two warring styles)