2019 USEF DRESSAGE TESTS REVIEW – Second Level Test 1

SECOND LEVEL TEST 1

The new 2019 -2021 USEF Intro through Fourth Level Dressage Tests effective December 1, 2018 are available on the USDF Site Here.  

There are significant changes in Second Level test one.  The beginning trot work has remained the same as has the halt rein back and medium walk. The Free Walk is now S-F, not S-P. But for judges, the transition block for before and after the Medium Trot now includes the Collected Trot P-K where the shoulder-in then begins. The same for the last transition block from the Medium Trot at the end of the test. In the past, the transitions were scored alone. There are some language changes in the directives for the first and last halt, the halt rein back and the Medium Walk is now times 2.

The big changes are in the canter work. Gone is the canter serpentine with the simple changes. Yay! The introduction to simple changes is much more horse friendly.  After the medium walk is a transition to left lead canter at A, then Medium Canter F-R plus a 10 meter circle at C. The movements are then a short diagonal M-E, E-V counter canter, V Collected Trot, K Medium Walk, A canter right lead. Then a mirror image from the right lead. How nice to have 12 meters to prepare for a balanced walk transition. The trot transition after the canter work is now a separate movement.  Both short diagonals with counter canter are coefficient movements so through the entire test there are seven coefficient movements.

The directives for each canter movement are essentially the same with some rearranging of wording in the 10 meter circles.

What I find interesting about this test and the other Second Level tests, that unlike Training and First Levels, there is no mention of bend and balance in corners. I wonder if the Test Writing Committee did that on purpose assuming that by this level, riders should know to use corners. Or maybe there just wasn’t enough room to put that wording in those little boxes on the test sheet.