Dressage Rules Draft
The official rules of the Second Life Dressage Society are designed to be the common standard used at dressage competitions and at tests for ponies or trainers by the Society and those stables that adopt the rules. They are not intended to stifle creativity during personal training or non-competitive shows. The rules strive to be clear and concise, they are not intended as instructions for beginners.
Field
- Field (Arena):
- 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.
- Needs picture and description.
- We would to either define the whole field or leave the measurements out. Just defining the length of the lines as in the old rules simply doesn't do the job.
Behaviours
A pattern executed by a pony is called a behaviour.
Options in this sections have to be used consistently (i.e. choosing A once necessitate A on other choices).
- The travers transition requires the use of Option B, the 'curvy transition' the use of Option A.
Forward Line (Passage): C and H
The pony starts from the B or H marker of the line facing the far end of the field. It walks along the line and stops at the far marker (C or G).
Backward Line: D and G
The pony starts from the C or G marker of the line facing the far end of the field. It walks backwards along the line facing the far end at all times during the figure and stops at the near marker (B or H).
Slalom (Agility): E and F
The pony starts from the E or F marker, facing the poles. Slaloms are done by alternatively going left and right around each pole, making a full turn at the far side, alternating left and right back, and stopping on the original marker.
Option A: The pony does a full turn at the end of the slalom to face the poles again. Option B: The pony stops facing the outside of the field.
Circle (Volte): C, D, G, and H
The pony starts from the near (C, H) or far (D, G) marker and walks three full circles coming to a halt on the same marker it started from. The pony starts to walk towards the sign that shows the letter of the figure.
Option A: The pony begins by facing the poles, and turns towards the direction of motion (for instance, towards the "C" sign for "circle C", that is, clockwise around the circle) and turns to the poles again when it finishes the figure. Option B: The pony starts and ends facing the direction of motion.
Figure Eight (Serpentine): B and J
The pony starts at the central marker facing the far end and starts moving forward to the sign with the letter of the figure (B or J). The pony walks until it completed the figure '8' three times and stops on the central marker.
Routine
A complete performance consisting of entry, five behaviours and exit is called a routine.
Options in this section have to be used consistently (i.e. choosing A once necessitates A on other choices)
Assembly
The handler and pony always enter the dressage field from the 'A' sign. The handler may choose to have the pony start on their left or their right side. They both take position outside the field.
Option A: Handler and pony stand on opposite sides of the sign. Option B: Handler and pony stand on the same side of the sign, the handler closer to the sign and the pony slightly behind the handler.
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.
Transitions
The process of the handler guiding the pony to the next behaviour is called a transition. In most cases this means to walk to another pattern, but exceptions are possible on the lines where both behaviours can be executed on the same pattern.
Straight Line (The Original)
The pony turns on the spot on the end marker of the finished figure then walks a straight line to the start marker of the next figure. On the marker the pony again turns on the spot to face into the correct direction. Both options from the behaviour section are available to use with this transition.
Curvy (The Easy Way)
Only Option A from the behaviours section is allowed with this method of transitions [to attain at least a minimal level of difficulty, grace and consistency].
Travers (Safra-Style)
---copy paste from Safra’s notecard--- Travers methodology of dressage - by Safra Nitely
AIM:
To proceed in a consistent tidy manner between each of the silent dressage tasks.
OBJECTIVE:
To perform a consistent dressage routine that enhances skill and appearance, and shows a greater level of cooperation between pony and owner.
OUTCOME:
For the pony to be able to demonstrate a professional consistent dressage routine, that take into account the full width and length of the arena, and the outer markings.
RULES:
1) Pony must not walk over the white markings that outline the edge of the arena. 2) The pony should take the shortest route around the edge of the arena between any two tasks. 3) Ponies can legitimatly travers between 2 start points if they are on the same intersection between two of the side fence markers
EXCEPTIONS:
4) the pony should always enter the "Figure 8" at the A marker, proceeding smartly to the starting yellow spot 5) Pony should always leave the figure at either directly to the B or the J marker depending on where the owner / trainer is starting the next task 6) Pony should always enter the Circle task facing the same direction as the Trainer, using the maker nearest to the trainer
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT:
7) Pony should always enter the walk backwards line from the nearest marker, so that they do not "travel"
---end copy paste---
Judging
Judging is based on how both trainer and pony walk the field.
---copy paste from Rules---
Each round will consist of a series of five moves along five separate courses. The order of the moves and courses will be determined randomly before each round. The trainer will then guide the pony through the order of the course. Only the judges and the trainer will know the order, the pony will not. The order of the course will be given to the trainer by the judges, using a notecard, at the beginning of the round.
Judging will be on a scale from 0-5 0 meaning that the move was not completed 5 meaning it was completed flawlessly Each score is given in whole numbers only, so no 4.5's or 2.5's etc
There will also be 5 categories on which each pony/trainer duo will be judged for overall performance.
Accuracy - The pony's accuracy in following the figures of the arena (stay within the lines, the lines are our friends). Each of the five courses on the dressage field will be given an accuracy rating.
Command - How well the trainer commands the pony within the ring. Only one rating for this is needed, and will be judged after the round.
Presentation and Behavior - This is a broad category covering how well they work as a team. Is the pony well cared for, eager to please? The pony attitude will be a factor, how well she behaves and acts. Only one rating for this is needed, and will be judged after the round.
Responsiveness - The pony's willingness and speed at obeying commands as they are given. Only one rating for this is needed, and will be judged after the round.
Rhythm - The smoothness in which the pony moves about the dressage ring, specifically in transitions both from curves to straight and from figure to figure. Only one rating for this is needed, and will be judged after the round.
There will be three judges for each dressage event. Dropping the highest and lowest score, and averaging the remaining scores together will compute the score for each round. Each judge’s score will be averaged together to produce the final score for the round. The judges will be able to observe the complete dressage arena, usually from an aerial platform. Judges will not be allowed to be a trainer or a pony for the dressage they are judging. Only the trainer and pony will be allowed on the dressage arena during a current round.
Moves will be judged in the following manner and cannot be scripted:
- Prancing in a straight line, using a forward motion for a predetermined set distance of 10 meters. The pony will be judged on how close they start and stop on the marked stops on each line, and on how tightly they follow the line.
- Prancing in a straight line, using a backward motion for a predetermined set distance of 10 meters. The pony will be judged on how close they start and stop on the marked spots for each line, and on how tightly they follow the line.
- Moving in a circle around a reference point with an even circumference, completing three turns. The pony will be judged on how they prance on the line, and how close they start and stop on the marked spots on the circle.
- Moving in a figure eight with the circles circumferences of each one being even, completing three turns. The pony will be judged on how they prance on the line, and how close they start and stop on the marked spot on the figure eight.
- on a slalom course, moving in between pylons as tightly as possible. The pony will prance up once, turn around and prance back. The pony will be judged on how smoothly she/he moves, and how close they start and stop on the marked spots. Speed for the slalom course will not be judged.
The pony and trainer will not be allowed to leave the Dressage arena during a round. Fully crossing the arena boundaries with both hooves or both feet will lead to a deduction of one point from the total final score for each round. ---end copy paste---
Competitions
There will be three judges. They all wear black and look mean.