January Tests
This month's tests are Walk Test 4, Canter Test 3, Rising Stars Lead Rein Test and Freestyle Test.
Walk Test 4 is the most advanced of our walk tests and contains shoulder-in, rein-back, travers and half pass. These exercises improve suppleness, balance and introduce collection. Walk Test 4 is an excellent tool to use as part of your schooling routine. The horse should already be established at leg yield and shoulder-in before beginning travers and half pass. The test can be ridden at a slow tempo, which improves balance, precision and core strength.
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Canter Test 3 is the most advanced of the Sentient Riding Tests. It includes shoulder-in and travers in sitting trot, and rein-back, walk to canter and canter to walk, plus a 20m circle in canter. Before attempting this test, the horse should be established in shoulder-in and travers in walk, and leg yield in trot, and should be strong enough to maintain a balanced sitting trot.
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Rising Stars Lead Rein Test has its own separate mark scheme, and aims to encourage quiet, beautiful riding and considerate attitude to the horse. It is designed for young riders or those with special needs, but can be entered by anybody.
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Freestyle Test is an opportunity to show off what you and your horse enjoy doing. You can design your own test or ride any test that you are working towards. Choose 10 movements within the test that you would like to be assessed on, and write them down in the sheet provided. Each movement is judged on synchronisation and aids (this is measured by how you look at one with the horse, with invisible aids and elegant riding) and correctness and accuracy (basically how well the movement is executed). The test can be ridden with or without music.
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Each test is available for a small arena (20m x 40m) or a large arena (20m x 60m). If using a large arena, instructions are included on how to convert it to a small arena, using the existing letters to ride the test.
Each test comes with an advice sheet, which explains how to ride the movements.
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Please click on the link below to download your chosen test.
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Rising Stars Lead Rein Test 20 x 40 arena
Rising Stars Lead Rein Test 20 x 60 arena
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