{"id":19947,"date":"2026-04-06T20:31:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T20:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dressagetoday.com\/?p=19947"},"modified":"2026-04-06T20:32:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T20:32:05","slug":"14-tips-to-improve-your-score-in-your-dressage-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dressagetoday.com\/instruction\/14-tips-to-improve-your-score-in-your-dressage-test\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Tips to Improve Your Score in Your Dressage Test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Without meaning to do so, riders can turn high scores in their dressage tests into low scores over and over again. I often turn to my scribe and point out how riders turn 8s into 6s during their tests. Here are a few tips to not give away any points during your dressage test. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Make an Entrance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Establish the halt before saluting. Many riders are nervous and don\u2019t really halt. Also, accept the halt you have unless you are 100 percent sure you can quickly make it better. Often, in trying to fix a halt, you make it worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be sure to come to C prior to your turn. You should ride the turn like a quarter of a 10-meter circle. Be sure to touch the rail on the short end after your turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In the Dressage Ring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Diagonals:<\/strong> Whether it is a lengthening, medium or extension, be sure to pay attention to the corners. Watch that the haunches don\u2019t fall in or out. Remember the haunches come onto the diagonal line after the shoulders. So, if you start your movement before the horse is really straight, the horse\u2019s haunches will be left or right. This can cause irregularity. Another mistake is that the movement was a high score, but the rider pays no attention to the transition at the end\u2014off comes a point! Remember, there are two transitions, one up and one down. The judge must notice these and take them into account for the score, even where there is no separate transition score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Circles:<\/strong> If you make them too large you lose a point, because you are making the movement easier than what is required. On 10-meter and smaller circles, don\u2019t over bend the horse, this will create a balance issue. At Training Level, not much bend is required, but a horse that is counter-bent will lose points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Corners:<\/strong> Use them. Period. It doesn\u2019t matter what level you are showing. A good rule of thumb is to go into the corner about 1.5 meters more than the smallest circle in your test. So, at Training Level, your circles are 20 meters. Find that line, and move your corners 1.5 meters more into the corner. Think of a corner as two straight lines connected by a turning aid. Don\u2019t try to leg-yield into them as this pushes the energy out. You want to think of keeping the balance on the inside hind leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lateral movements:<\/strong> Most riders are getting pretty good at starting movements. Many don\u2019t remember to finish them, however. If it says shoulder-in from H-E, then at E you should straighten the horse; don\u2019t ride through the corner in shoulder-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rising versus sitting trot:<\/strong> Remember that at the lower levels there is an option to rise. If you cannot keep a nice, forward trot sitting, then POST! Judges will not score higher for riders who sit. They will think, \u201cWhy are they sitting? The trot is not going anywhere!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Free walk:<\/strong> Too many riders are holding the neck down. This inhibits the movement of the topline. The judge will look at the legs and also at the topline. The horse needs complete freedom to lower and stretch his neck. It is not how low the neck goes. If the poll is slightly lower than the withers and relaxed and moving then this is fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accuracy:<\/strong> Don\u2019t sacrifice your training for accuracy, but riding an accurate test and using the corners will impress the judge.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRiding an accurate test will impress the judge, but don\u2019t sacrifice your training for accuracy. \u00a9Amy K. Dragoo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Take an In-Depth Look<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Weak points:<\/strong> Know your horse\u2019s weak points. Not every movement can be a 10, even with top Olympians. If your horse has a talent for a certain movement, then go for it. But, to try to make a high score out of a movement the horse has trouble with will only garner you a lower score. Take the safe 6 and move on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What level to show at?<\/strong> Show a level below what you are schooling. If you are struggling at home with a movement, it will only be worse at the show. Use the 90 percent rule. If the movement happens 90 percent of the time at home, you are ready to show it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rulebook:<\/strong> The USEF Rulebook has a lot of free information. For example, if you are riding Third Level, then read the requirements of the movements you are going to perform. Judges often see turns on the haunches that are bending in the wrong direction. You can still make honest mistakes of course, but it is important you have the knowledge about the requirements of each movement. I once had a rider ask the TD to talk to me. The rider said, \u201cYou scored my medium trot too low.\u201d I asked her what the requirements of medium were and she said, \u201cWhy does that matter?\u201d I tried to explain that if she did not know what she was trying to accomplish, then she could not criticize my mark or comments. I think you see the point I am trying to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read your tests after your ride.<\/strong> Collect your test as soon as the class is placed and read the judge\u2019s comments. If they say, \u201cNeeds more accuracy,\u201d then make that your goal in the next ride. Judges do remember past riders. If you can show them that you read the test and are working on their comments, this also creates a more favorable impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay positive.<\/strong> Remember the judge only sees you for six minutes. They don\u2019t know how much you have improved or they don\u2019t know about your horse\u2019s training issues. They can only give comments based on your performance now and tell you why you did not get all 10s. Even if the score is not what you had hoped, if you and your trainer felt the performance was an improvement over the last time you were in the show arena, then you are on the right track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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