The British Dressage (BD) Introductory level tests have changed.
A major update to all BD tests was implemented on July 1, 2024, including changes to the Introductory level tests.
Intro 1, 2 & 3 are the same as the old A, B & C. Intro 4 is a new test.
Prelim 3 is a new test, the rest are old tests but renumbered.
There are more changes at Novice with quite a few changes to the actual tests.
There is also now a maximum number of tests a horse is allowed to perform in a day. At intro, prelim and novice it is four tests per day. At elementary, medium and advanced medium it is three. Advanced, PSG and inter I horses may only compete in two tests and that level per day. Inter II and grand prix horses may only compete once a day.
The 2024 British Dressage (BD) members’ handbook was released last Friday (1 December) and brought with it the much anticipated new dressage tests – as well as some key rule changes.
The new tests have been consolidated, with a maximum of four Introductory level tests available. These changes aim to provide a more consistent approach to scoring and terminology across all levels.
I was just about to embark on re learning intro A 2008 and thankfully found this out before I did too much! Lol!
Intro 1 is the same as intro A but the coefficient on the collective mark for paces has been removed.
Intro 2 is the same as intro B with the same change in the collective mark for paces.
Intro 3 is the same as intro C with the same change in the collective mark for paces.
Intro 4 is a new test.
Prelim 1 is the same floorplan as the old prelim 2 but the collective marks have changed. It was 10×2 for rhythm, 10×2 suppleness, 10×2 contact, 10×2 rider’s position and 10×2 rider’s results. It is now 10×1 paces, 10×1 impulsion, 10×2 co-operation and 10×2 rider’s position and seat.
Prelim 2 is the same as the old prelim 12 but with the same changes to the collective marks.
Prelim 3 is a new test.
Prelim 4 is the same as the old prelim 15 but with the same changes to the collective marks.
Prelim 5 is the old prelim 19 but with the same changes to the collective marks.
Prelim 6 is the old prelim 17A but with the same changes to the collective marks.
Novice 1 is largely the same as the old novice 28 but with some notable changes.
For movement six, where it used to read working canter half circle right 15 metres diameter, returning to the track between E & K, it now reads returning to the track at K. Movement 11 has changed in the same way.
Movement 15, the free walk on a long rein, now carries a coefficient.
The new test also has a give and retake of the reins in trot.
The collective marks have also changed. The coefficient on paces and impulsion has been removed. Submission has been reworded to cooperation, but carries the same description and is scored the same. The mark for the rider’s position and seat remains the same.
Novice 2 is the same as the old novice 27 except in movement 13 where the give and retake the reins between F & M in working canter has been replaced with medium canter. It also has the same changes to the collective marks as novice 1.
Novice 3 is a new 20 x 40 test.
Novice 4 is the same as the old novice 23, with the collective marks remaining unchanged but with submission still reworded to co-operation.
Novice 5 is the same as the old novice 38 but movement 20 – HIB change the rein in free walk on a long rein – now carries a coefficient. It also has the same changes to the collective marks as novice 1 and 2.
Novice 6 is very similar to the old novice 37A. The movements have been resequenced with the two medium trots now coming before the free walk on the long rein, and the canter circles have been reduced to 15-metre circles. It also has the same changes to the collective marks.
Elementaries 1, 2 and 3 are new 20 x 40 tests.
Elementary 4 is the same as the old elementary 53 but with movement two changing from SP change the rein in medium trot, to SF change the rein in medium trot. Movement 5 has also gone from two to five steps of medium walk to three to five steps of medium walk.
Elementaries 5 and 6 are new tests that include shoulder-in.
Mediums 1 and 2 are new 20 x 40 tests.
Medium 3 is the same as the old medium 61 but with a half walk pirouette added to movement 13. It also has the same changes to the collective marks as the novice tests.
Medium 4 is the same as the old medium 73 with the collective marks again changing.
Medium 5 is similar to the old medium 76 with some changes.
Where movements five to eight used to be: HCM collected trot, MX half pass right, L half 10m circle, PI half-pass left, C track right, MXK extended trot, it is now: C turn down the centre line, GE half-pass right, A turn down the centre line, DE half-pass left, MXK extended trot.
In movement nine the change of rein in medium walk has also been removed, with the subsequent canter work picking up from M rather than A.
Medium 6 is the same as the old medium 75 with just the collective marks changing.
Advanced medium 1 is the same as the old advanced medium 90 but with the collected walk in movement 12 removed. Collective marks remain the same as the old test but the wording on submission has again been changed to cooperation.
Advanced medium 3 is the same as the old advanced medium 92.
Advanced medium 4 is the same as the old advanced medium 96.
Advanced medium 5 is similar to the old advanced medium 91 but with 8-metre circles added before the half-passes in movements 4 and 9.
A coefficient has also been added to the extended walk and removed from the collective mark for paces and impulsion.
Advanced medium 6 is the same as the old advanced medium 98 with the collective marks for paces and impulsion again being reduced.
There is no advanced medium 2.
Although a lot of the tests have not changed much, there has been a significant reduction in the collective marks, which BD hopes will level the playing field by rewarding good riding rather than just good horses.
The updated FEI Eventing Dressage Tests for 2025 are now available online. While no major changes have been made, some test elements have been combined or split to ensure more consistent scoring. All tests to be used from 1 January 2025 can be found in the FEI Eventing Dressage Tests section of the FEI Website.
Here’s a summary of the key changes:
- Consolidation: The number of introductory tests has been reduced to four.
- Updated Terminology: Outdated terminology has been removed, and “submission” has been replaced with “co-operation”.
- Changes to Collective Marks: The coefficient on the collective mark for paces has been removed.
- Changes to Movements: Some movements have been added, removed, or modified, including changes to movement 13 in Novice 2, where the give and retake on the reins has been replaced with medium canter.
- New Tests: Introductory level 4, which introduces a trot 5m loop and a give and retake on the inside rein at trot