14 widespread however complicated phrases defined

Confused by sure dressage terminology you might have heard? Say no extra. We’re right here to assist with our useful dressage jargon buster, to decipher all these bizarre dressage phrases you’ll hear across the competitors circuit.

From center tour to hors concours, we’ve bought probably the most complicated aggressive dressage terminology lined, so that you’ll all the time know what’s what.

Small tour – a collective time period referring to the bottom of the FEI worldwide dressage ranges, that are prix st georges (PSG) and intermediate I (inter I).

Center tour – a class of FEI assessments launched in 2014 to behave as a “stepping stone” between small tour ranges and large tour. Center tour refers to inter A and inter B assessments, and usually inter II as properly.

Massive tour – this piece of dressage terminology refers back to the highest degree class of FEI dressage check, particularly the grand prix, brief grand prix and grand prix particular.

Hors concours – this French phrase, which is often abbreviated to HC, loosely interprets as “excluded from the competitors” and it refers to an entry that’s non-competitive. A rider who chooses to compete HC can journey the check, and be marked by the judges, however they won’t seem inside the outcomes, they usually can decide to maintain their rating personal and unrecorded.

Grand prix particular – it is a tougher model of the grand prix dressage check. It contains all the identical actions however in a extra complicated routine, and is considered probably the most tough check in dressage. It’s used at prime degree worldwide competitions and at championships, the place it may be used alongside the grand prix check to find out the group medals, as on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, or as a standalone competitors to find out certainly one of two units of particular person medals, as is widespread at European and world championships.

Double coefficient – some necessary actions inside a dressage assessments earn double marks, and these are known as having a double coefficient. Within the grand prix check, these are the half-pass on each reins, every piaffe, the pirouettes on every rein, the collected stroll, the prolonged stroll, the canter half-pass “zig-zag” and the one-tempi modifications. For instance, if a rider scores an eight for certainly one of these actions, this will get doubled on their rating sheet to 16.

Lengthy area – an extended area in dressage truly simply refers back to the standard-sized area, which measures 20x60m, with the diagonal size from nook to nook measuring 63.24m.

Quick area – a brief area is a shorter model of the usual area, measuring 20x40m and 44.72m diagonally from nook to nook. The brief area is used for sure British Dressage assessments from intro (which is solely carried out in a brief area) as much as superior medium, in addition to for some para dressage assessments.

PYO – this stands for “pick-your-own” and is a sort of sophistication seen at nationwide competitions by which riders can carry out a check from whichever permitted degree they like and all are judged collectively, whatever the check they select to journey.

Floor jury – this time period refers back to the judges at a world competitors. There are often three, 5 or seven judges, relying on the extent of the occasion. One in every of them will probably be appointed president of the bottom jury, and is subsequently accountable for making certain that each one guidelines, rules and necessities are upheld throughout the class in query.

Stewards – these are the officers who oversee the operating of a contest. Their job includes defending equine welfare, operating the warm-up, organising mixtures to enter and go away the competitors area on the allotted time and in addition to carry out “tack checks”, the place they be sure all gear is inside the guidelines.

Chef d’equipe – one other French time period, which interprets as group chief. In horse sport, it refers to a group supervisor, an individual who accompanies the group to worldwide occasions and championships and is accountable for total group administration, logistics and welfare. A chef d’equipe is just not the identical as a group coach, though many are coaches too.

Pleasant horse – a companion horse that’s permitted to enter the sector with the competing horse at grades I, II and III in para dressage. The pleasant horse may be held in hand inside the subject of play however outdoors the white boards.

Prime and tails – this phrase refers to a prime hat and tailcoat: the standard costume for superior degree dressage. This has modified lately with a protecting helmet changing into obligatory in any respect ranges. Tailcoats are worn, nevertheless, at superior degree and above.

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