GUIDELINES FOR S&P JUDGES

It is important that the FEHL Riding Test should NOT be judged exclusively as a Dressage Test, but rather as an insightful assessment of 4 year old and 5 year old horses, to determine their POTENTIAL to perform a competent Dressage Test in their future competition career.

Assessment should be focused on the natural ability exhibited by the horse under a sympathetic rather than a domineering rider

Animals should demonstrate:-
1. Natural forward flowing and balanced paces.
2. Relaxed attitude to work.
3. Acceptance of the rider's natural aids.
4. Calm acceptance of the bit within a long, engaged outline.
5. Ride-ability and train-ability.
6. An even rhythm within all paces.
7. Presence and "joie de vivre"

Animals should be penalized for:-
1. Resistance, as manifest in the horse's not going forward properly.
2. Being over-bent
3. Neck contracted - 3rd neck vertebrae rather than poll uppermost
4. Not tracking-up
5. Lack of straightness - deviating from work on two tracks
6. Wrong bends
7. Back stiffness

Riders should be penalized if:-
1. A horse is forced into 'an outline'.
2. A horse is ridden 'hand over leg'.
3. A horse is ridden un-sympathetically.

Judges should concentrate on the overall picture of the animal whilst he executes this simple Riding Test, seeking to distinguish between a forced, pseudo outline and evidence of solid, systematic basic training, based on the classic principles of horsemanship.

Assessment should differentiate between the NATURAL talent and the potential of the horse rather than concentrate on the accuracy of his current performance.

Given the knowledge and experience of our Judges, it would be most beneficial if comments were advisory and constructive, thus encouraging riders to establish the most basic principles of elementary groundwork. Therefore, in due course, these horses will be correctly prepared to develop their Dressage potential.

Since we have applied Minimum Acceptable Scores, all marks of 6 or less warrant an explanatory comment from the Judges.