First Level

I am hoping (my fingers and toes are all crossed) that I will get to do my First Level debut at the Ventura County Chapter of the California Dressage Society's (VCC-CDS) schooling show in early November. I need to check on Chemaine's schedule and verify that the show is still a go, but if the stars align, we'll get to see where we're at for First Level.

First Level introduces only a few new movements, most of which I've been schooling during the summer. That doesn't mean I am schooling them correctly though. We need to be able to do ... 

• a 10-meter half circle at trot without the motorcycle lean
  
• a 15-meter canter circle that is not an oval
• a lengthening of stride in trot and canter (it doesn't say it has to be HUGE)
• A leg yield that isn't a zig-zag
• a change of lead through trot which we haven't schooled at all
• the counter canter loop which we've been doing for a solid six months

Right now, I am focusing on the 10-meter half circle, the 15-meter canter circle, and the leg yield. We can do all of them, but they definitely need work. I haven't addressed the lengthenings, but the canter won't be an issue. The trot lengthening is going to cause us as much trouble as the stretchy trot did, which by the way is getting pretty good.

First Level Test 1 is relatively easy, and I say that with the utmost respect. As the test is written right now (new tests are due in 2015) each movement follows in a well thought out progression that seems to be setting the rider up for success. None of the new movements are back to back and they are spaced out with a walk or a working trot.

I like the E-X half circle left into the X-B half circle right. It's much easier to do on a small horse like Speedy G than on a larger warmblood. Getting my geometry right is the hard part for us since I don't have a real court. We are practicing it though.

The stretchy circle is now at C, right in front of the judge. Since working with Chemaine at the championship show I am feeling better about that movement, so it's not a big deal. 

The next new movement is the 15-meter canter circle, but again, it's a little easier to do on a smaller horse, and it's really just the geometry that I need to focus on. Speedy can do the circle; I just have to watch where we're going.  

Speedy likes to lengthen the canter. Getting him smoothly back into a working canter is something we need to continue to work on.

Our trot lengthening is non-existent, but I can feel it in there. Speedy LOVES to trot across the diagonal and naturally wants to zoom. I just need to show him how to zoom without moving his legs faster!

We have about three weeks until the schooling show. I am not anxious about moving to First Level; instead I am looking forward to trying something new.